ORANJESTAD (AAN) – Aruba parliamentarian Eduard Pieters is urging reforms to transform the Korrection Instituut Aruba (KIA) into a correctional facility that prioritizes rehabilitation alongside incarceration.
During a parliamentary debate, Pieters noted that housing inmates at KIA costs approximately AWG 300 per prisoner per day, amounting to an estimated AWG 32.85 million annually. He questioned whether the island is receiving sufficient value from that investment.
Pieters argued that KIA currently lacks adequate rehabilitation resources, citing limited psychological and social work services, restricted development programs and the removal of opportunities for inmates to take national examinations.
According to Pieters, rehabilitation should be viewed as an investment in public safety rather than an expense, saying that better education, treatment and reintegration programs can help reduce repeat offending and improve community security.
He called for KIA to evolve into a correctional institution that not only detains offenders but also prepares them for successful reintegration into society.
