Advocacy for an active Switzerland in front of American challenges

The prison overcrowding in the canton of Vaud has once again aroused the indignation of the Grand Council. Invited to decide on the annual report of the visitors’ commission, the deputies denounced Tuesday “inhuman” and “degrading” conditions of detention, of the fundamental rights “flouted” or even a “shame” for the canton.

President of the visitors’ commission, PLR Marion Wahlen stressed that the situation had still pejored. She took the example of the “record” increase in the duration of stays at the Lausanne police hotel: it jumped up to 49 days, far beyond 48 legal hours. The deputy mentioned detentions in 7m2 cells, without daylight or running water, where people remain only 23 hours a day.

Overcrowding in the prisons of the canton -notably that of Bois -Mermet in Lausanne (165%) and the crossroads in Orbe (139%) -, the delay in the work in the prison for women of the Tuilière in Lonay or the “Insufficient” followed by detained persons with mental disorders are also among the main criticisms of the report.

The latter, as every year when he is discussed in the Grand Council, aroused several reactions among the “shocked” and “indignant” deputies that the situation does not evolve. Several there were several of them asking for a “redefinition” of cantonal prolongers, judging that Vaud would incarcerate more than the other cantons.

And sometimes, according to them, for reasons which would not deserve a prison sentence.

MP Cédric Weissert points out the problem of prison policy concerning certain foreign prisoners.

Elected officials also demanded alternatives to imprisonment, starting with an increased appeal to the electronic bracelet.

“Tracks of action” to come

For the Minister in charge of Security Vassilis Venizelos, “the Council of State does not remain crossing” facing “a situation which is not acceptable”. He recalled that several projects were underway to improve the situation, but that these were often “long-term projects”, like the construction of the new prison of Grands Marais in Orbe, with its 410 new places expected by 2030.

For more details, he referred to the press conference, scheduled for next Monday, during which the State of Vaud promised to present “tracks of action”. On this occasion, he will also unveil two studies carried out to try to understand the causes that led to this prison overcrowding in the past ten years.

With Keystone ATS