Romania frees killers, rapists and paedophiles

Romania has begun an extensive programme of prisoner releases following an order from the European Court of Human Rights to improve its overcrowded, rat-infested and unsanitary prisons.

It has released 33 murderers, 47 rapists and two paedophiles after it passed a law that shaves six days off every inmate’s sentence for every 30 days they spend behind bars.

A further 3,500 prisoners have become eligible for parole this month, with 8,000 expected to benefit from the new law within the next year.