Cooperation detention house and Vives University started

The detention house is the first in the country. Some detainees have been living there for a month and a half. The neighborhood was previously concerned about nuisance, but today there is none.

“Added value for studies”

The university of applied sciences sees it as an added value for its field of study of social work. For example, a student of the orthopedagogical guidance program is currently doing an internship there.

“That student helped with the cardio training of the residents. He also supported while they watched a football match. He has already played board games with them. A number of group activities have also been set up. At the moment the focus is on setting up relaxing activities The intention is that this will soon also take place outside the home, but at the moment everything is still happening within the walls,” says Gwendoline Hotton, head of training for orthopedagogical guidance.

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Just before the first detainees arrived, Minister of Justice Van Quickenborne came to take a look at the detention house.

There are currently about seven detainees, but there is room for another 50. The neighborhood has been worried since before the opening and Vives wants to provide an answer to that too.

Reintegration

“We really believe in the power of the reintegration story, but we also have an eye for the concerns in the neighbourhood. In that context it is important to know that we have certain graduation tracks within the study area where bachelor theses are set up. One is for example, ‘Making a city together’. Developing a certain theme could be that we really look at what is going on in that neighborhood and where those feelings of insecurity come from and how we can anticipate,” it sounds.

The detention house is intended for short-term prisoners who used to be given an ankle bracelet.