The first article summarizes the report of a government commission which reconsidered the instruments of criminal law enforcement. According to the report, the Netherlands will need to use more alternative sentencing, reduce the length of prison sentences, and build more prisons in the future. The second article attributes current overcrowding to the prejudices and self-interest of a consumerist society and argues for reducing the length of prison sentences. The next article shows that the number of Dutch inmates fell constantly from 1840 to 1975, and has risen steadily ever since. The rising trend is attributed to the number of long-term inmates and the more punitive attitudes of the public and courts. Next, it is argued that alternative sanctions, especially community service, can alleviate the problem of detention overcrowding. The last article focuses on the special problems drug addicts pose to an already strained prison system; it is suggested that drug offenders should be detained as a group in special institutions that require less stringent supervision.