Yeşilgöz wants to track convicts with an alcoholmeter

Outgoing justice minister Dilan Yeşilgöz wants to make it possible to oblige people to wear an 'alcoholmeter' if they have been convicted of a violent crime or driving under the influence of alcohol. The Cabinet has approved her bill, which will soon be sent to the Tweede Kamer for consideration. The 'alcoholmeter' is an ankle bracelet that checks every half hour through sweat droplets on the skin surface whether the wearer has consumed alcohol.

The minister hopes that this will make it easier to check whether an alcohol ban is being complied with. Currently, the probation service usually checks this twice a week with a urine test. Outside of this "snapshot," it is possible to violate an alcohol ban unnoticed.

In the current situation, the 'alcoholmeter' may only be used voluntarily. The bill makes mandatory use possible after a judge has imposed an alcohol ban.

The probation service will have the opportunity to provide tailor-made solutions in consultation with the convicted person. For example, the 'alcoholmeter' can only be used in the early days, when the risk of recidivism is greatest.

Last autumn, the Council of State made critical comments about the plan initiated in 2020 by Ferd Grapperhaus, Yeşilgöz's predecessor. The important Cabinet advisor found the 'alcoholmeter' to be a far-reaching violation of the fundamental rights that protect personal privacy, physical integrity, and freedom of movement. The council, therefore, felt that it was necessary to explain better why this was necessary.

That has now happened, says a minister spokesperson. The law now clearly states that the alcoholmeter is only used in serious cases. "It should really be to prevent future events and to protect the victims," ​​the spokesperson said. The meter will also be more "wearable" and smaller than previously proposed.

At the council's request, the minister has also described more clearly how to deal with the highly sensitive data that the meter collects. This data is stored encrypted and can, therefore, only be read by the probation service.