News article | 02-06-2023 | 15:00
The Council of Ministers approved an amendment to the Prison Principles Act to allow for additional measures against serious organized crime in custody.
With this proposal, Minister Weerwind for legal protection authorizes significant restrictions in the communication with the outside world of a prisoner placed in the extra-secure establishment (EBI) or the intensive supervision departments (AIT).
The Minister can completely prohibit communication options or contacts if there are very serious risks to the safety of society. In addition, visual monitoring of conversations between detainees and their lawyers will be put in place. In addition, the proposal provides for a maximum of two lawyers with whom a detainee can communicate confidentially. This is done to prevent criminal activity, but also for the safety of the lawyers who risk being put under pressure by the detainees.
Minister Weerwind: “I stand for a safe and fair Netherlands. We therefore specifically tackle this small group of criminals who make the Netherlands much less safe – even when detained. Furthermore, I want to prevent prison staff from becoming the target of criminals who exert pressure to lift the restrictions imposed. This proposal is an important step in that direction.
The amendment to the Penitentiary Principles Act is not self-contained. This is part of a broader approach against the prosecution of criminal behavior in custody. For example, in the future, the Netherlands will have a total of four court complexes (in Lelystad, Schiphol, Vlissingen and Vught) where detainees at risk of fleeing are held and tried in a secure environment. Finally, there will be a courtroom at PI Vught as well as a room where video trials can take place in order to minimize the dangerous movements of detainees at risk of flight.