NCJ Number
199963
Date Published
2003
Length
126 pages
Annotation
This introduction to the Dutch criminal justice system describes both organization and main procedures, together with the basic principles that guide the operation of the criminal justice system.
Abstract
The introductory section provides an overview of current Dutch criminal justice trends and policies. It notes that the number of registered crimes increased almost fivefold in the Netherlands between 1970 and 2002, and proper law enforcement and the administration of criminal justice has become an issue of increasing concern. Recently, a crime-control policy plan was initiated to increase public expenditure for criminal law enforcement and the administration of justice by expanding the police force, the prosecution service, and the judiciary. Corrections continues to emphasize diversion and non-custodial community-based sentences, although prison sentences have become longer and prison capacity has increased. The second section of the book explains the history and main features of the Dutch criminal code, followed by a section on the history and content of the Dutch Code of Criminal Procedure. A section on the main organs of the criminal justice system focuses on the police force, its powers, organization, and responsibilities; the prosecution service, its organization and duties; the courts, their organization and composition; the probation service, its organization and main functions; and the bar and legal counsel, including legal aid. Other major sections of the book address issues of criminal law; issues of procedural law; the system of sanctions; sentencing; the prison system; early release, pardon, and aftercare of prisoners; and statistics on crime and sentencing. Appended demographic issues, statistical data, and 6 suggested readings