Netherlands cancels law criminalizing prison escapes

The Dutch government has decided to scrap a proposed law that would have criminalized escaping from detention or evading electronic monitoring. State Secretary for Justice and Security, Claudia van Bruggen, informed the House of Representatives that the legislative proposal has been withdrawn.

The decision follows feedback from the Public Prosecution Service and the Council for the Judiciary, who reportedly saw ‘insufficient added value’ in the measure. They suggested that existing disciplinary actions, such as revoking leave or transferring inmates to stricter regimes, are sufficient. The withdrawal is being framed by the cabinet as a response to budget constraints.