Wednesday, Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya said that the local authorities intend on expanding existing prisons and building a new one in Azraq, which will cost approximately JD 70 million.

He justified the government's decision saying that the occupancy rates in Jordan's prisons are extremely high.

Faraya explained that the total capacity of prisons in the Kingdom stands at approximately 13,500 inmates, noting that they currently have 21,000 inmates in Jordanian prisons.

During a meeting with the Parliamentary Finance Committee, he said that work is underway to resolve this matter including considering alternative punishments and penalties other than imprisonment to certain crimes.

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