Space shortage in Brussels youth institutions leads to release of repeat offender
A 16-year-old boy suspected of multiple serious crimes has been released by a juvenile court judge in Brussels because there was no room in a closed institution for juvenile offenders. The public prosecutor’s office says such cases now occur daily due to a structural shortage of places.
The teenager is suspected of rape, violent theft, extortion and possession of prohibited weapons. "Despite the accumulation of serious offences, this minor is on a waiting list, in place 73. In the meantime, he was therefore released," the Brussels prosecutor’s office said.
According to the prosecutor’s office, arrested minors are released immediately on a daily basis due to the lack of capacity. Another example cited was a 16-year-old arrested three times in Molenbeek for drug trafficking and possession, who was also released because no place was available.
More than 100 minors are currently waiting for a place and that list risks getting even longer in the absence of concrete measures, the prosecutor’s office warned. It announced plans to continue communicating publicly about such cases "because of the lack of political action to provide the necessary resources that the sector has been demanding for over 20 years."
Justice system under pressure
Prisons across the country are struggling with the intake of prisoners, leading to protest by prison staff. Earlier this year, Belgium’s prisons reached a record population of 13,018 inmates, leaving hundreds sleeping on the floor and thousands of short-term offenders waiting for a place.
Not only is the justice department struggling with a lack of funds, the number of arrests is also rising. At the Port of Antwerp, the number of arrested minors has almost doubled compared to 2024. They are recruited by criminal networks, offering quick money, while exposing them to serious risk.
PHOTO © Martin Schutt / DPA
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