On July 8, 2025, the amendment proposal to change the Penitentiary Principles Act (Pbw) was adopted by the Senate. This means that changes to the Pbw are a fact, and stricter rules will apply to prisoners in the Intensive Supervision Departments (AITs) and the Extra Secure Institution (EBI). With this amendment, DJI can counteract continued criminal activity from detention as much as possible, thereby contributing to safety both inside and outside our prison walls.
The main changes at a glance
- The Minister can temporarily restrict the communication options of prisoners in an EBI or AIT with the outside world to a significant extent if there is reason to do so.
- After the law comes into effect, prisoners in the EBI are allowed to make phone calls for ten minutes once a week and receive one hour of visits per week.
- For prisoners in the AIT, it applies (after coming into effect) that they may make three ten-minute phone calls and receive one hour of visits once a week.
- EBI and AIT prisoners may only call persons (except for lawyers) who have registered and identified themselves at a location designated by the Minister at that time.
- Visual supervision will now be maintained on physical conversations between EBI and AIT prisoners and their lawyer. Furthermore, the number of lawyers with whom a prisoner residing in the EBI or AIT may have confidential contact is limited to two.
Change of GVM Circular
The amendment of the Pbw and the detention landscape means that the current GVM circular has also been revised and that after the Pbw comes into effect, a new system will be used for signaling, placing, and monitoring (high-risk) detainees.
More information
More information about the amendment can be found on the page Amendment to the Penitentiary Principles Act AIT and EBI. At the bottom of this page, information sheets about the amendment for personal relations of prisoners and legal aid providers are available.