WILLEMSTAD – A second stakeholder meeting on the implementation of a TBS system (involuntary psychiatric treatment for offenders) in Curaçao was recently held at the initiative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The session brought together representatives from GGz Curaçao, the Forensic Psychiatric Institute (PSI), stichting Brasami, the Ministries of Justice and Health, Probation Services Curaçao, and the SDKK prison, to review and provide feedback on the second draft of the implementation plan.
The plan is being developed by Elly Hellings, commissioned by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. During the session, participants discussed both practical and policy-related requirements necessary for introducing the TBS system on the island.
TBS, or terbeschikkingstelling, is a legal measure for individuals who have committed serious criminal offenses and are found to be mentally unfit or significantly diminished in accountability. The system combines treatment, secure detention, and reintegration as a way to protect society and rehabilitate offenders.
A Step Forward, but Challenges Remain
According to Tineke Alberts, Director of Care at GGz Curaçao and one of the attendees, there is still considerable work to be done.
“There is much to be accomplished in terms of policy, funding, and specialized training,” she wrote on LinkedIn. “Still, this is a significant step forward. There is a strong willingness to collaborate among all parties and a genuine interest in learning from each other.”
Toward Safer and More Comprehensive Forensic Care
The participating organizations agreed that the time is right for a concrete and executable plan to bring TBS to Curaçao. The initiative is seen as a crucial development in the field of forensic mental health care and aims to strike a balance between effective treatment and public safety.
The introduction of a TBS system would represent a major shift in how Curaçao deals with mentally ill offenders and would align the island’s judicial and healthcare systems more closely with international standards.
