ANP (the Netherlands national news agency) reported today about an interesting legal research outcome. The research concerns a project carried out by Innovation Lab and commissioned by the justice ministry.

The research concluded (link in dutch) that there is nothing in the Netherlands' legal system that opposes the possibility of psychiatric detainees passing a test in a virtual environment before being released. This conclusion opens the door for convicted criminals indefinitely imprisoned in secure psychiatric institutions to be allowed a "virtual leave", in order to test their physical responses when put in risky situations.

Provided their explicit consent, offenders judged to have committed their offences as a result of diminished responsibility will be observed by psychiatric staff while, for example, walking a virtual park, or communicating with children. These observations will lead to pertinent conclusions.

You didn't expect this, did you?

[ via Radio Netherlands ]