Forensic social professionals play a crucial role in the resocialization trajectories of their clients with substance use problems. In this explorative study, we conclude that their attitudes to treatability of addiction are positive. However, there are differences in attitudes regarding needed treatment interventions and ways of controlling substance use, for example related to working within specialist addiction services, personal experiences with addiction and working in a clinical setting. When confronted with substance use of their clients, the forensic social professionals’ main reactions are discussing the problem with their client and analyzing the situation. The type of substance and the nature of criminal behavior are important considerations in this reaction.

A revision of the Dutch vice law is to be expected, amongst others with regard to sex between minors. The current standard requires such contacts to be in violation with the social view, indicating that the minor’s perspective is subdue to the majority opinion. Applying the legal standard of ‘indeceny’ (‘ontuchtig’), the judiciary are left with room for interpretation. In order to grant minors more sexual autonomy and to further legality, the legislator wants to change the criterion, opting for the standard of ‘other than in an equal relationship’. This begs the question whether this will solve the interpretive issues that flow from such open criteria. In order to predict whether the standard of ‘other than in an equal relationship’ will contribute to clarify the issues of legality, the jurisprudence with regard to the standard of ‘indecency’ was analyzed in order to learn which variables are applied by the magistracy.

Data kunnen een grote commerciële waarde hebben. Omdat data vaak niet worden beschermd door het intellectuele eigendomsrecht en het goederenrecht, is het van belang om waardevolle data contractueel goed te beschermen. In dit artikel staan daarvoor enkele tips.

In dit artikel wordt het juridisch kader van de belangrijkste aspecten van het Bouwbesluit 2012 (Bb) gegeven. In het artikel gaan auteurs in op de oorsprong en grondslag van het Bb (par. 2), de hoofdstukindeling, de begrippen en de verschillende gebruiksfuncties in het Bb (par. 3), de (minimum)eisen en de beschermingsniveaus (par. 4), het instrument gebruiksmelding (par. 5), de mogelijkheden van een gelijkwaardige oplossing (par. 6), de opbouw en systematiek van de functionele eisen en de prestatie-eisen (par. 7), bouw- en sloopwerkzaamheden in het Bb (par. 8), handhaving (par. 9), overgangsrecht (par. 10) en de verhouding tot de Wabo en de Wet kwaliteitsborging voor het bouwen (par. 11). Ook wordt ingegaan op de toekomst van het Bb onder de Omgevingswet (par. 12).

The contribution of sport to reintegrating offenders receives limited attention, both in science and in the practice of probation and the prison system. From the perspective of desistance, this literature study concluded that sport can contribute to the development of individual capital, social capital and an alternative identity. However, the effect of sport is not necessarily positive. There are risks of negative influence or the reinforcement of problem behaviour. In counselling offenders, sport should be combined with other interventions to reduce recidivism. A personalized approach is required, based on the risk-need-responsivity model.

Is the concept of ‘retribution’ compatible with restorative justice? Starting from the perspective that retribution is an imperative given and that restorative justice should be a preferent option in coping with crime, the concept of retribution needs to be redesigned. Rethinking retribution needs to take into account the hypersensitive nature and complexity of modern society. Apparently incompatible interests need to be reconciled, paying tribute to the citizenship of both the victim and the perpetrator. Notwithstanding censure to be in place, implying the infliction of ‘pain’, the aim must lie in a reconstruction of civil relationships affirming the victim and the perpetrator to be part of the community. Standards applied must reflect objectivity, implying proportionate punishment, with a preference towards restorative justice because it is the more subsidiary option. Thus, retribution notwithstanding the imperative and painful nature of retribution, the execution should pursue the reconstruction of (civil) relationships.

The smart city is the urban ideal of our time. Yet its high expectations often run counter against the performance of smart city projects in practice. The Rathenau Institute has studied a number of such projects in the municipality of Eindhoven, a leading city with respect to digital innovation in the Netherlands. To ensure that data is used in a proper manner with respect for public values Eindhoven has applied several strategies, such as privacy by design and the active involvement of its citizens. It has also set up a number of principles for the digital society which helped to negotiate contracts with private partners. Yet the authors’ analysis shows that important legal challenges remain. Some of the principles require more detailed specification. The authors also found that the law is not yet fully appropriated to the new digital context and needs to be adjusted accordingly.

In this article Bas van Stokkom and Renée Kool discuss work and life of the Dutch comparative legal scholar Chrisje Brants. The article is based on an interview the authors conducted with Brants as well as themes that Brants developed in her published work. The article discusses in particular themes such as comparative research, the Utrecht School, and the role of criminal law.