When the security measure meets bordered penality: release procedures for persons who are not criminally responsible without residence rights in Belgium

Offenders considered to be persons not criminally responsible (hereafter Persons NCR) in Belgium, are
subjected to a security measure. This is executed by means of a forensic care trajectory, often beginning
in high-security prison units or forensic psychiatric facilities, and moving through medium and lower
security psychiatric facilities, with the intention to ultimately integrate them back into society. Within
this group there are 145 persons without residence rights. This article is attentive to how the forensic
care trajectories for people without residence rights are currently navigated. Six qualitative interviews
were conducted with key decision-makers in the forensic care trajectories of Persons NCR. Moreover,
we analyse the legislative framework regarding the security measure and illustrate how features of
‘bordered penality’ are clearly present. Our results indicate that when working towards a return to the
country of origin fails, Persons NCR without residence rights become neglected, either in high-security
prison units or forensic facilities. We explore avenues to improve this precarious situation, and consider
possibilities to guarantee mental healthcare according to a persons’ security needs rather than their
residence rights.