The Romanian justice ministry on Wednesday published a draft of a plan to lower prison overcrowding that involves pardons for thousands of prisoners [press release, in Romanian], but the plan was met with protests around the country. Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu’s proposed emergency ordinance would bypass parliamentary and presidential approval and release approximately 2,500 prisoners. The main focus would include sentences less than five years, excluding sexual offenses, violence and corruption, and inmates that are over 60 years old, pregnant or with young children could have their sentences halved. Protests [AP report] occurred in the Romanian capital of Bucharest as well as a few other cities. Grindeanu and the proposal also received political criticism from an opposition leader and General Prosecutor Augustin Laza.

Prison overcrowding has been a widespread issue all over the world. Earlier this month the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Hawaii filed a complaint [JURIST report] with the US Department of Justice (DOJ), stating that overcrowding in the state correctional facilities is resulting in violations of the prisoners’ Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. In December Bolivia President Evo Morales pardoned 1,800 prisoners [JURIST report] in a continued attempt to cut down on prison overcrowding. More than 2,000 inmates across Zimbabwe were granted amnesty and released from prison [JURIST report] in May 2016 due to overcrowding and a lack of food.