Switzerland’s prison population has increased

Switzerland’s prison population has increased by nine percent over the past ten years to 6,599. This is bang on the average rise of prison populations in Europe. The country with the biggest rise was Malta with a door-slamming 49% increase. Estonia, with 3,286 prisoners, enjoyed the largest decrease (39%) in its prison population. The rise in Swiss incarcerations reflects the increase in the most commonly prosecuted crimes: drug dealing and consumption (14%), theft (37%), fraud (31%) and simple assault (33%).