The probation service is struggling to cope with growing demand for advice, community service supervision and settlement of prisoners.

Budget cuts and an increasing workload are leading to waiting lists for people who are given a community service sentence.

‘The bottom is in sight,’ probation service chief Sjef van Gennip told Trouw, adding that the situation is ‘alarming’.

The service supervises prisoners from the moment they are arrested until they have served their sentence. It also supervises 60% of community service sentences.

Late advice

Van Gennip is worried that soon the advice the probation service gives to the public prosecutor and judges will not be in time for court cases.

He also said the quality of the service on offer is under pressure. The number of hours allocated for supervision is being reduced and this will have consequences for efforts to cut the number of reoffenders.

The pressure is likely to increase, according to Trouw, with judges more often opting for community service rather than prison.

The probation service has seen its budget cut by €10m and is expecting more cuts. ‘While what we need is a budget rise of €15m,’ Van Gennip said.