Rising punitiveness and alarming trends in prisons: The Greek experience in a European context

• In Event: PWG - International approaches to punishment, governance, and reform

Abstract

In recent years, the Greek prison system has faced a critical turning point, shaped by increasingly punitive legal amendments and systemic deficiencies that exacerbate prison overcrowding, deteriorating detention conditions, and rising incarceration rates, particularly for minor offenses and vulnerable groups such as juveniles. This presentation will explore key findings from official statistics and reports from the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) highlighting a marked shift towards punitiveness and its implications for human rights. Additionally, it will examine the current state of healthcare, legal remedies, and access to reintegration programs. By situating Greece’s criminal policy within broader European trends, this presentation will critically assess the expanding scope of punitiveness, arguing that such approaches not only undermine reintegration efforts but also exacerbate systemic injustices. The discussion will conclude with policy recommendations for aligning prison operations with a human rights framework, promoting evidence-based rehabilitative approaches, and the expanded use of alternative measures to imprisonment. This presentation aims to contribute to the ongoing criminological discourse on punitiveness, offering insights into the intersection of law, policy, and human rights in penal systems under increasing strain.

Author

• Anastasia Chalkia, Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR)