News item | 03-07-2023 | 2:00 PM
All the recommendations of the inspectorates are adopted following two serious events at Den Hey-Acker State Judicial Youth Institution in Breda. This is what Minister Franc Weerwind for Legal Protection writes in a letter to the House of Representatives.
Four inspectorates have investigated the death of a young person after he escaped in January last year and took two Den Hey-Acker employees hostage. These are the inspectorates of Justice and Security, the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate, the Education Inspectorate and the Dutch Labor Inspectorate. In April last year, another prisoner was stabbed in Den Hey-Acker, who later died.
“Two such serious events from a high security juvenile detention center I find unacceptable. It is worrying that all this happened in a short time in the same juvenile detention center,” Weerwind wrote to the Chamber.
“I am well aware that the staff has to work with the target group under difficult circumstances on a daily basis and there are risks, but at the same time I take the firm conclusions to heart and we must reduce the chance that this will happen more often in the future.”
Measures
After the events, the management took measures in April to improve safety for staff and young people. For example, sharp knives are prohibited and a better manual has been made for employees to determine when a young person may use a knife during education. In addition, staff will receive new instructions to recognize contraband and criminal activity in captivity. The training courses for resilience are being expanded.
From now on, Den Hey-Acker will work in a different way to prepare and report files. The exchange of information within teams with different specialisms has also been improved. Employees of all government juvenile detention centers hold meetings more often to exchange experiences and learn from each other. As a result, they become more aware of their safety and are better able to act.
Leave of absence
In the investigation into the escape, the inspectorates conclude that the accrual of unaccompanied leave went very quickly, while the risks were still great. As a result, the Custodial Institutions Agency and the Ministry will examine whether young people can go on leave too soon. Internal security is also examined for staff in the field of aggression and violence.
The inspectorates carry out intensive supervision of the juvenile detention centers. More measures have been taken to contribute to safety on the recommendations of the inspectorates. At the beginning of February, the minister announced that from now on three employees per living group will be scheduled to improve staffing in the prison. Due to a shortage of personnel, qualified temporary workers are used, but to a limited extent. As advised by the inspectorates, temporary workers can now view files.