Talking to TV2, Justice Minister Anders Anundsen says capacity of Norwegian prisons has not been developed, so this agreement will let them free 242 new prison places in Norway.
The first prisoners will be sent in summer of 2015.
The prison that has been rented is located in town Veenhuizen, northern Netherlands. It will be operated as a subdivision of Ullersmo Prison in Norway and get a Norwegian director, but with Dutch employees.
– I hope that during the next summer we can begin sending prisoners to the Netherlands. It is first and foremost for people with long sentences. It can also be a transition zone for foreign prisoners who has a deportation decision, says Justice Minister.
The proposal to send Norwegian prisoners to the Netherlands was presented last year, and in late November the Ministry of Justice confirmed that there was an ongoing negotiations for the lease of prison.
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