Luxembourg's lawmakers engaged in a wide-ranging debate on the future of the nation's prison system on Wednesday, scrutinising its high costs, high pre-trial detention rates, and the challenges of inmate reintegration.

On Wednesday morning, the Chamber of Deputies held a debate on Luxembourg's prison system, questioning its current efficacy and the potential for greater use of alternatives to incarceration.

The debate, initiated by MP Dan Biancalana of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), centred on a fundamental question: is the primary goal of prison to punish, or to rehabilitate? Biancalana argued that a sentence should both make offenders "feel" the consequences of their actions and provide a path for them to change and reintegrate into society.

To frame the discussion, he presented key figures: with 760 inmates currently in a system with a capacity of roughly 1,000, the cost to the state is approximately €440 per inmate per day, or about €160,000 annually.

Biancalana contended that this significant financial outlay could be better invested in education, therapy, and other alternative measures. "Studies show that these alternative measures are cheaper – there are figures from the Council of Europe on this too – and result in lower reoffending rates, provided they are properly supported," he stated.

A key point of criticism was the high rate of pre-trial detention, which applies to around half of the current prison population. While acknowledging its necessity in some cases, such as a high flight risk, Biancalana argued it should not become the default. Following this line of reasoning, a motion from the LSAP and a legislative proposal from MP Sam Tanson of the Green Party (Déi Gréng) were introduced, both aimed at limiting the use of pre-trial detention. However, the LSAP's motion was ultimately not passed.

Echoing the call for alternatives, MP Guy Arendt of the Democratic Party (DP) emphasised that building more prisons is not a sustainable solution. He advocated for the expansion of electronic monitoring, specifically recommending that the state procure more electronic tags to facilitate its use.

MP Stéphanie Weydert of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) shifted the focus to a critical barrier to reintegration: housing. She highlighted that Luxembourg's precarious housing market has led to instances where inmates voluntarily request to remain in Givenich prison beyond their release date to avoid homelessness. Weydert referenced a 2021 pilot project designed to provide socio-educational support for released individuals without housing.

MP Dan Hardy of the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) suggested that non-resident convicts, who comprise about half of the inmate population, should be able to serve their sentences in their home countries.

Meanwhile, MP Marc Baum of the Left Party (Déi Lénk) emphasised the need for prison labour reform, demanding that inmates receive a proper wage and associated social security benefits.

Minister of Justice Elisabeth Margue did not dismiss the idea but pointed to practical obstacles. She noted that social security contributions would need to be based on the minimum wage, but inmates often work irregularly and not full-time. These difficulties, she explained, are compounded by the fact that many inmates are not Luxembourg residents.

The Minister also provided updates on administrative and infrastructural developments. She announced plans to digitally record inmate data from the outset to improve statistical analysis and confirmed that her ministry is continuing work on a legislative project to expand Schrassig prison, though a definitive timeline was not available.

A point of consensus emerged across the political spectrum during the debate: criticism that courts are currently handing down relatively few suspended sentences.