Nearly 6,000 convicted criminals missing despite prison sentences
Nearly 6,000 convicted criminals in the Netherlands, sentenced to prison terms, are unaccounted for. Together, they are responsible for over 7,000 serious offenses, including manslaughter and sexual crimes. The majority are believed to have fled abroad. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Justice and Security in response to questions from De Telegraaf.
State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie, responsible for prison administration, called the situation "extremely painful" for victims, survivors, and justice professionals. She emphasized that authorities aim to enforce all prison sentences but admitted that this is not always possible. “Unfortunately, in some cases, individuals prove to be untraceable,” she stated.
Some convicted criminals flee while awaiting a final ruling from a higher court, while others escape before being taken into custody after their final conviction. Among the 6,000 fugitives are also criminals convicted in absentia, including notorious offenders such as Bolle Jos.
The Ministry of Justice and Security stated it "cannot assess" whether the current shortage of prison cells encourages criminals to flee due to a lack of available space. “This has happened before,” said a spokesperson.
To track down fugitives, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) and the police have previously established the Fugitive Active Search Team (FAST). This team locates around 300 criminals annually.
