Criticism of the new youth prison in Simmering: Questions about safety and care!

Criticism of the new youth prison in Simmering: Questions about safety and care!

A lot is happening in Simmering: Intensive work is currently being done on a new youth prison at Münnichplatz, which is scheduled to open in November 2025. But the entire situation surrounding the project is not entirely unproblematic. How meinkreis.at reports, the facility is already under critical scrutiny before it opens.

The new building is intended to serve as an extension of the existing Simmering Prison and follows the closure of the Gerasdorf Youth Penitentiary by Justice Minister Alma Zadič (Greens) in 2020. Although the first group of 15 young inmates, aged between 15 and 17 and serving sentences for property and violent crimes, have been housed since the beginning of the year, the prison's infrastructure is not yet fully ready. The Ombudsman's office identified deficiencies, particularly in the sanitary area, which should be remedied by the end of the summer.

Moving and criticism

The move of the juvenile detention center from Josefstadt to Simmering has been an issue for years and is associated with challenges. Ombudsman Gaby Schwarz was critical of the temporary accommodation and called for the renovation work to be completed before the juvenile detention center officially opens its doors. Although the cells offer modern facilities with two beds, a table, a closet and a private bathroom, a look at the construction site of the courtyard still leaves room for improvement. Plans include, among other things, football and basketball courts as well as a garden to offer the inmates appropriate leisure activities.

The head of the institution, Seada Killinger, and the general director, Friedrich Alexander Koenig, have already emphasized that access to the site should no longer be permitted in the future. A 2.50 meter high fence with barbed wire will be erected behind the listed garden fence to increase security. However, the Ministry of Justice cannot reveal details of the facility's shift schedule and staffing situation for "security-related reasons," heightening concerns about the safety and well-being of inmates. Norbert Dürnberger, the union chairman, describes the personnel situation as tense.

Promoting rehabilitation

A central point of the new concept for the juvenile detention center is the focus on rehabilitation. In addition to safety measures, an interdisciplinary team of educators and social workers will look after the inmates and support them in their development. School education and professional support are the focus. Of the current 15 inmates, 11 do not have a compulsory school certificate and take part in classes, including German courses. There are also workshops where young people can get to know professions such as carpenters, bakers or bricklayers, which should significantly improve their chances on the job market.

The daily routine in the institution is clearly structured. From 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the young people are involved in activities before they have to return to their cells. The new youth prison at Münnichplatz attempts to meet the high demands of a modern youth prison, which is primarily aimed at education and holistic care. The aim is to use as many resources as possible for the resocialization of the inmates, because the aim is to initiate a positive change in the lives of young people.

The future of JA Münnichplatz remains exciting. The first steps have been taken, but many questions still remain. How well developed will the infrastructure be by the time it fully opens? How is the safety of inmates and staff ensured? And can the desired rehabilitation goals actually be achieved? This requires not only good hands on the part of those responsible, but also community cohesion. The prerequisites for making a good deal for young criminals are there - now it's important to implement them.