Expert Commission Identifies Systemic Deficiencies: Austrian Prison System Reaching Its Limits

On Monday evening, Gratz warned in the ORF format "ZiB 2" in conversation with Martin Thür that the system is "wirklich an seine Grenzen" ("truly reaching its limits"). He spoke of "massivem politischen Handlungsdruck" ("massive political pressure to act") and a "Verarmung der Vollzugslandschaft" ("impoverishment of the prison landscape"). An increasing number of prisons that had been dedicated to classic incarceration had been converted into forensic-therapeutic centers, reducing the options for transferring difficult inmates to other facilities.

Figures and System Burden

Statistically, Austria imprisons more than 50 percent more people per 100,000 inhabitants than Germany and more than 40 percent more than Switzerland. At the same time, the number of those held in preventive detention has tripled over the past 25 years. Gratz described overcrowding in prisons and personnel shortages in the executive and specialist services as difficult framework conditions.

The commission calls for better psychiatric care, closer cooperation with hospitals, and additional training and professional development for staff. Initial measures have already been implemented, including the renovation of specially secured cells, the expansion of training in dealing with mentally ill inmates, as well as "die Betonbetten wurden herausgerissen" ("the concrete beds were torn out").

Demands: Psychiatry Instead of Overcrowding

Gratz also advocated for alternatives to incarceration: "Unter dem Motto ,Schwitzen statt sitzen' gibt es auch andere Möglichkeiten" ("Under the motto 'sweat instead of sit,' there are other possibilities"). Early releases and community service could, as so-called primary sanctions, permanently relieve the prison system, he said. It is "dringend notwendig, den Strafvollzug zu entlasten" ("urgently necessary to relieve the prison system"), especially since further overcrowding threatens in the autumn.

Justice Minister Anna Sporrer (SPÖ) signaled willingness to reform and announced that she no longer wanted to "weiterwursteln" ("muddle through"). Gratz expressed confidence: "Aus den letzten Gesprächen habe ich den Eindruck gewonnen, dass man unsere Empfehlungen ernst nimmt" ("From the recent discussions I have gained the impression that our recommendations are being taken seriously"). Both the Justice Minister and the General Directorate had taken action, he said.

Political Reactions

According to the commission chief, psychiatric care is the decisive lever: "Der Strafvollzug muss von der Psychiatrie lernen" ("The prison system must learn from psychiatry"). Had the deceased been treated in a psychiatric clinic, he would have been "ganz anders gehandhabt worden" ("handled quite differently"). The 78 recommendations in the report are now to form the basis for a comprehensive reform of the prison system.

The commission was appointed by the Justice Ministry after the case became known, in order to independently investigate the circumstances of the incident and the structural framework conditions. At a press conference at the Justice Ministry, Gratz expressed the expectation that both the Minister and the General Directorate would take up the proposals.