WILLEMSTAD – Minister of Justice Shalten Hato has outlined how several initiatives funded in 2022 have strengthened security, education, and rehabilitation across Curaçao. The projects were financed through the Crime Fund, which reinvests money derived from criminal cases back into society.
Giving ex-inmates a second chance
One of the largest investments went to “Un Komienso Nobo”, launched in February 2022 with over 1 million guilders. The program provides former prisoners with opportunities to reintegrate into society after incarceration.
In July 2022, the Probation Service introduced “Na kaminda pa mi trabou”, supported by an investment of 405,648 guilders. The program helps individuals with a justice background re-enter the labor market by offering courses, CV training, and job placement support. Some participants have even gone on to start their own businesses, contributing positively to the community. Three years later, the program is considered a success story, with several participants now employed or self-sufficient.
Strengthening institutions and education
The SDKK prison received 168,000 guilders in June 2022 for the Twinning Staff Project, aimed at training and staff exchange to improve care and management within the institution. Later that year, in August 2022, SDKK also received nearly 1 million guilders for the “Learning Inside Out” project, which created a multifunctional educational space inside the prison. This initiative has helped inmates prepare for life after release while significantly reducing recidivism rates.
Meanwhile, Judicial Care was granted more than 300,000 guilders in May 2022 to strengthen its IT infrastructure and training capacity.
Supporting law enforcement
In October 2022, the Volunteer Corps Curaçao (VKC) was awarded nearly 491,000 guilders for equipment, vehicles, and materials to strengthen law enforcement operations and improve support across the justice chain.
Building a safer Curaçao
Minister Hato emphasized that these investments reflect the fund’s mission: to return resources from crime back into the community. “Every guilder goes towards preventing crime, supporting rehabilitation, and strengthening the safety of our people,” he said.
The ministry noted that the results of these projects—especially reduced recidivism and greater opportunities for reintegration—show that the Crime Fund is having a tangible impact on building a safer and more resilient Curaçao.
