New prison wings to house 180 inmates in Helsinki and Kylmäkoski

New prison wings are being built in Helsinki and Kylmäkoski to house 180 inmates, YLE writes. The modules enable rapid deployment, with construction starting in May and completion planned by the end of the year. Helsinki will gain 120 places and Kylmäkoski 60, as authorities address worsening overcrowding that has led to more violent clashes in prisons. Overcrowding has been linked to changes in legislation and longer sentences, the article notes. The expansion also includes a supplementary building at Turku Prison, moving a cell ward from Pelso to Hämeenlinna Prison, and a completely new prison in Lempäälä, Pirkanmaa, bringing total new inmate places to roughly 450 nationwide.