Senate rejects early prisoner release plan

State Secretary Fred Teeven (Security and Justice) gave up his plan for the introduction of an ankle strap for prisoners in the last part of their sentence in the Senate today. Only the VVD and PvdA voted for the anklet. Teeven did not change his bill despite a lot of critical questions and comments. He wants to continue with parts of the plan. The core of the plan was to give prisoners an ankle strap who behave well and are ready to be released. In this manner they can go home to work and return to society. Existing schemes such as a special program and ditto leave, will then fall away. Many groups within the Senate do not agree that not a judge but officials must decide whether a prisoner is eligible of the ankle strap, AD.nl reports.