The Netherlands is implementing emergency measures to address severe overcrowding in its prisons, coupled with a staffing shortage. Justice Secretary Van Bruggen proposes allowing more inmates to work outside prison walls during the day, under supervision such as electronic monitoring, while returning to their cells at night. The plan, expected to be discussed Friday, aims to expand eligibility for existing work-release programs. Simultaneously, the government intends to reduce reintegration support for prisoners serving short sentences – those of twelve weeks or less – to free up personnel. As a further contingency, the possibility of extending early release programs, currently limited to two weeks for sentences under a year, is being considered, potentially increasing it to 28 days or even extending eligibility to sentences up to two years. These measures follow ongoing debate within the coalition government regarding solutions to the crisis in the prison system.