An “emergency law” called for in Belgian prisons

“In the dungeons, it’s the Middle Ages”: scandalous situation at the understaffed and overcrowded Nivelles prison

The director general still asks to evaluate the capacity of prisons using “objective criteria”. Three situations could emerge based on these parameters: a green, ideal scenario, an orange and a red which would reveal an alarming situation in the establishment, requiring measures to be taken.

N-VA MP Sophie De Wit considered it “cynical” to make these proposals while Mathilde Steenbergen was chief of staff under former Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne. “You have come today to ask for emergency law even though you yourself have decided on the policy in this matter.”

Christoph D’Haese (N-VA), for his part, raised the risk of an attack on the separation of powers if the court’s possibilities of sanction are reduced. The N-VA and Vlaams Belang believe that additional prison capacity must be created.

For the PS, the PTB and Vooruit, it is a good thing to consider reducing the sentences. “Prison should be the ultimate sanction,” comments Vooruit MP Achraf El Yakhloufi. “We must prioritize reintegration”, underlined Vanessa Matz (Les Engagés).