It was interesting to note that Curaçao’s Justice Ministry is working on a law for nighttime detention (see Monday newspaper) of young offenders. This would allow them to serve their custodial sentence after sundown and go to school, work or attend treatment programmes during the day.
The goal is to keep them connected to education, employment and their social environment. This reduces the risk of recidivism and increases the chance of successful rehabilitation.
Although noble, the plan is not without consequences. Already youth correctional facilities are regularly faced with inmates not returning after a weekend at home who then need to be searched for by an understaffed police force.
What’s more, such a move would require extra efforts from not just the institution itself but many others. Participating schools, for example, should obviously inform personnel including teachers as well as parents of other students.
Businesses involved also would probably need to make related accommodations and preparations. Trying to hide such a situation seems irresponsible and is anyhow near impossible in a relatively small community and with today’s social media.
Most importantly, the convict’s family must agree and be willing to deal with this extra burden of daily supervision. The latter can put significant strain on households.
Certainly for St. Maarten, in the process of building a new prison, this does not appear to be a very good time to implement the idea. Miss Lalie Youth Care and Rehabilitation Center pretty much has its hands full as it is too.
So, while the proposal is undoubtedly well-intended, execution brings major potential complications. Right now it amounts to opening a Pandora’s Box.
