Latvia reveals cost gap: keeping a prisoner costs 15 times more than probation supervision

Latvia's Ministry of Justice has released data comparing the cost of different forms of criminal punishment. According to information given to the LETA news agency, supervising one probation client costs the state an average of €4.15 per day, while keeping one person in custody costs €62.08 per day — roughly 15 times more.

Last year the State Probation Service (VPD) managed nearly 15,000 cases, including 7,931 supervision cases and 4,347 community service cases. The ministry describes the VPD as a key part of Latvia's justice system, helping to reduce reoffending, protect victims' interests, and support people's return to society after serving their sentence.

Minister's and director's comments

Justice Minister Edvards Smiltēns, meeting with VPD leadership this week, said a person's successful return to society benefits not just that individual but society as a whole, since it means fewer new crimes and a safer state. He stressed that the state must offer people willing to take responsibility not only supervision but also support, work, trust and people around them who help keep them on the right path.

VPD director Imants Jurevičius explained that the service's specialists deal daily with complex life situations without simple solutions, so it is important for the public and decision-makers to see not only results but also the work required to help a person take responsibility and avoid returning to crime.

Figures and developments

Last year, 293,521 hours of community service were performed, generating an estimated €1.26 million in value for society. Some 80% of people under electronic monitoring start working within their first month of supervision. The service has trained 107 specialists to work with children and young people, based in five units in Riga, Liepāja and Daugavpils. The VPD's average workload ratio has risen from 0.77 to 0.98 since the start of 2024.

Probation work currently also involves 121 volunteers, mentors and mediation specialists. The VPD has identified 169 measures to reduce administrative burden and continues rolling out a new electronic monitoring system. Riga will host the World Congress on Probation in 2028.