Estonia, known for having one of the best correctional systems, is mulling renting out prison cells to Western countries who are struggling to accommodate their prison populations. 

Estonia has already received significant interest from the UK, where new Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer has complained that the previous Conservative government left the prison system in crisis, unable to jail offenders because there is simply no room in the prisons. Other potential client countries include Sweden, and the Netherlands, both of which have reported prison overcrowding. 

Estonian Minister of Justice Liisa Pakosta has proposed a plan to the government to rent out vacant prison cells in Estonia's three prisons to selected countries facing prison overcrowding problems, ERR.ee, the website of Estonian national broadcaster ERR, reported on September 2.

The proposal suggests that Estonia could house between 250 and 500 foreign prisoners, with the cost per cell estimated at around €3,500 per month. This initiative could potentially generate approximately €30 million for Estonia's state budget, she said.

"We have one of the best correctional systems in the world in Estonia, which means we also have excellent prison guards. They have thoroughly vetted backgrounds, excellent training, and very good equipment. Plus in Tartu, we already have international war criminals, and our people are handling it all very well," Pakosta explained, ERR.ee said.

Pakosta also highlighted Estonia's low rates of prison escapes and recidivism as further advantages of the Estonian correctional system, which she described as among the best in the world, ERR.ee said.

The proposal ensures that the prison guards would remain Estonian citizens. Through the scheme, Estonia expects to create roughy 400 new jobs.

The UK is one of the most interested countries in Estonia's proposal. The current inmate population in England and Wales is 88,350, the highest in over a decade. The overcrowding issue has been exacerbated by recent disturbances in the U.K., including riots following a mass stabbing in Southport.

In response, the new Labour government in Britain has implemented a temporary measure starting September 10, 2024, which could see around 5,500 convicted criminals released over the next few months to alleviate prison overcrowding.