Reintegration program for juvenile ex-convicts may become mandatory

THE HAGUE — If it is up to Dutch Junior Justice Minister Nebahat Albayrak (Labour) juvenile convicts will have to follow a mandatory reintegration program after they complete their sentence. The proposed changes will add a compulsory element to the program, which is designed to help keep juveniles from returning to criminality. The minister wants the authority to return uncooperative youths to detention. She noted that few of the juveniles continue to voluntary participate in the government’s reintegration program once they have returned to society. Albayrak also wants to increase the program with more vocational and other training options.