Custodial Institutions Agency to recommence phased visits and leave
From 2 June, the Custodial Institutions Agency (Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen, DJI) will begin the phased relaxation of the coronavirus measures. Small-scale visits and leave will once more be allowed. A trial enabling visits behind acrylic glass will launch in three prisons. Young offenders as well as those detained under a hospital order may receive visitors and go on supervised leave as part of their treatment. Other measures will continue to apply, such as controlling the inflow and outflow of detainees.
DJI announced preventive measures on 13 March to stop the coronavirus from contaminating the institutions as much as possible. Detainees, young offenders and those detained under a hospital order have not been allowed to receive visitors or to go on leave from that moment. These measures have proven effective: a total of 14 detainees have been infected with the virus in prison, while the number of infections in forensic care is 6. All those involved have since recovered from the coronavirus and no young offenders have been infected. These numbers pale in comparison with the total of more than 10,000 detainees, aliens, young offenders and those detained under a hospital order.
Visits and leave
The reduction in the number of coronavirus infections within society means that the Dutch measures are being relaxed at a range of locations. This development enables DJI to recommence visits and leave. A gradual approach is taken to guarantee the security of staff and detainees as well as to minimise the risk of infections within the institutions. The advice of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, RIVM) will continue to be decisive as well.
Relaxation of measures as from 2 June:
- launch of trial visits to detainees behind acrylic glass in the Alphen aan den Rijn, Veenhuizen and Arnhem Penal Institutions. Detainees may receive one visitor for one hour a week;
- leave for detainees in exceptional circumstances such as a funeral;
- visits to young offenders and those detained under a hospital order behind acrylic glass at all locations. While those detained under a hospital order may receive one visitor for one hour a week, young offenders can be visited simultaneously by no more than two parents/legal representatives for one hour a week;
- recommencement of supervised leave for young offenders and those detained under a hospital order within the framework of their treatment for no more than two hours a week.
Visits and especially leave are a key element in treating young offenders and those detained under a hospital order. As a result of leave, they can return to society in a safe and controlled manner. Visits and leave are therefore recommencing in all forensic psychiatric treatment clinics and young offenders institutions.
Potential for further relaxation
On 2 June, the relaunch of visits and leave will commence. It will be closely monitored how the relaxation and the national developments will progress. Should it prove that the relaxation of the measures does not adversely affect the number of infections, it will be assessed whether this process may continue and whether a further relaxation of the measures is in order. A decision on this matter will be taken prior to 16 June.