Despite new guidelines brought in last year, Poland’s prisons are still overflowing, necessitating convicts to be released before the end of their sentences.

Three thousand prisoners will be released before the end of their sentence in prison, writes Rzeczpospolita. Each prisoner currently has less than 3 square meters of living space.

Courts have begun to grant non-custodial sentences more often and those already in prison, if the sentence does not exceed 3 years, are granted early release or put on probation.

Poland currently puts 235 per 100,000 of the population behind bars, compared to 110 in Austria, 100 in France, 95 in Germany and 113 in the Netherlands. (pg)