Shortly before his departure, probation head Johannes Bernegger draws a positive conclusion. The outgoing boss of ‘Neustart’ knows that his employees prevent countless criminals from committing crimes again.
Revenge has no place in court, says Johannes Bernegger about punishments that some people find too lenient. “The goal is to ensure that an offender no longer commits a crime. That is where the probation officers come into play,” says the outgoing head of “Neustart”, an association specialized in rehabilitation assistance and prevention.
The lawyer draws positive conclusions after 33 years in the probation service. “When I started, we were considered accomplices of the prisoners,” he laughs during the “Krone” visit to Salzburg-Schallmoos. Today, judges and prosecutors even consult with probation officers.
Protection for civil society
The questions are: “What brought the perpetrator this far? How can a relapse be prevented?” Bernegger: “It is about protecting civil society and sometimes also about protecting the perpetrators from themselves.”
When the perpetrators are only 12 or 13 years old, the hands of all authorities seem tied. According to Bernegger, the options available to youth care agencies are not sufficient. “For very difficult cases we need a special facility with a mandatory residence permit.”
70 percent remain relapse-free after care
Some people over the age of 14 have already had a criminal career. According to Bernegger, prevention cannot be overestimated. If perpetrators end up in prison, the prospects for improvement are slim. “Criminals usually lose their home and job after a year in prison,” the lawyer said. Then it would be very difficult not to relapse after prison.
Of the last 1,100 clients, 60 percent were on a probationary period. Of these, one in two had not previously been in custody. A total of 70 percent remain relapse-free after receiving care from probation officers. More than 70 volunteer probation officers from Salzburg also contribute to this.
Source: Krone
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