"For years, we as the Austrian Ombudsman Board have been documenting shortcomings in the domestic prison system as well as recommendations for improvement in our parliamentary reports. Independently and transparently. In 2025 alone, we dealt with 1,145 complaints from inmates and staff and made 46 visits to prisons, including by our Federal Commission. The tragic death at Hirtenberg Prison has apparently led to the Ministry of Justice finally recognising that system improvements are unavoidable," said Gaby Schwarz, the Ombudswoman responsible for the prison system, referring to the expert commission presented by Justice Minister Anna Sporrer, which is now to evaluate improvement measures.
"Intensifying staff recruitment, increasing specialised services, renovating detention rooms, better care for mentally impaired inmates - if all the steps announced today are actually implemented, it would be a quantum leap for the domestic prison system. Any measure that quickly relieves the pressure on prisons is to be welcomed. It is crucial that we all pull in the same direction. With this in mind, we are happy to make the experience and documented findings of the Ombudsman Board available to the expert commission if required," emphasises Gaby Schwarz.
In "ZIB Talk", Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz discusses the tragic death of a prisoner at Hirtenberg Prison and the urgent need for improvements in the prison system.