Record numbers of inmates in Spanish jails

Record numbers of inmates in Spanish jails
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By h.b. - Oct 14, 2008 - 7:41 AM

A Spanish prison - Photo 20minutos.es

Foreigners are making a high percentage of new inmates filling Spanish prisons.

Spanish jails are now holding a record number of inmates with 5,289 new prisoners entering so far this year at a rate of 20 a day.

The increase is the largest ever seen in the times of democracy in Spain and one of the reasons is said to be the high percentage of foreign inmates. Last year 75% of the new prisoners were foreigners.

New harsher penalties in the area of domestic violence and other reforms to the Penal Code are also adding to the numbers.

Spain has 157 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest number in Europe, but far fewer than the 762 seen in the United States.

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