KRALENDIJK – The Caribbean Netherlands Penitentiary Institution (JICN) on Bonaire has taken measures over the past year to ease the pressure on the prison. However, the structural capacity problems have not yet been resolved. This is stated by the Inspectorate for Law Enforcement in its report the State of Law Enforcement Curaçao 2025.
In the summer of 2025, the State Secretary for Justice and Security informed the House of Representatives about the pressing situation. To create space, foreign nationals in the criminal justice chain were released by the BES Public Prosecution Service. This made it possible to call up so-called self-reporters who had been waiting for some time to serve their sentences.
Structural Solution in the Works
The release of foreign nationals is not a structural solution, the Inspectorate for Law Enforcement emphasizes. Alternatives are currently being developed, including capacity expansion, phased detention and broader possibilities for conditional early release for foreign nationals. Some of these measures require a change in legislation.
In 2026, a two-year process was launched for phased detention, including the possible creation of a limited-security unit. The Custodial Institutions Agency is investigating the required capacity and has asked the Government Real Estate Agency to develop two expansion options further.
Lower Absenteeism, Greater Focus on Reintegration
The JICN has reduced sick leave from twelve to nine percent. The institution is also working on a broader vision for detention and reintegration, with a central focus on connections to the outside world. For young adults between the ages of 18 and 23, an exploratory process has been launched to establish separate detention facilities and better preparation for reintegration into society.
The Inspectorate for Law Enforcement expresses its appreciation for these initiatives, but emphasizes that the structural capacity issues deserve continued attention.
Read the report here: 2025 — State of Law Enforcement Caribbean Netherlands
