Justice Minister Proposes Early Parole for Foreign Prisoners

2026-02-13 - 17:38

A draft bill published on the government consultation portal proposes earlier parole for certain foreign nationals in Icelandic prisons, in a move aimed at easing pressure on the prison system. As reported by RÚV, the proposal would mean foreign prisoners with little or no ties to Iceland could be released after serving one third of their sentence, rather than half, provided it is known they will be deported at the end of their term. What's the Story? Draft bill by Minister of Justice proposing parole after one third of sentence for foreign nationals facing deportation Immediate deportation upon release; no access to transitional homes or electronic monitoring 75 unconditional sentences expired last year and 98 the year before; more than half of detainees at end of January were foreign nationals Hólmsheiði Prison. Photo: Golli. Draft bill published Upon parole, the proposal states that deportation would take place immediately. The draft also states that individuals subject to deportation orders would not be eligible to serve their sentences in transitional homes or under electronic monitoring. Such arrangements are intended for those seeking to integrate into Icelandic society. According to the bill, strain on the prison system has led to a rising number of unserved sentences expiring. Seventy-five unconditional sentences expired last year and 98 the year before, compared with 22 in 2020 and 16 in 2019. More than half of those in custody at the end of January were foreign nationals, though it is not specified how many of them face deportation. Iceland’s prison system has faced capacity challenges in recent years, as previously reported by Iceland Review.