"Poor care, more difficult resocialisation and rising suicide rates are unfortunately part of everyday life in domestic prisons. These are the consequences of the virulent shortage of staff, which I have been pointing out for years. The official answer is always 'all posts are filled'. This is not even true on paper," says Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz. Long-term sick leave and maternity leave are not taken into account. In addition, a wave of retirements is foreseeable. This means a general shortage of prison officers, psychiatrists, social workers, occupational therapists, etc.
"Austria's prisons are designed for 8,800 prisoners. However, there are currently more than 9,600. In view of the overcrowding, it is urgently necessary to evaluate whether the quota of posts, which was set years ago under different circumstances, meets current requirements. From my point of view, the calculation is simple: if the number of prisoners increases, the number of posts must also increase in order to guarantee an orderly prison system in the best possible way," appeals Gaby Schwarz.
