2023-07-07 18:05:00
After Kortrijk, it is in Forest that the second detention center in the country is established, inaugurated this Friday in the presence of the Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne and Mathieu Michel, Secretary of State in charge of the Buildings Agency. It can accommodate 57 inmates sentenced to a prison term of 2 to 3 years. From the first day of their sentence, they are accompanied there to put their lives back on the right track through daily activities, training and job search.
“Detention houses, such as the one that already exists in Kortrijk, are an ideal environment for the execution of these short sentences with a view to reintegration”, according to Vincent Van Quickenborne. “Residents of a detention center can take their lives back into their own hands. With the help of detention companions, they actively seek work, training and useful daily activities. They also learn how to live together, manage their administration and even to take part in household chores.”
“More responsibilities in a detention center than in a traditional prison”
In this context, specific work is being carried out to personalize the support of detainees thanks to detention guides, a new function that is emerging within the prison administration. “They systematically consult with management, psychosocial services and caregivers. Thanks to this cross-knowledge, it is now possible to draw up an individual detention plan tailored to the resident in question. Residents receive more responsibilities in a house of detention than in a traditional prison”, adds the Minister of Justice.
Sex offenders and convicts of terrorism do not come into consideration
Only convicts with a low risk profile and motivated to improve their lives can stay there. Sex offenders and those convicted of terrorism are never considered. People who break the rules are sent back to a regular prison.
From mini-football to Jamioulx prison: 5 inmates faced 5 supervisors
The detention house is located in the former buildings of the women’s prison. The detainees were transferred to Haren prison. The Régie des Bâtiments carried out various renovation and adaptation works, amounting to approximately 700,000 euros, in order to make the building suitable for this new, more open form of detention. “This work included in particular the removal of bars, the adaptation of cell doors, the renovation of floors, walls and ceilings, the fitting out of new kitchens, but also the installation of LED lighting and an access ramp for people with reduced mobility”, affirms Mathieu Michel, Secretary of State in charge of the Régie des Bâtiments.
Charleroi does not want a detention center
“We need to ensure that new criminals get their lives back on track and don’t fall back into crime,” Vincent Van Quickenborne said. “They need to learn what honest work is and restructure their lives. Residents go back to work , regain control of their lives and leave the house of detention better than they came in. In the context of the fight once morest crime in Brussels too, it is a good thing that we now also have a house of detention in our capital.”
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