Prisons are bursting at the seams, so inmates can now go home earlier!

From Annette Birschel

The Hague (Netherlands) - According to the government,Dutch prisons are so full that there is no more room for new convicts or detainees.

There is no more room for prison inmates in the Netherlands. That's why some prisoners are now allowed to go home earlier. (symbolic photo)
There is no more room for prison inmates in the Netherlands. That's why some prisoners are now allowed to go home earlier. (symbolic photo)  © Robert Michael/dpa

Offenders will therefore be released early from next week, the responsible State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Ingrid Coenradie (36), told parliament in The Hague. According to the State Secretary, she is in talks with Estonia to see whether cells can be rented there.

For the time being, the idea is to shorten sentences from three days. However, this is to be extended to one week. It would also be possible to waive a sentence, said the State Secretary. "I can't rule that out, it's that bad."

All other measures have already been exhausted, she added. The cells at police stations are also full. As a result, there is not enough space for people who are arrested during riots, for example. The reason for the major bottlenecks is reportedly a lack of staff and the longer prison sentences that are being imposed.

In recent months, people have been released early or the prison terms of offenders have been suspended until a cell was free. Just a few years ago, there was an overcapacity of cells in the Netherlands. Prisons were then closed or converted.