NCJ Number
100474
Date Published
1986
Length
16 pages
Annotation
After describing the types of Dutch correctional institutions and their populations as well as some recent developments in the prison system, this paper outlines inmate grievance procedures and a recent evaluation of their effectiveness.
Abstract
The 1953 Prison Act established an independent Visiting Committee for each prison to hear inmate complaints and advise the prison governor (warden) on the matter, which advice the warden could follow or ignore. In 1977, a new act established for each institution a Grievance Committee (GC), composed of three members of the Visiting Committee, to hear inmate grievances and render decisions binding upon prison wardens. Either party may appeal GC decisions to the Central Board of Advice (CBA). Criteria determine which grievances can be brought before the GC. Interviews with 212 inmates, 94 prison officers, 22 wardens, and members of the GC and CBA were used to assess the effectiveness of grievance procedures before and after the 1977 act. Findings revealed that inmates are uninformed about grievance procedures, and both inmate and staff have little confidence in GC decisions. It is recommended that mediation of inmate grievances should be provided to increase the likelihood that both parties will be satisfied with the outcome, to reduce the adversarial climate of the grievance, and to mitigate inmate-staff tension in the aftermath of the grievance resolution. Grievances unresolved through mediation could still be submitted to the GC.