Small-Scale Detention, Big Impact? Understanding the Reintegration Potential of Transition Houses

Belgium faces high rates of recidivism, and many people feel unprepared for life after release. Individuals often enter prison with existing issues such as homelessness, unemployment, or addiction. Rather than resolving these problems, imprisonment tends to worsen them—causing loss of housing, work, autonomy, and support networks, while increasing debt and psychological distress. Support during detention and the transition back to society is often lacking.

Small-scale detention facilities aim to tackle these challenges by focusing on responsibility, reintegration, and personalized guidance. Since 2019, four such transition houses have opened in Belgium, with a fifth planned in 2025. Residents usually have complex backgrounds and need support across multiple life domains to rebuild their lives.

Despite these promising developments, there is currently no empirical evidence on the effectiveness of transition houses. This research aims to explore how they support reintegration after detention, with a focus on the work of De Kansenfabriek. Their approach emphasizes individual strengths within a group setting, supporting recovery and autonomy, in line with the Belgian Basic Law and international detention standards.