News item | 29-08-2025 | 15:00
From November 1, 2025, stricter rules apply to the communication of serious criminals in the extra secure establishment (EBI) in Vught and in the intensive supervision (AIT) in other prisons in the departments. The government wants to prevent prisoners from continuing criminal activities from their cells. The new rules are previously laid down in the amendment of the Penitentiary Principles Act (PBW). Today the Council of Ministers agreed to the amendment of the penitentiary measure, which is part of the PBW. As a result, the stricter rules can be executed.
Visual supervision
From 1 November, physical conversations between EBI and AIT prisoners and their lawyer will be applied for upcoming visual supervision. The number of lawyers with whom a prisoner may have confidential contact is also limited to two.
Call and visit
The adopted bill sets rules for the contact moments of EBI and AIT prisoners. Before the change in the law, prisoners in the EBI were allowed to call ten minutes once or twice a week and receive a visit one or two hours a week. The change in the law changes that. For all prisoners in the EBI, it applies from 1 November that they can call ten minutes once a week. In addition, they may receive a visit one hour a week.
A lot also changes for AIT prisoners. Before the change in the law, Ait prisoners were allowed to call ten times a week ten minutes. With the change in the law, this has been reduced to three times ten minutes a week. In addition, Ait prisoners may receive one hour of visit once a week.
The amendment to the law also provides that EBI and AIT prisoners are only allowed to call people – with the exception of lawyers – who have reported and identified themselves at a location designated by the minister.
Four -hand principle
To guarantee safety, the penitentiary measure stipulates that medical treatments and spiritual care always take place in the presence of two care providers. This four -eyed principle also applies to other professional groups who have contact with prisoners in the EBI or AIT, such as probation workers or members of the Supervisory Committee.
Authority
With the stricter rules, the Minister of Justice and Security can temporarily further limit communication options at individual level if there are indications of intimidation, life -threatening activities or danger to public order.