Sixteen euros a night. It is not the convenient rate of a bed & breakfast or a hostel, but it could become the incredible price to pay, as well as the restrictive price of personal freedom, by Dutch prisoners if the bill by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Nebahat Albayrak, were to pass.
Even in Holland, in fact, the problem of the costs of the penitentiary system is deeply felt, so much so that Albayrak himself had announced, in May 2013, the closure of eight penitentiaries, with the loss of 1.200 jobs out of 10.600 and savings for the state coffers of approximately 160 million euros per year.
Apparently, however, that's not enough: from now on it could be the arrested themselves, or their parents in the case of minors, to contribute with a rate of 16 euros per night, with a maximum limit of 11.680 euros, which corresponds to two years in prison. In short, over two years is offered by the Government. But first, what if the inmates are unable to acquit? In the Netherlands they are quite confident: in fact, it seems that in Amsterdam and its surroundings the majority of convicts carry out a regularly remunerated activity. Otherwise, the sum can be paid later and in a deferred manner.
The text, if approved, will enter into force in January 2015, but has already sparked the indignant reaction of the association for the protection of prisoners' rights, which considers it contrary to European legislation. In fact, the measure is somewhat original, though according to estimates it would bring into the State coffers as much as 65 million euros a year. Not to mention that the requested amount, 16 euros, is well below the cost per prisoner, which weighs on the community for about 250 euros a day. After all, sixteen euros cover only 7% of the expenditure.
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