Did you know...
By paula27661
@paula27661 (15811)
Australia
June 4, 2009 11:15pm CST
Netherlands is to close 8 prisons because there is not enough crime! Three prisons will be closed this year and the rest in 2012. There is a decline in criminal activity apparently and contrary to popular belief drugs are not legal in The Netherlands. Cafes are allowed to sell 5 grams of cannabis under strict conditions but it is against the law to produce sell and possess hard drug or cannabis.
So do they need to make more things illegal? They are obviously doing something right! Does that mean that the people in The Netherlands are going to start smoking more dope and running with scissors?
I read on Foolocracy.com that Netherlands needs to incarcerate only 1 out of every 1,400 of its citizens, while the United States, for example needs to incarcerate 1 out of every 130 residents, I don’t know if those figures are correct; if they are does anyone have any ideas why?
4 people like this
11 responses
@thyst07 (2079)
• United States
5 Jun 09
There are a lot of factors that affect how much crime a country or a city has. Maybe the Netherlands has less crime because overall, it has a higher quality of life for its residents. People who are able to live happy, healthy lives are less likely to commit crimes. Whatever the reason, I think it's cool that they can close prisons and put the prison funds to better use elsewhere.
2 people like this
@AltheGreat2430 (2716)
• Philippines
5 Jun 09
I agree with you thyst! People would less commit crimes if they have a good quality life.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
5 Jun 09
I agree satisfaction in life would make a huge difference, makes sense doesn't it? Thanks for responding thyst07!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Jun 09
That is one point, I guess...Love to know what they are doing right! Thanks Pam!
1 person likes this
@spoiled311 (5500)
• Philippines
6 Jun 09
oh really paula???
wow that is sooo cool! i wonder when that will happen to the philippines. but i don't think it is way of life. it is really the values of people. the more active thieves and criminals in our country are in public office. and these people have way more access to money than the rest of the citizens.
so it is really values than anything.
take care and thanks for sharing! now i am thinking of moving to the netherlands ! haha
God bless you ! :D
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Jun 09
I've thought about moving to The Netherlands too! (LOL) I can appreciate your point about dishonesty in public office! Thanks for responding spoiled311!
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
19 Jun 09
Hi Paula!
This is a news to me that in Netherlands they are going to close the prisons for want of prisoners. In a way it is good that crime rate and criminals have gone down in their country. I think in our country crime and criminals are rising and if Neatherlands feel appropriate some of the prisoners could be transferred their so that their prisons are not closed....LOL!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
28 Dec 09
I agree Deepak! I am sorry for my late comment, I don't know how your response was missed! It is quite amazing that there is one place in the world where the crime rate is lessening, I would love to know what they are doing, so we can do it too!Thanks for responding!
@ronnyb (6113)
• Jamaica
30 Dec 09
Wow I didnt know that ,thanks you for your information .I would hope that our government could read this and seek to get insight from them and get ways in which they can reduce the current crime wave that seems to be affecting us.
It seems iroic that a country so liberal could have such a low crime rate ,maybe we need to be more liberal here too
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
31 Dec 09
I know!It's interesting isn't it? Perhaps that is the point; young people are not as restricted and therefore don't feel so much like breaking the rules...Who knows? Whatever they are doing is clearly working! Thanks for responding ronnyb!
@agrim94 (3805)
• India
6 Jun 09
This is a great news and may be they are doing a great job with the children. I think it is what you teach your children and behave that way too that society can improve a lot. If you teach children no to steal and then bring something home from office for personal use which was not meant to bring how small it may be, even as small as eraser the child learns that more than all the teachings . So dutch people must be placing great example in front of their children is all i can think of. The children are future of any country and they are the criminals and Judges of tomorrow. So if thought right result would show in 20 years but they would be worth it.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Jun 09
That is another great point agrim. We have looked at different angles but the simple matter of children being brought up well. You are right kids are the future and it is paramount that they are instilled with decent values; it has made all the difference for the Dutch.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
5 Jun 09
I think we all need more info on this...worldwide societies are grappling with rising crime and popular discontent in life. Its not about money alone, there has to be some kind of peace and satisfaction in life to make society almost crime free. Other countries might well benefit from studying how Netherlands manages to do this. I mean most first world countries have succeeded to provide an all round development to society yet, crime hasnt been on the decline. On the other hand we have Islamic societies where punishment is so brutal that it itself is a deterrent to crime. However, I am sure Netherlands does something different from both these models...now, the question is WHAT?
BTW...any Dutch here who can throw some light on this wonderful achievement?
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Jun 09
It is a wonderful achievement. I too am inclined to think that people there may be generally happier. I intend to research this a bit more, it's interesting and I wonder what we could learn...Sure... Any Dutch people with ideas? Thanks sudiptacallingu!
@savypat (20216)
• United States
5 Jun 09
1 out of 130, I guess it's just our form of welfare. This goes hand in hand with our pitiful educations system. We just keep spending and hope it will all go away. We are the rich country and we don't care for our people or value them. It's a real shame.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Jun 09
Quoting from Aussies' response. He makes good points:
[i]"...Thanks to the social security system... there is very little poverty in the Netherlands. If you remove poverty... you remove crime.That is the thing capitalists fail to understand.
Any good capitalist object in having to pay taxes to support the poor through a social security system. What they fail to understand is that those taxes are like an insurance to protect their money from being rob by people struggling to survive..."
[/i]
I don't have answers but it would make sense to me that taking care of the nation's poor would be a good start toward reducing crime...
Thanks Pat!
@daliaj (5674)
• India
5 Jun 09
It is nice to hear that Netherlands is about to close 8 prisions in the country. Crimes are increasing all over the world and countries are building more prisions. It is great to hear that atleast in Netherlands it is decreasing. Thanks for providing the information.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
5 Jun 09
You're welcome. I thought it was an interesting piece of information. Thanks for responding daliaj!
@krajibg (11923)
• Guwahati, India
5 Jun 09
Hi Paula,
This is an anticlimax!!!! At the time when the world is reeling under terrorism and all the Netherlands are closing prisons. Is it true or false propaganda to promote tourism and tourist? Well in that case the concept of Utopia would get concertized from there only and would spread all over the globe.
If it is true to the fact then of course they deserve applause. clap clap clap...
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
5 Jun 09
I have no reason to disbelieve it. It is refreshing to hear though...Yes they are doing something right! Thanks rajib!
@polav0001 (26)
• Gibraltar
5 Jun 09
Hola, If Netherlands is to close some prison, Australia needs to open more prison now as of late there has been overground many criminals. Why you people are punishing those innocent Indians and the Asian students? You know the fact that most revenue for your government is generated by those 90,000 students from India and plus another 50,000 from China and other countries? You are kicking off your own belly. Too nasty of you people.
I will never go to your country. This is more than nasty.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Jun 09
My apologies to you polav0001. Because I have been tuned out of the world for the last few days I was unaware of the attacks on Indian students that have occurred in Australia and I presume that is what you are referring to. I have just responded to another discussion about it and I will copy here my comments:
[i]"Are you kidding me? Sorry to respond so late but I must have been living under a rock because, believe it or not I did not know of these disgusting attacks. I am fully informed now and I feel appalled by this and I hope the culprits will be severely dealt with.
I feel shocked, hurt and embarrassed that such attacks have occurred; they were obviously fuelled by racism and hatred. I still see Australia as a country with an accepting heart and tolerance and I do still believe that the majority of the population here feels the same as I do and these atrocious individuals do not represent Australia and its people."[/i]
