I therefore appeal to the next federal government to improve the situation in the prison system," emphasises Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz, pointing out four essential areas:
- Eliminate staff shortages of executive and specialised personnel.
- Extend electronically monitored house arrest to 18-24 months. This measure, which is also recommended by the Court of Auditors, would bring about rapid relief, save costs and would also be conducive to resocialisation.
- Strengthen suicide prevention in view of the dramatic increase in the number of suicides.
- Juvenile detention centre: Rapid full implementation of the Münnichplatz site.
Juvenile detention centre: recommendations of the Ombudsman Board are finally being implemented
Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz considers the Ministry of Justice's announcement that the new juvenile detention centre in Vienna-Simmering will go into operation to be "far too late and far too slow". It is indeed pleasing that the recommendations of the Ombudsman Board are finally being implemented. "However, the fact that it has taken two years and countless requests to the Minister of Justice for anything to happen makes us shake our heads. We will keep a close eye on further developments," emphasises Gaby Schwarz, referring to the Ombudsman Board's 2022 perception report on the topic of "Juveniles in detention". "In addition to the structural conditions, it is also crucial to improve therapeutic and social care in juvenile detention centres. This also includes training and leisure activities. Our goal as a society must be to give these young people a real chance for life after prison. This is only possible if the necessary resources are made available," appeals Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz.
"Austria's prisons are designed for 8,800 prisoners. However, there are currently around 9,700, which makes it all the more necessary to finally take action here," appeals Ombudswoman Schwarz.
Picture credits: Daniel Bointner