Abuses in the Vienna youth prison system: Criticism and lack of solutions!

Abuses in the Vienna youth prison system: Criticism and lack of solutions!

The Josefstadt Youth Correctional Facility (JA) in Vienna is increasingly coming under fire. The Vienna Child and Youth Advocate (KIJA) has drawn attention to alarming grievances that are massively affecting the quality of life of the young people imprisoned there. Above all, the poor supply and lack of leisure activities are the focus. Last year, dinner for the young inmates was served at 1:30 p.m., which caused dissatisfaction among those affected Pulse24 reported.

The problems at Josefstadt correctional institution are as serious as they are complex. According to KIJA, young people only had access to showers twice a week due to insufficient hot water. Inmates also complained about excessive use and verbal abuse by prison guards who were not specially trained. The conversations that were held with around 40 inmates for the 2024 annual report confirm unmistakably: There is a lack of leisure and activity opportunities, while the lock-up times are unnecessarily long.

The move to the new youth prison

However, there is a ray of hope on the horizon: from January 2025, the young inmates will be moved to the new youth prison on Münnichplatz in Simmering. This should be in full operation by the end of the year. But there is also cause for concern here. According to KIJA, the JA Münnichplatz, which until recently was still a construction site, has “structural problems”. The infrastructure for leisure activities is largely not yet completed; Even the planned sports yard was still idle at the end of June.

The new prison is designed for 72 male prisoners between the ages of 14 and 18, but it is not yet adequately equipped. In addition, there is an acute shortage of staff on the part of the prison guard, which severely limits the care options. What is particularly striking is that the girls are disadvantaged in prison: There is no separate department for female juveniles at Josefstadt correctional institution, which is why they are housed with adult women, which violates the separation requirement.

Overall condition of the juvenile justice system

According to the Ombudsman's office, the situation in the Austrian youth prison system is precarious and catastrophic. Youth departments in the Linz and St. Pölten prisons have already had to be closed because there are not enough places for adults. As a result, five young people are housed in the adult area at St. Pölten correctional institution, while a 16-year-old has to live in a ten-person detention room at Wiener Neustadt correctional institution. This also makes it clear how urgently reform is needed.

The Ministry of Justice, led by Anna Sporrer (SPÖ), has initiated an investigation into the allegations. It is emphasized that young people should actually be housed separately from adults. However, due to overcrowding, this is often not possible, which puts the young people's rehabilitation at great risk. The responsibility for teaching and educating the inmates continues to lie with the old location in Josefstadt correctional institution, which poses additional problems.

An end to the abuses in the juvenile penal system still seems a long way off, and there is an urgent need for action to improve the living conditions of young people. KIJA is staying tuned and it remains to be hoped that the planned changes will not only remain on paper. Society has a duty to pay attention to the rights of young people and to offer them a fair chance for rehabilitation, as well Vienna.at determines.

A sustainable solution to this problem not only requires more funds and resources, but also a committed public discussion that, above all, takes seriously the experiences and needs of those behind bars.