The staff shortage in prisons means that convicts who have to spend longer in prison are also given a postponement of their sentences. This is evident from figures that NOS requested from the Ministry of Justice and Security. There are enough cells, but there is a serious shortage of guards. The longest-serving prisoner who is now free has a prison sentence of four years and five months. More than a hundred people with prison sentences of more than one year are currently walking around freely.
Lesser offences
The government previously stated that only people who receive a prison sentence for lighter offenses will have to serve that sentence later. MPs feel misinformed by outgoing Legal Protection Minister Franc Weerwind, now that it appears that there are also people walking around freely with sentences of around four years.
“The impression has been created that these are minor crimes, but when I hear these figures they are not minor crimes,” NSC MP Judith Uitermark told NOS. “The minister has some explaining to do.”
Ankle band
Minister Weerwind recently took a number of temporary measures to give the prisons some breathing space. For example, some convicts are sent home early with an ankle monitor. In addition, self-reporters are temporarily not called up. Self-reporters are convicts who have to report to prison themselves to serve their sentence.
