According to the most recent figures, 12,719 people are incarcerated today in Belgium, while prisons only have 11,020 places. Around 180 people are sleeping on the ground. In three years, the number of prisoners has increased by 2,000 people. “Any convict, legally resident, receiving a prison sentence of up to 5 years, with the exception of terrorist acts or moral crimes, would automatically obtain conditional release.“, she said.
Increase the number of extended prison leaves
For an individual residing illegally who cannot be returned to his country of origin, conditional release would occur after half the sentence. For sentences of up to 15 years in prison, Mathilde Steenbergen pleads for an early release of six months before the end of the sentence. She also wants to authorize extended prison leave.
A 56% increase in the number of inmates in prisons in five years: “The Nimby phenomenon prevents the construction of new psychiatric centers”
The Director General still asks to assess the capacity of prisons with “objective criteria. Three situations could emerge on the basis of 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.
For her part, N-VA MP Sophie De Wit judged “cynical” to make these proposals while Mathilde Steenbergen was chief of staff under the former Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne. “You come today to ask for an emergency law even though you yourself have decided on the policy in this matter.” she lashed out.
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).
In the letter sent last October to prison staff, the director returned to the thousand people who are interned in Belgian establishments even though their place is not there but in specialized institutions, “our Minister of Justice continues to demand better transmission to his College of Public Health”, writes Mathilde Steebergen in her letter to staff. It remains to be seen whether such a claim will give rise to structural effects.
In 2016, a new internment law was approved in order to keep convicted people who must be interned in psychiatric institutions away from prisons. Eight years later, it must be noted that prisons accommodate twice as many inmates as in 2016.
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