Overview
- The measure sends most eligible inmates home roughly two weeks early, excludes sex offenders and those with sentences over one year, and disproportionately affects short custodial terms.
- Victim-support group Slachtofferhulp Nederland and victim lawyer Richard Korver argue political interference in enforcement erodes trust in court judgments.
- Victims have no legal route to contest the administrative reduction, which critics say leaves both victims and judges feeling their interests and decisions are disregarded.
- Officials point to staffing and cell shortages to justify the step, while Korver calls it mismanagement and urges more funding rather than blanket sentence cuts.
- Justice state secretary Arno Rutte labels the policy a last-resort measure and promises alternative proposals in an upcoming letter, but he did not explicitly rule out earlier releases when asked.