A specialised commission has been set up to examine the issue of prison overcrowding in Belgium, Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden announced in a statement on Monday.
Composed of magistrates, lawyers, government officials, and academic experts, the commission will ultimately develop a plan to address the current situation and propose ways to prevent it in the future. The final report with concrete recommendations is expected by September 2028 at the latest.
All links in the chain will be analysed, from investigation to sentencing and enforcement of sentences.
"We are opting for a forward-looking criminal policy. Not makeshift solutions, but structural reforms backed by scientific expertise and experience," Verlinden said.
The independent members will include judges from the Court of Cassation, public prosecutors, investigating judges, professors of criminology and criminal law, and representatives of the Justice Ministry.
An interim report is expected within the next 18 months.
The minister reiterated that sentences must be served to maintain confidence in the rule of law, but added that it is not just about sentences. "A person who commits a crime often needs support. Without investment in prevention, education, healthcare, and solidarity, we will continue to fight the symptoms instead of tackling the real causes," she concluded.
