Lessons from the Netherland’s and Germany Prison System
The rate of criminal behavior and rate of arrest varies from country to country. However, Germany and the Netherlands imprison proportionately far few people than in the United States. Germany and the Netherlands have an incarceration rate at about one-tenth the rate of the United States.[1] The criminal justice system and penal practices are responsible for the differences in the incarceration rates between these countries and the United States.[1] The conditions and practices within the German and Dutch correctional facilities are significantly different from the United States as well.[1]
Both Germany and Netherlands systems are organized around the central goals of re-socialization and rehabilitation.[2] The focus on rehabilitation is clearly stated in Germany’s Prison Act which states that incarceration is to “enable prisoners to lead a life of social responsibility free of crime upon release.”[2] The act requires that prison life within these facilities is to be run like an “outside” community and to be organized to facilitate reintegration into society. [2] The primary goal of the Netherlands 1998 Penitentiary Principles Act is “the re-socialization of prisoners” with an incarceration of few restrictions as possible through the principle of association.[2] In this system, prisoners are encouraged to maintain and cultivate relationships with others both within and outside the prison.[2] Upon release, inmates from the Netherlands do not face punitive consequences like voting bans or housing and public assistance.[1] The prison system established in these countries are more goal-oriented in treatment rather than using disciplinary approaches.[2] The German and Dutch prison system are geared for prisoners to achieve social reintegration and not become repeat offenders.[1]
Sentencing practices are also different in Germany and the Netherlands compared to the United States. In both countries, incarceration is used less frequently than other sanctions. The Netherlands relies on alternatives to prisons such as fines, probation or community-service programs.[1] In both the Netherlands and Germany, fines are used as the primary sanction of punishment.[2] When prison is the verdict for the crime, the sentencing practices in both countries is much shorter than in the United States. Approximately more than 90% of Dutch sentences are 12 months or less while in the United States, the average term is about three years.[1] The alternative methods to incarceration and the shorter sentencing periods are directly related to the lower incarceration rates in these countries.
The conditions and treatment in the Dutch and German prison systems is another difference from the United States penal system. As mentioned, both of these countries aim for their inmates to achieve re-socialization and rehabilitation which influences the methods of how the facilities are run. Through this system, the goal is for inmates to become more independent and lead productive lives.[2] As a result, the conditions of confinement are not meant to be punitive but for the inmates to gain fundamental skills they will need when released.[2] In these prisons, inmates are allowed to wear their own clothes, prepare their own meals and are required to work or join education programs.[2] Another treatment approach that is different in the United States is the German facility’s mother-baby unit. The unit allows for mothers to parent their children up to the age of 3 within special housing which includes access to health care, parenting classes and babysitting services. [2] Correction staff are trained to use incentives and rewards with an emphasis on positive reinforcement.[2] Disciplinary measures are used sparingly and offenders can appeal negative administrative decisions to independent review boards or courts.[2] The goals of the prison system in Germany and the Netherlands result in conditions and treatment that allow the prisoners to have some control over daily life and cultivate healthy relationships between prisoners and staff.[2]
Gaining and understanding of how prison systems work in other countries can provide guidance for reform efforts in the American prison system. Germany and the Netherlands prison system objective are for offenders to achieve reintegration rather than strictly using discipline or other punishment tactics for their misdeeds. Adopting similar practices in the United States may result in lower incarceration rates or decrease the rate of repeat offenders.[2]
Articles
Read more about the German and Dutch prison systems.
Sentencing and Prison Practices in Germany and the Netherlands
To Solve Prison Crowding, Norway Goes Dutch
[1] Editorial Board. "Lessons From European Prisons." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Nov. 2013. Web
[2] Subramanian, Ram, and Alison Shames. Sentencing and Prison Practices in Germany and the Netherlands: Implications for the United States. Center of Sentencing and Corrections. Vera Institution of Justice, Oct. 2013. Web
The rate of criminal behavior and rate of arrest varies from country to country. However, Germany and the Netherlands imprison proportionately far few people than in the United States. Germany and the Netherlands have an incarceration rate at about one-tenth the rate of the United States.[1] The criminal justice system and penal practices are responsible for the differences in the incarceration rates between these countries and the United States.[1] The conditions and practices within the German and Dutch correctional facilities are significantly different from the United States as well.[1]
Both Germany and Netherlands systems are organized around the central goals of re-socialization and rehabilitation.[2] The focus on rehabilitation is clearly stated in Germany’s Prison Act which states that incarceration is to “enable prisoners to lead a life of social responsibility free of crime upon release.”[2] The act requires that prison life within these facilities is to be run like an “outside” community and to be organized to facilitate reintegration into society. [2] The primary goal of the Netherlands 1998 Penitentiary Principles Act is “the re-socialization of prisoners” with an incarceration of few restrictions as possible through the principle of association.[2] In this system, prisoners are encouraged to maintain and cultivate relationships with others both within and outside the prison.[2] Upon release, inmates from the Netherlands do not face punitive consequences like voting bans or housing and public assistance.[1] The prison system established in these countries are more goal-oriented in treatment rather than using disciplinary approaches.[2] The German and Dutch prison system are geared for prisoners to achieve social reintegration and not become repeat offenders.[1]
Sentencing practices are also different in Germany and the Netherlands compared to the United States. In both countries, incarceration is used less frequently than other sanctions. The Netherlands relies on alternatives to prisons such as fines, probation or community-service programs.[1] In both the Netherlands and Germany, fines are used as the primary sanction of punishment.[2] When prison is the verdict for the crime, the sentencing practices in both countries is much shorter than in the United States. Approximately more than 90% of Dutch sentences are 12 months or less while in the United States, the average term is about three years.[1] The alternative methods to incarceration and the shorter sentencing periods are directly related to the lower incarceration rates in these countries.
The conditions and treatment in the Dutch and German prison systems is another difference from the United States penal system. As mentioned, both of these countries aim for their inmates to achieve re-socialization and rehabilitation which influences the methods of how the facilities are run. Through this system, the goal is for inmates to become more independent and lead productive lives.[2] As a result, the conditions of confinement are not meant to be punitive but for the inmates to gain fundamental skills they will need when released.[2] In these prisons, inmates are allowed to wear their own clothes, prepare their own meals and are required to work or join education programs.[2] Another treatment approach that is different in the United States is the German facility’s mother-baby unit. The unit allows for mothers to parent their children up to the age of 3 within special housing which includes access to health care, parenting classes and babysitting services. [2] Correction staff are trained to use incentives and rewards with an emphasis on positive reinforcement.[2] Disciplinary measures are used sparingly and offenders can appeal negative administrative decisions to independent review boards or courts.[2] The goals of the prison system in Germany and the Netherlands result in conditions and treatment that allow the prisoners to have some control over daily life and cultivate healthy relationships between prisoners and staff.[2]
Gaining and understanding of how prison systems work in other countries can provide guidance for reform efforts in the American prison system. Germany and the Netherlands prison system objective are for offenders to achieve reintegration rather than strictly using discipline or other punishment tactics for their misdeeds. Adopting similar practices in the United States may result in lower incarceration rates or decrease the rate of repeat offenders.[2]
Articles
Read more about the German and Dutch prison systems.
Sentencing and Prison Practices in Germany and the Netherlands
To Solve Prison Crowding, Norway Goes Dutch
[1] Editorial Board. "Lessons From European Prisons." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Nov. 2013. Web
[2] Subramanian, Ram, and Alison Shames. Sentencing and Prison Practices in Germany and the Netherlands: Implications for the United States. Center of Sentencing and Corrections. Vera Institution of Justice, Oct. 2013. Web