Please note: The algorithm descriptions in English have been automatically translated. Errors may have been introduced in this process. For the original descriptions, go to the Dutch version of the Algorithm Register.

Signal detention (including detention abroad)

This algorithm from Stichting Inlichtingenbureau (IB)* makes visible whether a person who is in a penitentiary is receiving social assistance benefits at the same time. If so, a signal is sent to the municipality.

Last change on 5th of August 2025, at 9:52 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
Publication category
Impactful algorithms
Impact assessment
DPIA
Status
In use

General information

Theme

Social Security

Begin date

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Contact information

* De officiële, statutaire naamswijziging van Stichting Inlichtingenbureau naar Bureau InformatieDiensten Nederland (BIDN) volgt op een later moment. Tot die tijd gebruiken we in officiële documentatie de naam Stichting Inlichtingenbureau (IB). https://www.bidn.nl/over-ons

Link to publication website

https://www.bidn.nl/rechtmatigheid-samenloopsignalering

Responsible use

Goal and impact

A person who is confined in a penitentiary is not entitled to welfare benefits. Municipalities have the duty to check this and, where appropriate, stop the social assistance benefit after investigation. The IB informs the municipality if a resident on social assistance benefits is confined in a penitentiary institution. This is done with information from the Judicial Institution Service (DJI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BuZa).

Considerations

The 'Signal detention' is part of the information service Samenloopsignalering (see algorithm 'Samenloopsignalering'). Only the specific points about 'Signal detention' are explained here.


The algorithm ensures that a municipality only receives the data of their residents with social assistance benefits who are in detention.


This protects the privacy of citizens. An advantage of this algorithm is that it works much faster than when someone does it by hand. This saves a lot of time for municipal employees. Also, fewer mistakes are made this way.

Human intervention

For the IB itself, this algorithm does not involve human intervention. The algorithm executes rules devised by humans and is not 'self-learning'.

However, the IB does ensure that the processing process has been done properly.

The municipality decides whether and how to deal with a change.

Risk management

Citizen privacy is a major concern. That is why we periodically check whether there are risks and what can be done about them. This is called privacy impact assessment (PIA).

Legal basis

Article 13(1)(a) of the Participation Act describes that there is no right to assistance for those who have been deprived of their liberty by law.

Basis processing Judicial Institutions Service (as a service under the Minister of V&J):

  • Articles 64(1)(k) and (12) and 68 of the Participation Act
  • Section 45(1)(k) and (11) Income Support for Older and Partially Disabled Former Self-Employed Persons Act (IOAW)
  • Section 45(1)(k) and (11) of the Income Support for Older and Partially Disabled Unemployed Workers Act (IOAZ).

Basis processing Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

  • Sections 64(13) and 68 of the Participation Act

Basis for processing IB:

  • Article 64, third paragraph and thirteenth paragraph, and Article 68 Participation Act
  • Article 45(2) and (11) IOAW
  • Article 45(2) and (11) IOAZ
  • Section 63 Work and Income Implementation Structure Act (SUWI), Section 5.24(1) and (3), SUWI Decree & Sections 6.2 and 6.6 SUWI Regulation
  • IB-BuZa cooperation and exchange agreement

Basis for processing Municipalities:

  • Section 13(1)(a) of the Participation Act.
  • Chapter 5 'Implementation' and Chapter 6 'Powers and facilities of municipalities' Participation Act


See also the Data Register. Processing Activities Act SUWI / Participation Act on the IB website at the following page: https://www.bidn.nl/privacy-beleid

Links to legal bases

Participatiewet: https://wetten.overheid.nl

Link to Processing Index

https://www.bidn.nl/privacy-beleid

Impact assessment

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA): https://www.bidn.nl/privacy-beleid

Operations

Data

On a daily basis, the Judicial Institutions Department (DJI) provides a file of persons newly committed to Dutch penitentiary institutions. The file contains BSN, start date (date of confinement) and a DT code of the penitentiary concerned.

For foreign detention, a source file is supplied monthly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This file contains BSN and Detention Date (the date of commencement of detention at the penitentiary).

Municipalities supply the BSN of the current social assistance population on a monthly basis.

Technical design

A. The IB receives daily from the Judicial Institutions Department (DJI) a file of persons with the date of containment, supplemented by the DT code of the penitentiary concerned.

B. The IB receives a file once a month from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BuZa) with new detentions abroad.

C. A municipality provides a monthly file on the current social assistance population.

D. The information received by DJI and BuZa is used to compare whether the BSN appears in the IB's national social assistance population provision.

E. If a citizen has an assistance benefit and is detained, a signal is created and stored. Municipalities can then take these signals about their citizens from the IB.

External provider

Internally developed

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