Netherlands rejects law for nighttime confinement of youth in care

Dutch Minister Mirjam Sterk has decided to scrap a proposed law that would have allowed the nighttime confinement of youth in closed care facilities. The plan, originally initiated by her predecessor Vincent Karremans, aimed to permit the locking of certain high-risk adolescents in their rooms overnight to ensure the safety of staff and other residents.

Following intensive discussions with care providers and experts, Minister Sterk concluded that the measure is “not proportional” and lacks sufficient evidence of necessity. She expressed concerns regarding a “slippery slope,” fearing that such confinement could eventually become a normalized practice within the care system.

The decision follows previous criticism from child rights organizations regarding the potential harm of confinement. While acknowledging the difficulty of managing violent or threatening behavior among the approximately 400 youth in such settings, Sterk stated she will engage with the sector to find alternative ways to prevent escalations and manage complex behaviors.