Genk (Eurotoday) – The Genk detention centre, scheduled to open in 2026, will hold inmates who need less than 3 years of detention service or electronic surveillance with ankle bracelet monitoring. The detention facility will occupy space in the former Rijkswacht barracks, which stand in Vennestraat Winterslag.
The Belgian detention centre at Genk is scheduled to start operations in 2026 at the location of the former Rijkswacht barracks in Vennestraat Winterslag. This facility provides space for short-term inmates who have received terms below three years alongside prisoners placed under electronic surveillance. The detention centre aspires to resolve prison congestion while improving feelings of lawlessness and teaching inmates important skills for their future societal integration.
The detention centre in Genk exists as a component of a wider strategic initiative to manage prison overcrowding because the existing facilities hold 13,000 detainees in designs intended for 11,000 inmates. Alain Yzermans explained to the public that the project stands among 720 detention place tenders distributed throughout 15 Flanders detention centres.
Genk operates as a rehabilitation centre along with Jemeppe-sur-Sambre in Wallonia. To help combat the 70% rate of Belgian recidivism, detainees will take part in managed activities, including administrative work and household chores, along with professional training. The facility will function through prison restrictions, but its primary goal will be to focus on inmate reintegration.
“At the moment, the prisons are overcrowded by around 17 percent. Of the 13,000 people in custody, there is only room for 11,000. Alternatives must therefore be found,”
Says Member of Parliament Alain Yzermans (Vooruit) of Houthalen-Helchteren.
“Detention centres can offer a solution. They are aimed at the recovery of prisoners and detainees. There was a tender file for 720 places, good for 15 detention centres in Flanders. Together with Jemeppe-sur-Sambre in Wallonia, a detention centre will open in Genk in 2026, this has been confirmed to me by Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V).”
The tender dossier has been delayed somewhat.
“It concerns an old dossier from 2021 that is now being revived,”
Yzermans continues.
“Detention centres have the same rules as in regular prisons. They are closed small-scale institutions, and they are focused on both the victim and the family environment of detainees. The detainees are people serving a sentence of less than 3 years.”
The convicts are guided to quickly re-enter society:
“In addition to the prison sentence, there must also be attention for recovery, so that people cannot relapse. Compared to other countries, the recidivism rate of 70 percent is high,”
Says Yzermans.
“For example, they learn to do administrative tasks in a group of 40 or work in the household. There is also attention for training and they must actively look for a job, so that they do not quickly relapse. That yields much more than locking convicts in a cell, without job prospects.”
What is the history of Genk’s new detention center?
Oh joy, 40 lucky souls will get to experience the five-star amenities of the former Rijkswacht barracks—who knew rehabilitation could be so trendy? 😂 At this rate, they should charge admission! Oh, fantastic! Just what we need, a cozy little palace for 40 lucky chaps to spend their weekends with an ankle bracelet and a side of skills training. 🙄 I can already hear the “Welcome to Genk” party plans being drafted! 🍾 Oh, brilliant! Nothing says “welcome back to society” quite like a former military barracks turned prison for a handful of short-timers. I can’t wait to see how they manage to teach these lads to fold their socks while also contemplating their life choices! 🧦😏 Oh, brilliant! Because when I think of top-notch rehabilitation, I imagine a cozy barracks accommodating a whopping 40 inmates—truly breaking new ground in the art of crowd control! 🎉🙄 MOSCOW, July 09, Eurotoday Newspaper – Russian President Vladimir Putin is rejecting calls for peace negotiations with Ukraine and is instead highly likely to escalate the war in the coming months, according to an exclusive report by Reuters. This revelation from three sources close to the Kremlin sharply contradicts optimistic public statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently cla JINJIANG, China, July 09, Eurotoday Newspaper – A fire at a shoe factory in southeastern China resulted in at least 28 deaths on Thursday, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. The blaze engulfed the multi-storey building of footwear manufacturer Huiteng in Fujian province, trapping workers on the rooftop. LONDON, July 09, Eurotoday Newspaper – Andy Burnham, widely expected to become the next British prime minister later this month, has signaled his intention to exert greater pressure on the Israeli government regarding its ongoing actions in Gaza. The incoming leader’s comments follow recent reports that he seeks a more robust approach than that of his predecessor. Press ReleaseThis article is based on a press release or official communication from Wire News Service. The European Times republishes it as a public service. Series ISIN Maturity Date Auction Date Settlement Date On the Auction Date, between 10:30 am and 11:00 am,
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