Feature article: Education behind foreign prison bars (EABT) successful for 15 years and still unique, but there are some threats too
Author: Frans Lemmers, Volunteer-Director Eabt
In the countries of the European Union, 11.6% of all prisoners are from another country than the country of detention (‘foreign prisoners’). There are 1950 Dutch prisoners abroad. Figures for 20161 suggest that 60% of all prisoners have been in prison for more than three years. It is clear from various studies that taking education in prison has a positive effect on the prisoner’s mental vitality, that (partly as a result of this) it reduces the chances of recidivism after the prisoner’s re-entry into free society, but that it increases the chances of finding and retaining a job as well, something that is important for both the respective prisoner and society.