Comment: Don't be fooled by this 'progressive philosophy' bit. The reason why prisons are closing probably has to do with ordinary austerity measures.More than half of the prisoners will have to share a prison cell.
Some say the main reason is that judges increasingly hand down community service and GPS ankle-band sentences instead of jail terms.
On one hand rapists and paedophiles get away with light sentences, if they are sentenced at all. On the other hand people that write too many letters to their council or steal exam papers (and are pupils at an Islamic school) will face time in prison.
The Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA), representing over 60 organisations, called for the government to urgently limit "unnecessary use of prison, ensuring it is reserved for serious, persistent and violent offenders for whom no alternative sanction is appropriate".
In 2009, the Dutch justice ministry announced a plan to close eight prisons in the Netherlands. Why? A declining crime rate that is expected to continue. In 2013, a staggering 19 prisons were scheduled to close. Officials have announced they are in the process of cutting 3,500 jobs.
How did they do it?
Primary reasons for fewer offenders and prisoners in the Netherlands include a continued general decline in crime rates, a focus on rehabilitation of offenders, progressive drug laws, and also, those convicted are choosing electronic tagging instead of incarceration.
Comment: Police have been coming down hard on people that grow weed for some time now. The laws are progressive for those high-up that are involved in the drug trade.
Comment: Putin is known for using his advisors to disseminate ideas he can't express openly. If this is his vision and Russian policy will be aimed towards it, the world is fortunate to have such a leader on the world stage.