Inspectors demand urgent action on youth detention centres

Government inspectorates have warned that Dutch youth detention centres are under severe pressure due to staff shortages, putting both detainees and workers at risk. Around 450 young individuals, aged between 12 and 23 at the time of their offense, are currently held in the country's six JJIs (Youth Justice Institutions). Although most are between 14 and 21 years old, the centres aim to focus on education and treatment rather than punishment to prevent reoffending.

However, the inspectorates claim that young people are victims of a "worrying" decline in care, treatment, education, and daily activities. In a letter to junior justice minister Claudia van Bruggen, the inspectorates demanded an urgent action plan, stating that emergency measures such as a shortened daily program have become standard practice.

These measures reduce the mandatory 77 hours per week young people should spend in group activities to a mere 62 hours, as set by law. The inspectorates also noted that daily programs are frequently cut back or cancelled with little notice when staff are unavailable, leaving young people with excessive time in their rooms, missing school, and even leaving the centres altogether.

Furthermore, staff are becoming less experienced and more stretched, as they are frequently reassigned to unfamiliar units, making it difficult to identify warning signs in time. This constant turnover of supervisors is causing stress and tension among both young people and staff. The inspectorates have raised concerns about the centres since 2019, but little improvement has been observed since their previous warning in 2023.

Children's ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer expressed deep concern, stating that almost all children's rights are being violated in the youth detention centres.