St. Gallen to reopen prisons to combat overcrowding

The Canton of St. Gallen is set to reopen the Bazenheid and Uznach prisons to address severe overcrowding within its correctional system. Since August 2025, the situation has reached a critical point, with some facilities housing up to 80 people in only 57 cells, exhausting both physical space and personnel resources.

The reopening is scheduled for September 1, 2026, providing a total of 26 additional prison places. The Uznach facility, which had been closed since June 2020 due to unresolved security concerns regarding nearby construction projects, will contribute 14 places. To facilitate this, the St. Gallen Cantonal Council approved a supplementary credit of approximately 870,000 Swiss francs.

Restoring the Uznach prison involved significant technical upgrades, including the replacement of video surveillance, locking systems, electrical, and sanitary installations. The reopening also includes the recruitment of new staff to manage the facilities.