Figures released by the Flemish Justice and Enforcement Authority in its annual report show that 28 young offenders under the age of 18 were electronically tagged in Flanders in 2024. Since June last year, a pilot project has been running in Antwerp in which young offenders can be electronically tagged rather than being sent to a secure youth detention centre.
Last year in Flanders, 28 young offenders between the ages of 14 and 18 were electronically tagged. Of these 13 had been found guilty of drug dealing. The idea behind electronically tagging a young offender rather than sending them to a youth detention centre is that it enables them to continue to attend school or take part in other activities that will help get them back on the straight and narrow. The pilot project started in Antwerp, but is to be extended to the whole of Flanders.
Jef Verlinden of the Flemish Centre for Electronic Monitoring told VRT News that not all young offenders are eligible for electronic tagging. Their home situation and a number of practical matters are taken into consideration before a young offender is electronically tagged.
"We cannot leave young people at home if the domestic situation is not safe for either them or their parents. Sometimes there are also practical concerns, for example a person must be able to tell the time and be aware of when the young person needs to be at home. The young person needs to be able to go to school or engage in other useful activities."