Final words

September 23, 2009 10:49

So, after two weeks regular life will resume this Monday. It's actually quite nice, because these two weeks have been very exhausting. Especially the last week, when the JobSwap had to be combined with the daily demands of a family, was tough. But I have to say, things went smoothly thanks to Martijn and our babysitter Alaa. And, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The Jobswap was a very special and amazing project. I'm very grateful I got to participate. First of all, it was very special to be able to spend two weeks with Amy. We had a click right away and we had a lot of fun together. Our systems of law are incredibly different, but we were both open to understanding the other system. Perhaps this attitude is due to the fact that we had similar reasons to become Prosecutors.

By joining Amy in her daily work, and taking the busy metro to work every morning, etc. I could really be a part of New York society. And that felt great as well.

Getting to know the other jobswappers and exchanging experiences with them has also been wonderful. These are all people who come from totally different backgrounds, but have one common denominator: they love their chosen professions. Everyone was enthusiastic about his or her own counterpart and the participation in the project.

On Monday afternoon, after two weeks of jobswap, I have a hearing at the Police Judge where some 10 different cases are adjudicated (all incidents of violence). During the hearing of a domestic violence case, where a man brings his ex-wife as a witness to testify about the abuse of their daughter and herself (!), Amy is on my mind all the time. I'm sure that I took a different, and perhaps better, approach to the case than before the Job Swap. The man was convicted.

So, what has the Jobswap brought me, apart from a lot of fun? I won't be able to change our system of law. I think: looking at my own work in a different light, and questioning things I always thought were normal. And when I have to work late sometime again, it's good to know that across the ocean somebody, whose door is always open to me (and vice versa), is doing a similar job.

Thanks to all the people who made the Jobswap possible for me, including: BKB, the Amsterdam judiciary, Ruth, Amy and of course Martijn.

Drugs and Prostitution

September 19, 2009 14:16

What started off as a day with a freely chattering Amy, finished in in the red light district with Amy being shocked beyond words.

Friday there were no sessions in court. There were some lectures that were mandatory for prosecutors to attend however.

At 10.30AM we sneak away from the lectures, because a police boat is waiting to pick us up. Wow, such tranquility all of a sudden. In 45 sunny minutes, we sail to the Oudezijds Voorburgwal. From the water, Amsterdam looks very peaceful, tranquil and beautiful.

We talk to Heleen Rutgers, from the Emergo project. Afterwards, Amy has an interview with a journalist from the Parool (local newspaper). By then she hasn't yet seen much of the red light district. How different her conversation would have been if she would have had the interview at the end of the day?!

After our welcome at the Beursstraat police station, we get to see a fantastic movie about the Zeedijk during the '80s. We leave after we've gotten an explanation of the specific regulations and the camera surveillance at work in the area.

I can be short about it. Amy was told that about 80 percent of the prostitutes does not do the work voluntarily. It is with that in mind that we start walking. We ( Jolanda, Heleen, Ruth, Amy, me and the police agents) visit one of the landlords. We walk with him past a couple of the rooms he rents out (4 and 5 stars). I won't elaborate on it but suffice to say that everyone had his or her own thoughts about it. Especially Ama, who was literally shocked beyond words.

Finally, we walked around with the owner of a franchise of coffeeshops who also showed Amy the menu. This is a different Amsterdam all together from the city that we saw from the water this morning.

Fortunately, we have a very nice dinner that night where Amy starts to talk again.

A baffling day

September 17, 2009 22:34

I believe Amy will go to bed tonight in a state of complete shock. I saw her jaw literally drop – a couple of times – out of sheer amazement.

The case meeting concerning domestic violence, where the suspect forcibly had to leave his own home. (For Amy's sake, this meeting was conducted in English, for which again many thanks to all involved) What...?! Amy said. The mayor (not the judge) can decide that a perpetrator of domestic violence must leave his house for at least 10 days. And...if that perpetrator cannot stay with his family or friends, a hotel is arranged.

A meeting with the Youth Judge. What?!.... Amy said. Children ranging from 12 to 16 years old can be prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Service.

A judgment in the case of the murder of a granddad looking after the kids at a primary school in South Amsterdam. What?!.... Amy said. Are all those video and photo cameras allowed into the court room. And..they can actually tape videos there.

A hearing at the Grand Chamber. What?!... Amy said. The suspect is angrily waving at the witness. The members of the Court ask the questions. The witness (also victim of domestic violence) is obviously not telling the truth and the Court does not ask another 50 questions about it. There is lengthy discussion of the personal circumstances. And, the suspect is not handcuffed.

An arraignment before the examining judge. What..??! Amy said. Is this what they call arraignment in the USA? (See also my blog “Law&Order”). It's so calm. Suspect without handcuffs. Can anybody be detained and arraigned on the basis of this evidence. Is de auditu (hearsay) evidence admissible. Is there no requirement for the hearing to be transcribed literally.

A tour through the Court's cellblocks. What?!... Amy said. Are the cells that small and without bars. And are there two prisoners in each of those. I'd prefer the big cell with 15 men in New York. And .... no handcuffs.

An Ajax match from the command room. What?!..... Amy said. Are they Ajax fans. But they're not even watching the match. And they don't listen to the attendants. And no handcuffs.

I think everybody can guess by now what Amy's advice will be after her visit to Amsterdam. More handcuffs!