The safety of young people and staff in juvenile detention centres (JJIs) is under constant and serious pressure due to staff shortages, according to three Dutch inspectorates. In an urgent letter to the State Secretary for Justice and Security, the Inspectorate of Justice and Security, the Inspectorate of Education, and the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate called for a short-term action plan to restore safe and responsible care.
Around 450 young people who have been convicted of, or are suspected of, criminal offences are housed in juvenile detention centres. Education and treatment are intended to be the main focus, rather than punishment. However, the inspectorates said staff shortages are leading to increasing cuts in care and treatment.
The inspectorates warned that young people are becoming “the victims of an increasingly far-reaching, worrying cutback in care and treatment”. According to Elske van Amelsfort, Chief Inspector at the Inspectorate of Justice and Security, the resocialisation of young people in juvenile detention centres is coming under growing pressure.
An investigation by the Inspectorate of Justice and Security and the Inspectorate of Education into JJI Teylingereind found that young people are already experiencing the effects of staff shortages, despite employees’ efforts. The inspectorates reported that the daily programme at the facility consistently provides fewer hours than required by law. As a result, young people regularly miss lessons.
Temporary emergency measures
The inspectorates also found that workloads are increasing. Frequently changing supervisors on residential wards create misunderstandings and tension among both young people and staff. At JJI Teylingereind, group leaders are often assigned to groups of young people they do not know, leaving them unprepared for the role. The number of inexperienced staff members is also increasing.
According to the inspectorates, many staff members feel a strong sense of insecurity in their work.
The Ministry of Justice and Security is developing a new policy for juvenile justice institutions. However, the inspectorates fear that implementation could take a long time. In the meantime, temporary emergency measures remain in place as standard practice.
The inspectorates said the problems identified require decisions and action in the short term.
@anp |NEWS BRAINPORT
