Community Service in the Netherlands, A Viable Alternative? (From Community Service: A New Option in Punishing Offenders in Europe, P 47-68, 1986, Hans-Jorg Albrecht and Wolfram Schadler, eds. -- See NCJ-116154)

• NCJ Number: 116158
• Author(s): A M van Kalmthout
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 29 pages
• Sale Source: Max-Planck-Institute Fur Auslandisches und Internationales Strafrecht
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

Based on pre-legislation experiments, the community service order in the Netherlands is apparently a viable penal sanction, but the extent to which it can have the intended effect of reducing short prison sentences remains questionable.

Abstract

Community service experiments began in February 1981 in eight selected court districts. In August 1983 the experiment was extended to the other 11 districts. Under program guidelines, the offender must formally propose the order's use, and it is only possible if the defendant confesses. The order can only be used with offenses that carry imprisonment of 6 months or less. Some problems during the experiments were the absence of a legal framework, inconsistency, the handling of unemployment compensation for unemployed offenders, and equality of rights in determining the number of community service hours to replace particular prison terms. Based on official evaluations of the experiments, the Preparing Committee issued a final report in 1984, in which it recommended legislation to institute the community service order as a sanction alongside imprisonment, probation, and fine. It remains to be seen whether the institution of the community service order will result in a reduction in the rate of imprisonment. 48 notes.