‘They get, as it were, a big brother who watches’: young people receive ankle bracelets in a pilot project

Last summer, the Flemish government approved an extension of the decree on electronic surveillance. One of the elements of this was that from now on young people could also get an ankle bracelet. But first there had to be a pilot project. The Flemish government gave the green light for this last Friday.

In concrete terms, judges of the Antwerp youth court will impose the measure on young people between 12 and 18 years old for a period of at least three and a maximum of six months. This can be done as punishment, but also during the preparatory phase of the investigation.

Each young person receives a supervisor. He works together with the young person, his parents, the school and other people in his environment, with the aim of preventing recidivism. The minors receive a timetable with specific agreements. The ankle bracelet can be used to check whether they adhere to this.

Manslaughter

Not everyone is eligible for an ankle bracelet. Social services will screen each candidate to see if it is a possibility. Young people suspected of specific crimes, such as manslaughter, murder and domestic violence, and key figures in the drug trade or teenage pimps cannot receive an ankle bracelet.

The two ministers involved emphasize individual guidance. “It is important that we give young people the signal that we are not letting them go,” says Flemish Minister of Welfare Hilde Crevits (CD&V). “That is why we provide intensive guidance when young people are fitted with an ankle monitor.”

“The young people get, as it were, a big brother who monitors whether they go to school and strictly follows their conditions,” says Flemish Minister of Justice Zuhal Demir (N-VA).

Risks

The idea of ​​electronic monitoring of minors has been contested. “If only because Flanders had always said it would look for an alternative to the ‘adult’ ankle bracelet when introducing electronic monitoring for minors in 2019,” says professor of youth criminology Els Dumortier (VUB).

It is twofold, according to Dumortier. “It all depends on how this is used,” she says. “If this means that young people are not placed out of their home, into an institution, I see possible advantages: we know that such a placement entails risks.”

On the other hand, an ankle bracelet is very stigmatizing. This is not self-evident for young people, who are in the midst of puberty and developing their identity. “That’s why I think it’s a shame that there are no other solutions or tracking devices are being tried in the pilot project, such as modified watches or smartphones.”

The pilot project will last a year and cost 1.2 million euros. If the assessment is positive, it can be rolled out throughout Flanders.