“Appalled and shocked” is how Gaby Schwarz, the Ombudsperson competent for the penitentiary system, has reacted to the murder at the forensic therapeutic centre Garsten. The outcome of the investigation launched by the Ministry of Justice remains to be seen. At the same time, the Ombudsperson highlights the inadequate provision of care at the facility: “Following its last visit to the forensic therapeutic centre Garsten, our Federal Commission observed that the medical situation is inadequate. There are no specialist psychiatric staff on site from Friday to Sunday or at night. A general practitioner is only present twice a week.” For years, the Austrian Ombudsman Board has been drawing attention to the shortage of specialist staff, including in forensic therapeutic centres. “I hope that these terrible events will lead to a change in thinking,” emphasises Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz, whilst expressing her condolences to all the surviving relatives.
Another murder in a correctional institution
Translation was AI-generated
