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Dutch Deemphasize Imprisonment - Sociocultural and Structural Explanations

NCJ Number
93062
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1983) Pages: 3-19
Author(s)
E H Johnson; A Heijder
Date Published
1983
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The low imprisonment rate of The Netherlands is attributed to a combination of Dutch cultural values and social and political developments since World War II.
Abstract
Police and, especially, prosecutorial discretion are basic to administrative expression of Dutch preference that imprisonment be avoided when possible. However, significant increase in the imprisonment rate has followed a fivefold rise in the crimes known to the police. Future prospects for deemphasized imprisonment are examined. (Publisher abstract)