‘Far-reaching culture change’ needed at women’s prisons
There are structural problems with safety in social situations at women's prisons, according to research by Leiden researchers Esther van Ginneken and Yara Abbing. Associate Professor Van Ginneken spoke to Dutch newspaper ‘Trouw’: ‘Conversations are needed about power, sexuality and discrimination.’
The study (in Dutch) shows that unethical conduct, such as sexually transgressive behaviour, bullying and discrimination, is a structural problem within women's prisons. Moreover, the needs of women are given little consideration in these prisons, as institutions are often based on those of men. Van Ginneken says that far-reaching culture change is needed: ‘Conversations are needed about power, sexuality and discrimination.’ One way to do this, according to the researchers, is by improving staff training.
In addition, strip searches, where women prisoners are examined to ensure they aren’t smuggling anything inside, are experienced as unsafe situations. In an interview with Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, Wim Saris, the Director-General of the Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen (DJI), the organisation responsible for prisons in the Netherlands, says that prisons will switch to using body scans. ‘One of the aims of detention is to ensure that incarcerated persons can return to society properly. You don't achieve that through unsafe situations,’ says Van Ginneken. ‘You also don't want women to come out of detention worse off.’
More information?
In Dutch media:
Read the full article in Trouw (€)
Read the full article in de Volkskrant (€)
Read the full NOS article
Listen to the full NPO Radio 1 item
Read the full Dienst Justitiële Inrichtinge news item