Less prisons!
The Netherlands has been steadily closing prisons for more than a decade as crime rates have fallen and sentencing policies have shifted. Since around 2009, the country has shut down at least 19 facilities - now more than 20 - because there simply weren’t enough inmates to keep them full. A mix of factors contributed to the decline, including lower crime rates, shorter prison sentences, alternative punishments, and a strong focus on rehabilitation and reintegration rather than long-term incarceration. The result is a rare situation in which a modern country has more prison capacity than prisoners, leading to closures, staff retraining, and even renting out unused cells to other nations on occasion.
A little more detail on those factors...
Effective Rehabilitation Programs: The Netherlands has focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment, leading to programs that help offenders reintegrate into society, reducing recidivism rates.
Alternative Sentencing: The use of alternatives to incarceration, such as community service, probation, and electronic monitoring, has become more common, allowing individuals to serve their sentences without being incarcerated.
Social Policies: Broader social policies aimed at addressing the root causes of crime, such as poverty and education, may also contribute to lower incarceration rates.
A little more detail on those factors...
Effective Rehabilitation Programs: The Netherlands has focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment, leading to programs that help offenders reintegrate into society, reducing recidivism rates.
Alternative Sentencing: The use of alternatives to incarceration, such as community service, probation, and electronic monitoring, has become more common, allowing individuals to serve their sentences without being incarcerated.
Social Policies: Broader social policies aimed at addressing the root causes of crime, such as poverty and education, may also contribute to lower incarceration rates.
