Flemish Justice Minister Zuhal Demir has called for high-risk offenders, specifically child abusers, to be followed for 15 years after their release, in light of the murder of a four-year-old Belgian boy this week.
The comments came in response to reports that Dave De Kock, the main suspect in the case of toddler Dean Verberckmoes' death, previously served ten years in prison for fatal child abuse, and was freed without any conditions attached to his release.
A system is currently in place allowing the criminal court to supervise such offenders post-sentence, but this was not yet in place when De Kock was prosecuted in 2010.
Demir argued in the Flemish Parliament on Wednesday that to avoid history repeating itself again, the federal government should adapt the system to make it compulsory for high-risk offenders and to do so for a (renewable) period of 15 years following a person's release from prison.
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"Require the post-conviction release of all high-risk offenders such as child molesters, sex offenders and teenage pimps, so that they receive long-term follow-up and treatment. Together, across party lines, let's change federal law," Flemish justice minister Zuhal Demir said on Twitter.
De terbeschikkingstelling verplichten na de straf van alle hoog risico daders zoals kindermishandelaars, zedendelinquenten en tienerpooiers. Zodat ze langdurig opgevolgd en behandeld worden. Laten we samen, over de partijgrenzen heen, de federale wetgeving wijzigen. pic.twitter.com/E8fRWJ6KYg
— Zuhal Demir (@Zu_Demir) January 19, 2022
Currently, convicted people are supervised by the criminal court for up to 15 years after a sentence has expired for very serious offences such as torture or rape in which the victim dies.
Federal Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne’s spokesperson Edward Landtsheere told The Brussels Times the justice ministry is looking to extend the measure, which aims to protect society from people who commit crimes while suffering from a serious disorder or lack of development to other types of offenders.
