NCJ Number
187071
Journal
Judicial Explorations (Het schemergebied van het straffen) Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: 2000 Pages: 52-62
Date Published
2000
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the reintroduction of conditional release into the Dutch penal system.
Abstract
The Minister of Justice proposes to reintroduce conditional release (parole) into the Dutch penal system. Conditional release was abolished in the 1980’s and replaced by a system in which each inmate is automatically and unconditionally released after having served two-thirds of the prison sentence. This automatic release procedure has been widely criticized. After reviewing parole operations in the United Kingdom and the United States, Dutch officials are debating the functions of conditional release. An early release system can influence inmates’ institutional behavior, relieve the pressure on prison capacity, and serve as a special prevention technique by making the transition from prison to free society more gradual. The article suggests that special prevention should be the primary motive for resuming conditional release. References