DutchNews.nl - Eight prisons to be shut down (update)

The justice ministry is to close down eight prisons, cancel new prison building programmes and cut 1,200 jobs in the sector, junior minister Nebahat Albayrak announced on Tuesday.

The closures are necessary to cut the cell surplus because of the falling crime rate, the minister told a news conference. Solving the problem was a 'major puzzle' which required 'unorthodox' measures, the Volkskrant quoted the Labour minister as saying.

The prison closures will reduce the number of prison cells from 14,000 to 12,000. The cuts will save €164m, the Volkskrant said. Three prisons will be closed this year, the rest in 2012, after the next election.

Opposition MPs reacted angrily to the news. 'Violent crime is not going down... and we are far too willing to use community service,' said VVD MP Fred Teeven in the Volkskrant. The minister is wrong to close down prisons because of falling demand, he said.

Independent MP Rita Verdonk, a former prison governor, described the plan as 'absurd'. 'The problem of street terrorism in our cities is so serious we need those prisons,' she told the paper.

The anti-immigration PVV criticised the prison closures, which follow closely on home affairs ministry plans to halve the number of new police recruits. 'It is obvious that the interests of criminals are in good hands with the Labour party,' MP Raymond de Roon said.

At the same time, the Netherlands and Belgium are poised to finalise a deal which will see 500 Belgian prisoners held in Dutch jails for a temporary period. Belgium has a shortage of cells.

Not a very bright idea, really. Crime unfortunately increases during tough ecomomic times

By Michael | May 19, 2009 3:37 PM

Actually it is a good idea "if" it is in conjunction with economizing existing prisons and stoping what most of the world would consider excesive priviliges.

To explain further, as the world debates what is punishment, prisoner rights and re-integration programs, the Netherlands produces in some cases almost hotel-like accommodation for non-violent prisoners.

If the Netherlands brings its prisons to a basic European standard, provides only some communal benefits but still daily reminds prisoners that they are actually being punished and not just freedom and at the same time from the savings provided from such a move along with closures of some of these "hotels" would be significant enough to support increasing the number of spaces in existing prisons. There is plenty of room in existing prisons, they just have to close down the excessive number of game and other social room and put beds in them.

By Solkhar | May 19, 2009 5:49 PM

I would hope that it is against EU rules to imprison Belgian criminals in another country i.e. The Netherlands. Could this be the beginning of Holland profiting yet again off human misery. Being paid by other states to imprison. I am sickened by this. Is not the International War Crimes Court in The Hague. Does this appear absurd and immoral to anyone but me?

By larry Becton | May 19, 2009 9:27 PM

I kind of think that 100% of the USA violent criminals would love to be in prison, in the Netherlands, as they give out MUCH lighter sentences for Murderers, Rapists, Child Abusers,etc... The USA sentences are either LIFE in prison or the Death Penalty.

By LB | May 19, 2009 9:29 PM