2023-06-30 15:38:38
The “Anti-Torture Report” comes from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). In November and December 2021, a delegation visited several Austrian prisons. These include the Innsbruck prison (JA) in Tyrol and the prison of the state police headquarters (LPD). The results were presented this week.
The report described prison conditions for non-working male prisoners as “remaining extremely poor”. In addition to other facilities, this also applies to the Innsbruck prison. This is due to the fact that some of these prisoners only get outdoor exercise for a very short time. They are locked in their cells 23 hours a day. “Such a state of affairs is unacceptable,” the report said.
This long time in the cell is a big problem for the inmates, says Kristin Henning, head of the Innsbruck restart association, who works in the probation service. “Of course, the long confinement times are very frustrating because there is a lot of boredom,” she says. You cannot use the time constructively and learn about structures or further education. “So it’s definitely something that is experienced very negatively.”
Level of education and language barriers are decisive
The reason for the long lock-up times in the cell is the tense staff situation, according to the head of the Innsbruck prison, Reinhard Potocnik, to ORF Tirol. In addition, the “current level of education among the inmates, but also the language barriers” would first require targeted educational measures. Only then can employment be taken up, says Potocnik.
ORF.at/Patrick Wally The CPT report criticizes, among other things, that some prisoners are locked in their cell for 23 hours
In addition, the existing operational structure is largely responsible for the current situation. This currently enables at least half of the prisoners to be employed on a daily basis. “Nevertheless, we are quite capable of fulfilling our legal mandate,” says the prison director. In addition to language courses, they now also offer sports, handicraft and relaxation groups.
Activities important for time after imprisonment
In view of the sometimes very short times outside the cell, the CPT report recommends that the Austrian authorities improve the range of activities. “Particular attention should be paid to the situation of pre-trial detainees,” it says. The aim should therefore be to enable all inmates to engage in appropriate and useful activities. In concrete terms, this means giving eight hours or more to activities such as work, training, sports or leisure.
In any case, as many activities as possible are very important for the prisoners, says Henning. Because more variety on the grounds of the detention center instead of in the cell has a positive effect above all on the time after imprisonment: “You should then actively shape your life and have to do many things new, and if you have a certain It was all the more difficult when the time was on a ‘side track’.” The more actively the stay in the prison can be used, the better it is immediately after release.
No physical abuse, but verbal abuse
The Council of Europe report also addresses the issue of physical abuse in Austrian prisons. No allegations were made by the staff at Innsbruck Prison during the survey. Instead, several inmates had expressly stated that the staff was treating them with respect.
According to the report, however, the delegation “heard some allegations of verbal abuse”, including in the Innsbruck prison. This included verbal abuse of a racist or xenophobic nature. Such incidents are “unacceptable” and should “be punished accordingly”, recommends the CPT.
Infrastructure and medical care positive
The material conditions in the Innsbruck correctional institution, i.e. the infrastructure, had already been described in an earlier report from 2009. These are “still good”. In the separate, newer wings, these are generally “of a high standard”. Among other things, women and young people are housed there.
According to the probation service, ORF employment and free time during imprisonment are particularly important for the prisoners
Medical care is also “satisfactory in many respects” for the prisoners. Above all, the CPT recognizes the efforts of the staff to “offer high-quality medical care” to the inmates. Overall, according to prison director Potocnik, the report shows that various measures taken in recent years “are bearing fruit”, for example in terms of employment and a reduction in violence among inmates.
Around 470 inmates in Innsbruck correctional institution
Nonetheless, there are also shortcomings in medical care, the report says. There is a need to catch up, especially in the personnel situation in the areas of general medicine, psychiatric care and nursing. With regard to the conditions of detention in the state police headquarters in Innsbruck, the report states that sanitary towels were not immediately available during the visit. The CPT therefore recommends that this deficiency be remedied.
The Innsbruck correctional institution has been dealing with the staff shortage itself for several years. During a visit by Justice Minister Alma Zadic in 2020, measures and investments were announced here – more on this in Zadic promises jobs for the prison. According to Potocnik, previous campaigns to fill vacancies have not yielded any results.
ORF The Innsbruck prison was opened in 1967, renovated in 2000 and expanded in 2020 with another building
Around 470 prisoners are currently housed in the Innsbruck correctional facility. There is space for a maximum of 475 passengers. The overall status, including the electronically monitored house arrest (“ankle bracelets”) and the occupancy in psychiatric institutions, amounts to around 540 people. This is offset by 162 permanent positions in the executive service. There are also 25 employees in the care area (psychologists, social workers, doctors, etc.).
Austria-wide strong criticism
At the federal level, the results of the CPT triggered criticism from human rights organizations and politicians. Amnesty International called on the government to take action. She could “no longer turn a blind eye” – more on that in Poor certificate for enforcement of measures.
SPÖ justice spokeswoman Selma Yildirim again emphasized the lack of staff. “Many positions in the prisons are still vacant and obviously cannot be filled because there are no staff. But the situation is also dramatic in the execution of measures,” she said in a broadcast. Yildirim called for a personnel offensive, making working conditions more attractive and better pay.
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