Tackling hardening in prisons requires a new long-term security vision

In recent years, there have been reports of criminals continuing their illicit activities from within prison and violent escape attempts. Prison staff have also increasingly reported feeling threatened and intimidated by inmates. These developments, along with political and public pressure, have led to measures aimed at managing high-risk prisoners. This study provides insights into recent trends within the Dutch prison population and the impact of potentially stricter high-risk prisoner categories on the Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI).

Grip through information and surveillance

DJI's measures focus on gathering information and increasing surveillance. By establishing Intelligence and Security Bureaus, DJI seeks to learn more about the activities of this group while in detention. Policies targeting inmates deemed flight or societal risks (GVM) include measures such as restrictions on phone calls, visits, and movement within facilities. The creation of the Intensive Supervision Unit (AIT) and stricter measures in the Extra Secure Facility (EBI) are the most extreme measures characterized by highly austere regimes.

No increase in the severity of the inmate population

Prison staff report greater challenges, including a perceived increase in the severity of the inmate population and a roughening of interactions within facilities. However, the absolute number of severe offenders involved in organized crime has not increased. The percentage of inmates imprisoned for organized crime has risen slightly over the years, and there is a growing group of long-term detainees serving sentences of three years or more for murder, manslaughter, or drug-related crimes. However, this increase occurred mainly over a decade ago.

Tensions surrounding security

The challenges and measures to manage the high-risk group have created tensions around security in prisons. The first issue is resocialization. Preparing inmates for reintegration into society is a key goal of incarceration alongside punishment. Stricter regimes and increased surveillance hinder resocialization efforts.

The second tension concerns the growing emphasis on risk management. Once primarily aimed at managing risks associated with societal reintegration, risk assessment is now increasingly applied internally. This shift impacts decisions like placements in austere units or assigning GVM status, leading to an environment dominated by risk aversion.

The third tension relates to humanity. A heightened focus on security often sidelines humane treatment and individualized approaches. However, positive and humane interactions with inmates can improve safety and facilitate resocialization.

A new long-term vision for security

Given the observed hardening and the impact of measures to address it, researchers recommend a new long-term security vision. This vision should emphasize resocialization and humanity alongside risk management to form a balanced approach to security within DJI. Such a perspective would enable DJI to better manage high-risk inmates without becoming dominated by their behaviour.

Further recommendations

Additional recommendations include clarifying the definition of "high-risk." Currently, no uniform definition exists, and data from information systems are insufficient to track developments within this group. Researchers suggest further professionalization of Intelligence and Security Bureaus.

Moreover, the placement criteria for AIT should be reconsidered. These units appear to house individuals far removed from organized crime, such as those awaiting placement in forensic psychiatric centres. Questions also arise about the effectiveness of intensive, labour-intensive monitoring of a small group of inmates in preventing criminal activity from within the prison.