The Ombudsman calls for better suicide prevention in prison and rapid implementation of existing recommendations. Ombudsman Gaby Schwarz (ÖVP) also campaigns for prison conditions that comply with human rights and for the expansion of electronically monitored house arrest.
The Ombudsman has identified a number of open construction sites in the criminal justice system. In addition to the expansion of electronically monitored house arrest and human rights violations in prisons – open group detention should be the rule for adolescents and young adults – Ombudsman Gaby Schwarz (ÖVP) especially calls for rapid implementation of the recommendations drawn up by a working group for suicide prevention.
Suicide is the leading cause of death in prison
The final expert report has been available since July 19, 2023, but “unfortunately nothing has happened” from the Ministry of Justice since then, Schwarz criticized. Suicide is considered the number one cause of death in prisons. The numbers in this country have also increased recently. Between 2021 and 2023, there were between 46 and 49 suicides and suicide attempts annually. According to the Ombudsman, there have been eight suicide attempts and one suicide since the beginning of this year.
When it comes to suicide prevention in prison, “there is a lot going on,” said Friedrich Alexander Koenig, Director General for Criminal Law Enforcement and Measures at the Ministry of Justice, in the “Ö1 Mittagsjournal”. A number of the 48 recommendations have now been implemented. Visitor management has also already been improved.
Relocation of the juvenile justice system
Within just a few months, juvenile justice will largely be moved from the Gerasdorf correctional institution (JA), which previously specialized in this area, to a new institution in the federal capital and will be connected to the Vienna-Simmering penitentiary in the Münnichplatz location . “People should already be there in July. “It was extremely late and extremely poorly communicated to all those affected,” Schwarz said. This led to uncertainty among staff and prisoners in Gerasdorf, “who don’t know what will happen to them.”
Expansion of the ankle bracelet scheme
The Ombudsman is also in favor of expanding the ankle bracelet scheme, which is currently only intended for sentences to be served or remaining sentences that do not exceed twelve months. The possibility of extending electronically monitored house arrest to sentences of up to 18 or 24 months would result in “a striking reduction in the burden on prisons,” Ombudsman Schwarz said. There has been a corresponding proposal since 2019, which is why the Ministry of Justice has not responded to it: “I don’t understand it. It would be wise to get started on this quickly.” After all, electronically monitored house arrest is ‘not a walk in the park’, but a measure that limits freedom.
If you or someone close to you is in an exceptional psychological situation or suffers from suicidal thoughts, please contact the telephone advice service on 142. Other crisis hotlines and emergency numbers can be found HERE.
Source: Krone
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