Policy Transfer and Privatization of Punishment in Belgium

• In Event: International CJ Policy and Practices I

Abstract

In Belgium, privatization of punishment is visible in the use of electronic monitoring and in the prison sector. Electronic monitoring in Belgium has in recent years grown exponentially. On a daily basis around 2000 persons are being electronically monitored by means of tagging, voice recognition or GPS-technology. All of the electronic devices are being delivered by private companies. Privatization is also noticeable in the prison sector. At this moment several new prisons are being built in Belgium in cooperation with the private sector according to the so-called DBFM-formula: design – build – finance – maintain. Policy makers often look across borders to learn from the successes and failures of others. Even though criminologists increasingly seem to agree that we should be sensitive to the transnational dimension of policy formation, it is striking how little thorough empirical research has been undertaken over the past decade. Using both policy domains as a case, we will discuss the results from our empirical research on penal policy transfer. By means of interviews with key actors in - and close observers of - the various policy processes we aim to identify existing transnational policy processes in Belgian policy formation.

Author

• Danique Gudders, KU Leuven