Bonaire Prison Crisis Halts Justice System Due to Cell Shortage

Prison Overcrowding Crisis in Caribbean Netherlands

Bonaire's justice system faces gridlock due to severe prison overcrowding, forcing authorities to release suspects, delay verdicts for years, and deport foreign convicts without supervision. Demissionary State Secretary Struycken of Legal Protection described the situation as "extremely worrying" in a parliamentary briefing.

Root Causes

The crisis stems primarily from surging numbers of foreign detainees, particularly Venezuelans arrested during maritime drug operations. This group now occupies over 25% of the Judicial Institution Caribbean Netherlands' (JICN) capacity. Rival factions among detainees further threaten prison security.

Systemic Failures

The Council for Law Enforcement warns that chronic understaffing has crippled rehabilitation programs and compromised safety for both inmates and personnel. Immigration detention facilities have effectively ceased functioning due to personnel shortages.

Regional Domino Effect

Sint Maarten faces even graver challenges with 200+ convicted prisoners awaiting incarceration in an 80-capacity facility. The island's courts have issued over 300 prison-years in unenforced sentences, while taxpayers fund €1 million annually to detain high-risk offenders in Dutch prisons.

Proposed Solutions

Plans include expanding Bonaire's prison by year-end, expediting deportations, and implementing electronic monitoring. However, Struycken acknowledges these measures offer limited short-term relief for the Caribbean Netherlands' escalating penal crisis.