NCJ Number
198399
Journal
Justitele vergkenningen Volume: 28 Issue: 5 Dated: 2002 Pages: 50-60
Date Published
2002
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper argues that the Dutch criminal law system should take into account the increasingly multicultural characteristics of Dutch society.
Abstract
Although the basic tenets and application of Dutch criminal law have reflected the relatively homogeneous culture of the Netherlands, over the past decades the country has become multicultural in social structure with the steady increase in immigrant populations. Crime rates and delinquency patterns have been found to vary by ethnic group (including the Dutch). This paper argues that for reasons of both instrumentality (effectiveness) and material equality, some degree of cultural diversity should be taken into account in the framing and enforcement of Dutch criminal law. The Dutch criminal justice system should include minority employees and take culture into account in its decision-making and administration. 19 references