General
Prisoners to receive even more than two weeks of sentence reduction? State Secretary does not rule it out
State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen (D66) warned that prisoners may face sentence reductions exceeding the current fourteen days due to severe prison overcrowding in the Netherlands. While the government considers the existing shortening unjust, Van Bruggen acknowledged during a House of Representatives debate that reductions could extend to 21, 28, or even 40 days as immediate solutions remain unavailable. To address the crisis, plans include reopening facilities in Almere and youth institutions, allowing inmates to work outside during the day, and implementing stricter detention regimes to save staff costs. Additionally, D66 and CDA proposed making electronic tagging a primary punishment, though VVD and JA21 oppose this measure. Despite political sensitivity, a majority in the House appears supportive, with further discussion pending the formal consideration of the legislative proposal.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's