Some municipalities in the Netherlands keep people with a criminal record out of bad neighborhoods. This is to prevent these neighborhoods from further deteriorating. In Tilburg, Dordrecht and Den Bosch they apply a strict admission policy for some neighborhoods regarding the tenants of the homes. In Dordrecht they have been pursuing this policy for years and more and more places are conducting a similar experiment.
How does it work
In neighborhoods where they are already struggling with a lot of poverty and crime, housing associations, in collaboration with the municipality and the police, apply requirements to tenants. Potential tenants who have been convicted in the past three years for certain crimes, such as violent crimes and drug offenses, have no chance of finding a rental home in the neighborhood in question. They do this to prevent the neighborhood from deteriorating even further. This procedure only applies in certain neighborhoods and not for the entire city or municipality. The police check whether you have a criminal record. If this turns out to be the case, they will pass this on to the housing association. They do not indicate what he or she has been convicted of.
What is a criminal record?
A criminal record is a record of a violation of the law for which someone has been convicted.
A criminal record will haunt the convicted person for thirty years. This is even forty years if the offense carries a prison sentence of eight years or more. Violations for which the Central Judicial Collection Agency makes a transaction proposal can be commuted. They send a fine (settlement offer) with which the criminal prosecution can be settled.
Criminal record and society
A criminal record can leave a negative mark on the future. Many people with a criminal record acquired this in their younger years. They did stupid things that brought them to court. One incident can have major consequences for one’s position in society. A criminal record can seriously hinder a career. A criminal record may prevent a certificate of conduct (VOG) from being provided. More and more employers are asking for such a statement.
Criminal record and insurance
Insurance companies are also interested in whether or not you have a criminal history. With a criminal record it will be difficult to get regular insurance. Most insurers ask about criminal history in the past five years. Most companies do not allow you to take out insurance within five years of a conviction. Rialto Insurance focuses specifically on people who cannot take out insurance with regular insurers. However, the premium will be much higher.