CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OF NETHERLANDS

 The Netherlands' motto, Je Maintiendrai ('I will maintain'), is taken from the coat of arms of the
family of Orange-Nassau.
 The coat of arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was originally adopted in 1815 and later
modified in 1907. The arms are a composite of the arms of the former Dutch Republic and the
arms of the House of Nassau, it features a checkered shield with a lion grasping a sword in one
hand and a bundle of arrows in the other and is the heraldic symbol of the monarch (King
Willem-Alexander) and the country. The monarch uses a version of the arms with a mantle
(Dutch: Koninklijk wapen) while the government of the Netherlands uses a smaller version
without the mantle (cloak) or the pavilion, sometimes only the shield and crown are used
(Dutch: Rijkswapen). The components of the coats of arms were regulated by Queen
Wilhelmina in a royal decree of 10 July 1907, affirmed by Queen Juliana in a royal decree of 23
April 1980.

The Dutch criminal justice system has long been noted for its mildness. In support of this view, reference
was usually made to its tolerant criminal policies towards societal and morally controversial criminal
offences like drugs or euthanasia, and to the low prison rate in the Netherlands compared to other
European countries. Both aspects of the mild criminal climate in the Netherlands will be dealt with,
beginning with the penal policy.

The judicial process is more inquisitorial than adversary in nature. Imprisonment is seen as a last resort;
when there is imprisonment, sentences are short. The death penalty was abolished in 1870 and there has
been no discussion of its reinstatement. The Netherlands has the lowest incarceration rate of all Western
nations.

The Best of Canadians Criminal Justice System

Sanctions include fines, suspended sentences, and four kinds of imprisonment. Use of fines has
been increasing, and use of imprisonment has been decreasing. The correctional system operates
on the philosophy that offenders need some form of treatment while being punished.
Traditional prisons are seen as humanizing and degrading; the rehabilitative model is practiced.
Emphasis during confinement is on programs to aid the offenders' reintegration into society.
Under the 'walking convict' concept, offenders can choose within limits, when to serve their
sentences. 
As judges tend to rely on less severe penalties such as fines, electronic tagging or community
service, it is quite rare for convicts in the Netherlands to face lengthy jail time. Furthermore, the
Dutch punitive system generally favours rehabilitation over punishment and considerably less
criminals reoffend after serving their sentences than in other countries. In fact, over 20 prisons
have closed in the Netherlands since 2013 due to the dwindling number of incarcerated convicts
in the country.

A number of factors underlie the Netherlands' ability to keep its crime rate so low, namely,
relaxed drug laws, a focus on rehabilitation over punishment, and an electronic ankle monitoring
system that allows people to re-enter the workforce.
A study published in 2008 found the ankle monitoring system reduced the recidivism rate by up
to half compared to traditional incarceration. Instead of wasting away in a jail cell, eating up
federal dollars, convicted criminals are given the opportunity to contribute to society.