Prisons Closed Due To Chronic Lack Of Inmates

During the 1990s, the Netherlands was faced with a lack of prison capacities, but now it has no prisoners.

The Dutch Justice Ministry reports it was forced to close down eight prisons, which will result in some 1,200 penal system staff members being laid off.

During the 1990s, the Netherlands was faced with a lack of prison capacities, but now it has virtually no prisoners.

Some 12,000 prisoners are serving their sentence at Dutch prisons, while there is room for 14,000, which is why deputy Justice Minister Nebahat Albayrak announced the closure of eight correctional institutions, saying that everyone who will lose their job because of this move would be taken care of.

The Ministry assessed that the crime rates would continue to drop in the Netherlands and it is negotiating with Belgium regarding taking on a part of its criminals as it recorded an increase of crime rates.