Prison watchdog warns of 'devastating consequences' of prosecutors' protest
Belgium's Central Council for the Supervision of Prisons (CTRG) has expressed deep concern over a plan by prosecutors to send all convicted people directly to prison, warning that this could have 'devastating consequences' for inmates in already overcrowded facilities. The Council stressed that the demands of justice 'must not be at the expense of the human rights of prisoners'.
The protest stems from prosecutors' dissatisfaction with proposed pension cuts for judges and judicial staff. Their most conspicuous action is the decision to ignore the government's request to delay the incarceration of those serving short sentences. In practice, this could result in up to 4,000 additional prisoners entering the already overcrowded prison system in the near future.
Inhuman and degrading treatment
In March, Belgium's prisons held 12,976 inmates for just over 11,000 available places. The CTRG warned that such overcrowding risks "inhuman or degrading treatment" and undermines the core purpose of prison: rehabilitation in dignified conditions.
The Council reiterated its February call for a legally enforced cap on prison capacity, suggesting that each new prisoner should trigger the release of those closest to completing their sentence once 90% capacity is reached. However, these recommendations have yet to be adopted. The CTRG is calling for a return to the core debate: a prison policy that focuses on rehabilitation and fundamental rights.
© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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