The Dutch government will begin releasing convicts two weeks early starting in mid-July because of prison cell shortage, according to a letter by State Secretary for Legal Protection Teun Struycken. The proposal is set to be discussed in the Council of Ministers on Monday, June 30th.
The Netherlands’ prison system is nearing a breaking point, with 99.5 percent of cells occupied, Struycken wrote. While current rules allow for early release up to five days before a sentence ends, this is no longer sufficient.
“I regret this decision,” Struycken stated, “but it will free up cells where other convicts can serve their sentences.”
In the letter, Struycken also warned of a worsening crisis if the government fails to invest in the prison system.
“This will probably lead to prisoners having to be released more than 14 days early in the coming years, and to the expiration of enforcement deadlines,” Struycken warned. If those terms expire, convicted criminals could potentially evade punishment altogether due to delays in incarceration.
The idea of early release was originally proposed by former PVV State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie. Her idea faced fierce opposition from PVV leader Geert Wilders, which contributed to her departure from the party.
