AMSTERDAM - More than 4,000 convicted criminals in the Netherlands have avoided serving their prison sentences due to a shortage of prison cells, four times the number from the previous year, according to an investigation by EenVandaag. Among them, 1,158 cases involve offenses with direct victims or surviving relatives.
Justice and Security State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie described the situation as "code black" in December, meaning there was no available space in prisons or police holding cells for new detainees. As a result, many convicts categorized as "self-reporters"—those sentenced to prison but not immediately incarcerated—have been unable to serve their sentences.
In December 2023, the Ministry of Justice and Security announced that convicts would no longer be summoned to begin their prison terms due to the lack of space. At the time, 1,100 self-reporters had received final convictions, mostly for sentences of up to one year. That number has since surged to 4,109, according to data obtained by EenVandaag.
Collectively, these convicts still have 587 years of prison time to serve for a total of 5,627 crimes. In 97 percent of cases, the sentences are for one year or less, though that does not necessarily indicate minor offenses. Among them, 1,116 self-reporters were convicted of crimes that resulted in victims, including fatal traffic accidents, which often carry sentences of up to one year. This group alone is responsible for 1,158 criminal cases, totaling 133 years of unserved prison time.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) and the Centraal Justitieel Incassobureau (CJIB) determine who qualifies as a self-reporter. Offenders convicted of crimes carrying sentences of 12 years or more, as well as certain sexual offenses, are automatically excluded. Those granted self-reporter status are not immediately taken into custody after sentencing but receive a letter instructing them when to report to prison.
In 2024, only 32 self-reporters voluntarily turned themselves in to serve their sentences. Meanwhile, more than 1,730 convicts lost their self-reporter status, but the ministry has not clarified why.
At least 95 convicts are facing prison terms longer than one year, with a combined total of 173 years remaining. Their offenses include drug crimes, theft, embezzlement, money laundering, fraud, forgery, public order offenses, illegal weapons possession, and filing false tax returns. Some were convicted in foreign courts, and their sentences were transferred to the Netherlands.
The Ministry of Justice and Security stated that six men are set to have their convictions expire this year. They were sentenced to one year in prison for a total of 46 cases, including assault, drunk driving, drug-related offenses, vandalism, and violations of the Wet personenvervoer 2000 (Wp2000), the Dutch law regulating passenger transport.
The backlog of self-reporters continues to grow. In February 2024, 502 new convicts joined the list, while in November, the number was 568. Between December 2023 and December 2024, a total of 4,445 self-reporters accumulated.
Despite the official halt on prison admissions, some convicts have still been processed. The ministry reported that 1,768 self-reporters exited the system last year, though only 32 actually entered prison. The remaining cases were dismissed for reasons that remain unclear.
The Ministry of Justice and Security has not explained why 1,730 convicts were removed from the self-reporter list. "While exit reasons are recorded, our systems do not allow for a selection of this data," a ministry spokesperson said. It remains unknown whether these individuals failed to appear for their sentences, fled, or were arrested for new crimes.
Additionally, the ministry acknowledged implementing "supplementary inventory management" due to the high backlog. "If circumstances surrounding a case or individual change, the self-reporting assessment may be revised, leading to an exit from the system," the spokesperson said. The exact criteria for such decisions were not disclosed.