Prisons took into account the release of detainees due to corona last year

Because visitors were temporarily not welcome in prison due to the corona measures, less contraband was found last year. In 2019, more than 4,500 prohibited items were found, last year that was just under 4,000.

According to DJI, drugs or telephones were now more often hidden between, for example, clothing or food that was imported into the prison. People also tried more often to throw things over the prison wall.

“A lot of drones are seen over PIs (penitentiaries),” said a meeting paper from March last year. “Maybe this has something to do with contraband.” DJI cannot say exactly how often drones have been seen.

Reintegration

There were also concerns about the reintegration of detainees. Due to corona, especially during the first lockdown, many activities in the prison were suspended and there was only remote contact with, for example, the probation service.

DJI says more activities were possible later in the year and efforts were made to minimize the impact on detainees, for example by doing more online.

According to DJI and the probation service, it is difficult to determine whether detainees and TBS’ers have been resocialized less well in the past year. The consequences differ from person to person. Where one person could not start a new education or could not find daytime activities, the other actually benefited from the fact that the cafes and casinos were closed, which reduced the chance of a relapse. In the end, detainees mainly spent more time in their cells, lawyers and involved organizations note.

Corona has also benefited the prison system, says crisis manager Erik de Borst. The penal institutions were provided with a video link with the courts, so that detainees had to go to the courtroom less often. “After some start-up problems, things are now going well. 300 to 350 sessions a week are now being settled via telehearing.”

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