The Minister of Justice publicly acknowledged the difficulties faced by the Portuguese prison system, which has been worsening due to the significant increase in the number of inmates in the country's prisons.
According to the data presented, 55 deaths were recorded in Portuguese prisons between January 1 and September 7. Of these deaths, one was caused by homicide, 12 resulted from suicide, and 42 were attributed to illness.
The Justice department did not specify which diseases caused the majority of deaths, nor did it reveal other details about the circumstances in which the deaths occurred.
The Minister's acknowledgment of the difficulties comes at a time when the occupancy rates of Portuguese prisons exceed their capacity, raising concerns about the living conditions and health of inmates.
