Ombudsman Claudine Konsbruck discussed the state of Luxembourg’s prison system on RTL Radio on Tuesday morning. As part of her mandate, Konsbruck supervises the country’s detention facilities, conducting on-site visits to assess living conditions, inmate treatment, and the protection of fundamental rights.
According to Konsbruck, the Schrassig and Uerschterhaff facilities are currently at full capacity and experienced severe overcrowding over the summer. To manage the influx, extra beds were added to existing cells, and staff were occasionally forced to place mattresses on the floor.
She described it as "shocking" how quickly Uerschterhaff – a facility exclusively for pre-trial detainees with a capacity of around 400 inmates that opened just four years ago – reached its limit. Konsbruck noted that overcrowding inevitably heightens tensions, emphasising that housing an inmate alone is "entirely different" from forcing them to share a cell with one or two others.
While two major prisons are operating at capacity, Luxembourg’s third facility in Givenich remains underutilised. The semi-open prison, which requires inmates to sleep on-site at night, has a capacity of 115 but currently has more than 50 vacant spots.
Konsbruck questioned why Givenich is not being used more effectively, suggesting it could accommodate more transfers or be designated specifically for women or minors. She also highlighted the disparate conditions faced by female inmates across the prison system, calling for targeted improvements.
The detention of minors in adult prisons remains a persistent and increasingly acute problem in Luxembourg. While 28 minors were held at Schrassig in 2025, that number has already reached 41 as of November 2026, with five currently detained there.
Konsbruck described the situation as "a sad matter," stressing that minors do not belong in adult prisons. However, the specialised Security Unit (UniSec) in Dreiborn can only accommodate 12 individuals. Although a director has been appointed for the planned new youth prison, construction is far from complete. Konsbruck criticised the protracted construction timelines in Luxembourg, noting that even when new facilities finally open, they are often already undersized. She acknowledged that the debate over minors in adult prisons has become a "familiar refrain," adding that while there is universal agreement that the situation is unacceptable, progress remains too slow.
Acknowledging that segments of the public may lack sympathy for incarcerated youth, Konsbruck emphasised that "the minors of today are the adults of tomorrow." She warned that if troubled youth are not properly supported and rehabilitated, the future fabric of Luxembourgish society is at risk.
