NCJ Number
147594
Journal
International Criminal Justice Review Volume: 2 Dated: (1992) Pages: 119-128
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The way in which prison policies are implemented in the Netherlands is becoming increasingly varied in response to the significant increase over the last decade in the prison population from 4,000 to 7,600 detainees.
Abstract
Political pressure to provide prisoners with differentiated programs has translated into policy measures. For example, different programs for alcohol and drug addicts and special programs for the mentally disturbed have been implemented. Other programs for women in detention, juveniles, life-sentenced prisoners, and extreme fugitive prisoners have become practicable. As a result, the Prisons Department of the Netherlands Ministry of Justice employs a growing number of professional staff, such as social workers and medical personnel, to respond to differentiated needs of detainees. Policy implementation, however, is complicated by the lack of prison space and by different prison security levels. Several measures have been adopted to provide appropriate prison services: establish a consultation structure between staff heads of high security prisons; place disruptive prisoners in separate institutions; provide prisoners and staff with more information on prison regulations and acceptable behavior; and conduct an annual evaluation of policy implementation. The conflict between professionalism and loyalty in implementing prison policies in the Netherlands is discussed, and an appraisal of prison