New Juvenile Detention Facility in Vienna-Simmering Operational

The planned commissioning for July 2024 was delayed, but recently the first inmates have moved into their cells at Münnichplatz, the Ministry of Justice announced over the weekend.

"The gradual settlement of the new Vienna-Münnichplatz location with juvenile inmates began on January 13," it was stated in response to an APA inquiry. In parallel, construction work on the administrative tract had begun. The appointment process for the management positions of the new JA is underway.

The plans for the Münnichplatz location envisage that the youth department of the JA Vienna-Josefstadt - the largest, often overcrowded prison in the country - will be dissolved and the male juveniles and young adults of the JA will be transferred to Simmering. The Ombudsman's Office had repeatedly pointed out deficiencies in the youth department of the JA Josefstadt. Due to a lack of staff, for example, the young inmates were already locked in their cells in the afternoons.

"Gradual Relocation" of the Juvenile Inmates of the JA Josefstadt in Vienna

As a spokesperson for the JA Josefstadt confirmed to the APA, the first inmates were transferred to the new location last week. More would be "gradually relocated". Currently, the youth department of the JA Josefstadt is occupied by about 40 inmates.

The Ministry of Justice emphasised to the APA that in the specific conceptual design of juvenile corrections at the JA Münnichplatz, recommendations from the Ombudsman's Office and other institutions were followed. To implement this, a separate working group was set up. The recommendations of the interdisciplinary group of experts resulted in "minimum standards" for the special institution for juveniles: "These were presented to the advisory board of the working group in November 2024, along with the organisational manual specifically designed for the JA Vienna-Münnichplatz, and will form the basis for the work of the prison management."

(APA/Red)

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