Italy may release up to 10,000 inmates—roughly 15% of its total prison population—in a bid to address severe overcrowding in the country’s detention facilities, the Justice Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ministry said that 10,105 prisoners are potentially eligible for early release through alternatives such as house arrest or probation. The proposed measure would apply to individuals with final convictions that are no longer subject to appeal, who have less than two years remaining in their sentence, and who have not committed any serious disciplinary offences in the past 12 months.

As reported in Reuters, those convicted of serious crimes such as terrorism, organized crime, rape, migrant trafficking and kidnapping would not be eligible for early release, the ministry clarified.

According to the World Prison Brief database, Italy’s prison system is among the most overcrowded in Europe, with an occupancy level of approximately 122%. Only Cyprus, France, and Turkey have higher overcrowding rates on the continent.

Rising concern over prison conditions has grown in recent months, particularly following an increase in inmate suicides and complaints about deteriorating living conditions during the summer heat. Many detention centers in Italy lack air conditioning, adding to the strain on both inmates and prison staff.

The Justice Ministry emphasized that the releases will not happen immediately and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A special taskforce has been established to coordinate with prisons and parole judges. The group is scheduled to meet weekly and will provide its first report by September.