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FOREIGN PRISONERS IN THE NETHERLANDS

NCJ Number
49478
Author(s)
K M SCHULTZ; G METHORST
Date Published
1976
Length
33 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED OF A UNITED NATIONS SOCIAL DEFENSE RESEARCH INSTITUTE SURVEY OF THE PROBLEMS OF FOREIGN PRISONERS IN DUTCH PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
Abstract
OF THE 100 PRISONERS QUESTIONED, 39 WERE WESTERN EUROPEAN, 22 SOUTHERN EUROPEAN, 16 MIDDLE EASTERN, 12 NORTH AMERICAN, 8 FAR EASTERN, AND 3 FROM ASSORTED OTHER REGIONS. MOST WERE BETWEEN 21 AND 35 YEARS OLD AND THE MAJORITY OF PROBLEMS CENTERED AROUND LANGUAGE; HALF OR MORE NEITHER UNDERSTOOD, SPOKE, NOR READ DUTCH. ANOTHER FREQUENTLY NOTED PROBLEM WAS DISCRIMINATION, AND SOME MENTIONED LACK OF CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD AS A MAJOR DILEMMA. WHILE ONLY A FEW WERE IN CONTACT WITH FRIENDS, RELATIVES, OR THEIR CONSULATE, 87 PERCENT REPORTED THAT THEY HAD SEEN AN ATTORNEY WITHIN A WEEK AFTER ARREST. CONCERNING THEIR OPINIONS OF CONTACTS WITHIN THE INSTITUTION, 57 PERCENT CONSIDERED THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STAFF GOOD OR SATISFACTORY; 36 PERCENT CONSIDERED IT POOR. THEY WERE MORE SATISFIED WITH THEIR CONTACTS WITH OTHER PRISONERS--61 PERCENT HAD A REASONABLE OR GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH DUTCH INMATES, 70 PERCENT WITH INMATES OF OTHER COUNTRIES, AND 75 PERCENT WITH INMATES OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY. SOME CONSIDERED FOOD TO BE A PROBLEM, OTHERS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. AS FOR SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS, MOST INMATES REPORTED THAT THEY WISHED TO BE TREATED IN THE SAME WAY AS DUTCH PRISONERS; THAT IS, EQUAL VISITING RIGHTS AND SENTENCES, EQUAL ELIGIBILITY FOR OPEN PRISON PLACEMENTS, AND LESS RESTRICTIVE POSTRELEASE OBLIGATIONS. SELECTED STAFF MEMBERS INTERVIEWED SUGGESTED AN EXPANSION OF ONGOING EFFORTS TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE FOREIGN INMATES AND PERHAPS SPECIAL UNITS OR GUARDS DEVOTED SOLELY TO SERVICING AND SUPERVISING ALIEN PRISONERS. --IN DUTCH. (KBL)