NCJ Number
31744
Journal
BALANS Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1975) Pages: 1-7
Date Published
1975
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE MERKSPLAS INSTITUTION IN BELGIUM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1822 AS A PLACE WHERE PHYSICALLY FIT BEGGARS COULD BE INSTITUTIONALIZED AND PUT TO PRODUCTIVE WORK, AND 245 OF THE NEARLY 800 INMATES AT PRESENT ARE VAGRANTS.
Abstract
VAGRANTS USUALLY TURN THEMSELVES IN TO THE AUTHORITIES WHEN IN DESPERATE STRAITS. INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF VAGRANTS IN SUCH PLACES AS MERKSPLAS IS NOT A PUNISHMENT BUT A PROTECTIVE MEASURE. A VAGRANT CAN ASK TO BE RELEASED WHEN HE HAS EARNED 7,000 BELGIAN FRANCS BY WORKING IN MERKSPLAS, THE OTHER INMATES AT MERKSPLAS INCLUDE SOME 200 TO 240 FIRST OFFENDERS, ABOUT 90 RECIDIVISTS, ABOUT 30 MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS COMMITTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND SOME 250 'INTERNED ABNORMAL OFFENDERS'. MERKSPLAS OFFERS WORK IN VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS, INCLUDING FARMING. WORK IS NOT OBLIGATORY, BUT INMATES WHO WORK RECEIVE REMUNERATION. MERKSPLAS RESEMPLES THE VEENHUIZEN INSTITUTION IN THE NETHERLANDS. PHOTOGRAPHS OF INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SCENES AT MERKSPLAS ARE INCLUDED. --IN DUTCH