The TBS system is under great pressure, according to the Justice and Security Inspectorate in a report published Wednesday. Institutions are in danger of losing control of the treatments without additional investment in, among other things, more personnel.
The TBS system is under great pressure, the Justice and Security Inspectorate said in a report published on Wednesday. Institutions are in danger of losing control of the treatments without additional investment in, among other things, more staff.
The problems arose not only due to the lack of sufficient staff, but also due to the excessive influx of TBS patients and the fact that the places in the clinics do not grow with them.
In addition, there is insufficient transfer to places with a lighter regime, because there are few follow-up facilities.
Due to these factors, clinics have lost control of rehabilitation, the inspectorate says. Choices in the process in which the TBS officer returns to society must be based on the progress that someone makes and the risks to society, but this is not always possible due to the pressure on the system.
For example, the Oostvaarderskliniek did not adequately direct the rehabilitation of Michael B., who killed an ex-tbs’er during his probationary leave. According to the inspection, the clinic made decisions that did not match his problems “and the possible risks”. He was recently sentenced to eighteen years in prison and TBS with compulsory treatment for killing and robbing the 72-year-old man in Lelystad.
Pressure is increasing due to incidents
According to the inspectorate, the pressure is also increasing due to incidents, which cannot always be prevented. For example, if a TBS officer does not return from leave, there will be media attention and calls for extra measures will be heard. “While a balanced TBS system demonstrably contributes to making society safer.”
The Inspectorate asks the Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI) to ensure that, among other things with the help of sufficient staff, the organizations are put in order, so that the head of treatment can properly manage.
Dekker wants to expand capacity quickly
Minister Sander Dekker (Legal Protection) has announced that he wants to expand the capacity at tbs institutions in the short term.
Last year, several clinics instituted preliminary relief proceedings against the Dutch State, because in their opinion they received too little money for the treatment of dangerous clients. The rates have been falling for years and the clinics are paying for the losses themselves.
The court upheld them and ordered the DJI to make new price agreements. In his response to the report published on Wednesday, Dekker says that “more management must be done” on the quality of care and that new price agreements must be made.