Therapy instead of punishment – violent offenders don’t have to be behind bars

Twenty-two months in prison, plus an additional eight months from a previous suspended sentence. A total of 30 months behind Swedish curtains. The verdict against the violent criminal, who already has four previous convictions, is not yet final. The chance that he will not have to serve his sentence behind bars, but in a facility for felons to be weaned, is a foregone conclusion in the event of legal violence.

Threats upon threats
The reason for this circumstance is easily explained: “The man is not mentally ill and not mentally retarded. He has an addiction problem with alcohol and drugs, and in some cases he committed the crimes under the influence of substances,” explains well-known court expert Reinhard Haller about this case. But what exactly is the trial at the Feldkirch Regional Court about? To several offenses in October last year. The trained chef threatens his boss on the phone that he will kill his wife and children.

Two days later, after a ride in Bregenz, he throws himself at the taxi driver because he suspects a bomb in the car and does not want to be left alone. Three days later, he rang his 70-year-old neighbor’s doorbell and, after opening the door, preceded him to the hospital. When he is then taken to prison, the 33-year-old really gets excited. In the cell he smashes cups and plates, brandishes a butter knife and threatens to kill his fellow prisoner if the guards don’t get him cigarettes, a lawyer and a doctor.

Green light
The Romanian can only partially remember the deeds. “I didn’t know what would happen to me in prison now,” he tries to explain his behavior. After also agreeing to inpatient therapy, the judge gives the go-ahead for therapy instead of punishment.