The study was initiated because an increasing number of DJI employees felt threatened and intimidated by serious criminals in detention. That combined with ‘reports of criminals continuing their criminal activities from detention and violent breakout attempts’ prompted the WODC to launch a wide-ranging investigation into undermining crime that continues within prison walls.

The report accompanying the study, on which the WODC published a press release, is entitled Grip of in de greep? The report states that, according to the researchers, a ‘different long-term vision of security’ is needed to get a better grip on high-risk prisoners.

Resocialisation and humanity

That other long-term vision should mainly focus on increased attention to resocialisation and humanitarianism. Problems with high-risk prisoners have led in recent years to stricter regimes and additional risk-avoidance measures, according to the researchers.

However, this puts increasing pressure on resocialisation opportunities in prison, according to one of the conclusions. ‘Because more focus on security makes human treatment and customisation fade more into the background. This while contact and humane treatment of detainees can actually promote safety and thus resocialisation.’

High-risk

The researchers also note that there is no uniform definition of the term ‘high-risk’. This leads to detainees sometimes being placed in a ward where they are not optimally suited, such as the Intensive Supervision Unit (AIT).

‘These wards seem to be populated by detainees who are sometimes far away from organised crime, such as persons awaiting placement in a TB clinic,’ it noted. ‘It is also questionable whether the more intensive, and very labour-intensive, monitoring of a limited group of inmates is effective in stopping criminal activity from prison.’

The full research report, and a summary of the main findings, is available on the WODC website.