2023-08-30 17:44:00
Since 1972, Belgium no longer sent prisoners sentenced to less than 3 years in prison. Already at the time, prison overcrowding was taking its toll. The sentence was still mostly carried out under an electronic bracelet. But not always. We still went to prison if we were in the “terrorist” or “sex offender” category or if we were not in the conditions of electronic surveillance for a question of dangerousness, for example.
Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne has put the enforcement of short sentences back on the table. Since September 1, 2022, sentences of 2 to 3 years are effectively served in prison. According to figures from the minister’s office, on August 29, 355 convicts corresponding to this profile were in prison and 21 locked up in one of the two detention centers currently in existence (Forest and Kortrijk).
From September 1, very short sentences, from 6 months to 2 years, will be subject to the same regime.
For the Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne, this revision aims to reduce the feeling of impunity and therefore the risk of recidivism. In addition, by publicizing the living conditions in a cell, the risk of these convicts subsequently turning into heavier criminals would be reduced. In the long run, this mechanic should help unclog the prisons. But for the short term, many prison directors are trembling at the thought of seeing an additional influx into their already overcrowded facility.
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This position is not unanimous: “Possibilities for behavioral change and reintegration are limited or non-existent due to the short length of the sentence. The short custodial sentence causes detrimental effects and even increases the risk of recidivism”, explains Marc Nève, president of the Central Council of Prison Surveillance (CCSP). “Studies show that alternative sentences, such as community service and electronic monitoring, reduce the risk of recidivism by 50% compared to a short prison sentence”.
The person sentenced to a short sentence must report to prison within 5 days of receiving the prison ticket, but he may later be transferred to a house of detention, a closed place, certainly secure but less massive than a prison (between 20 and 60 places). The supervision there is softer and promotes collective life between inmates as well as support in terms of reintegration. No contact with big hitters or crime gurus.
“The convict can indeed be redirected to a house of detention but not systematically”, we are told in detail at the minister’s office. “You shouldn’t be categorized as ‘terrorist’ or ‘sex offender’. There is an analysis that is done on the basis of the file. They are low security risk and selected on the basis of strict criteria. Convicts must also be motivated to work towards their rehabilitation.”
The second detention center in the country has opened its doors in Forest prison for people sentenced to short sentences
Eventually, the minister plans 15 detention houses (for 720 detainees) but has only been able to open two so far. In the municipalities, faced with the implementation projects, the shields are raised, the residents have fears and therefore the mayors too. However, three new establishments are on the way: in Zelzate, Olen and Ninove.
Van Quickenborne wants to abolish prison sentences of less than 6 months
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