Gerasdorf Prison

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View of the Gerasdorf Prison

The prison for young people Gerasdorf is a special institution of the Austrian penal system. The prison is located in the municipality of St. Egyden am Steinfeld in Lower Austria . The facility has a special position among the Austrian prisons because it is currently the only facility in which only (male) adolescents and young adults are housed (female prisoners are imprisoned in the Schwarzau Prison about 10 km away ). Although can be accommodated in other prisons in Austria juvenile prisoners, this facility is primarily for the execution of juvenile offenders Broken provided. In addition, since the establishment of the "Special Department D" in 2002, Gerasdorf also accommodates young people who are prone to psychological peculiarities according to § 129 StVG or who are accommodated in measures according to § 21 Paragraph 1 or 2 and § 22 StGB . With the ordinance of the Federal Minister for Constitution, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice of December 21, 2018, the establishment of a branch of the Vienna-Josefstadt Prison and the Wiener Neustadt Prison was ordered as part of an amendment to the Sprengelverordnung . With the establishment of these branch offices, the Gerasdorf Prison is now also responsible for executing the pre-trial detention of male juveniles in these prisons.

Basics

The prison system for adolescents in Gerasdorf is based exclusively on existing laws and the current state of knowledge in educational sciences, psychology, social work and other areas of knowledge (e.g. medicine) that are decisive for working with young offenders. Life in the prison for young people in Gerasdorf is to be largely aligned with living and legal conditions in freedom. The targeted use of educational means is intended to change the behavior of young people and to contribute to a fair chance for a life free from punishment after their release. The young people entrusted to the institution should be given the opportunity to develop their own autonomy within clear external framework conditions in an atmosphere of extensive nonviolence and the learning opportunities necessary for such development.

Above all, learning opportunities should be offered in the field

  • vocational and school education and training
  • the attainment of a work attitude that is adapted to the requirements of working life
  • the sensible use of free time
  • mutual acceptance in the group, including foreign cultures and
  • the creation of resilient interpersonal relationships (also to the opposite sex).

The psychological, psychiatric and other medical treatment of young people is a further focus of the activity, as is the physical rehabilitation of the inmates. The departmental service is one of the four pillars of work in the Gerasdorf Prison (departmental service, workshop service, leisure time care, specialist services) and is based on the applicable provisions of the Juvenile Court Act (JGG), the Prison Act (StVG), and the Execution Manual (VZH ), the mission statement, the rulings, etc.

history

  • 1952: The Federal Ministry of Justice is considering replacing the youth department set up in the Graz-Karlau men's penal institution with a facility dedicated exclusively to juvenile prisoners.
  • 1961: The administration of the Gerasdorf Castle property is transferred to the administration of justice. This sets up a branch of the Wiener Neustadt prison and manages the associated agricultural and forestry areas.
  • May 2, 1963: After the planning work by the architects Reichel and Riedel has been completed, construction work begins on the special facility for young people in Gerasdorf.
  • 1968: At the request of the Republic of Austria, the office of the Lower Austrian state government, as the responsible building authority, approves the demolition of Gerasdorf Castle with the exception of the archway, which is placed under monument protection.
  • March 16, 1970: The prison opens. Under the first director of the institution, Theodor Sagl, operations are started on a small scale. In December 1971, the youth department of the Graz penal institution was closed and the prisoners held there were transferred to Gerasdorf.
  • November 30, 1976: The completed facility is handed over to the justice administration by the construction management after the construction work has been completed.
  • August 19, 1985: After the retirement of the first head of the institution and the interim management by Wolfgang Kunz, Irene Karger is entrusted with the management of the special institution.
  • March 1, 1993: After Karger retired and Wolfgang Kunz took over the management of the institution on an interim basis, Reiner Gandolf was entrusted with the management of the special institution for young people in Gerasdorf. The Federal Ministry of Justice decreed that from November 1, 1993, the institution had to use the name "Prison for Young People Gerasdorf".
  • 1998 to 2003: General renovation of the inmate wing, opening on July 1, 2003.
  • December 1, 2002: After Reiner Gandolf retired and Wolfgang Kunz took over the interim management, Margitta Neuberger-Essenther was entrusted with the management of the Gerasdorf prison for young people.
  • January 28, 2011: Establishment of a branch of the Vienna-Josefstadt prison.
  • January 1, 2019: A general smoking ban comes into force in the Gerasdorf prison for young people, making the Gerasdorf prison the first "non-smoking prison" in Austria.
  • December 21, 2018: Establishment of branch offices of the prisons Vienna-Josefstadt and Wiener Neustadt

Departments and covering ability

The correctional facility for young people Gerasdorf has four inmate departments and has a covering capacity of 122 inmates.

staff

In addition to the director and the prison guard , the Gerasdorf prison for young people had the following personnel resources as of November 25, 2018.

Inmate training

In the prison for young people in Gerasdorf, inmates have the opportunity to train as an apprentice in addition to performing various unskilled jobs. 13 apprenticeships are offered in 10 training companies. In the prison for young people in Gerasdorf there is also a job for all inmates (full employment). The apprenticeship training takes place in close cooperation with the apprenticeship office of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

The following professional training courses are offered:

  • baker
  • Electrical engineering
  • Hairdresser and wig maker (stylist)
  • Gastronomy specialist
  • Restaurant specialist
  • cook
  • Body construction technology (plumber, bodywork, painter, vehicle manufacturer)
  • Automotive engineering
  • Painting technology
  • Painter and coating technician
  • Bricklayer
  • Metal technology
  • Joinery

  • Gardening

  • hair stylist

  • bakery

  • Joinery

  • Metal technology

  • Painter and coater

  • Car body engineering

The vocational school lessons are carried out in a vocational school with public rights that is integrated into the prison . The vocational school lessons are handled by two vocational school teachers and the respective plant managers. The plant managers are usually prison guards who have also completed the master craftsman's examination for their profession and also trained as vocational school teachers.

  • classroom

  • EDP ​​room

Leisure activities of the inmates

One of the main focuses in looking after young people who have committed criminal offenses is their care in their free time. In order to prevent repeated delinquency after release from prison, in addition to work and the income associated with it, the sensible use of leisure time is of great importance. After their daily work as well as on weekends and public holidays, the inmates have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of supervised leisure activities.

Leisure activities:
- Football
- Volleyball
- Darts
- Music group
- Table tennis
- Various group outings such as B. Hiking / cycling / museum visits
- film screenings

  • Football field

  • Gym

  • Basketball court

The Gerasdorf Prison also has a so-called culture hall. Performances by artists take place in this cultural hall at least once a quarter. One of the highlights of leisure activities is the sports festival that has been held annually in late summer since 1993. This sports festival lasts a whole day and is organized together with the inmates.

In addition, inmates may also take part in accompanied group exits (up to six inmates) if certain restrictions are in place. At these group exits, the behavior of the inmates in public should be observed more closely and abnormalities should be documented. If necessary, these abnormalities are discussed with the inmate concerned and corrected if necessary. This should also make it easier for the inmates to start a life in freedom.

Web links

Commons : Gerasdorf Prison  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 47 ° 46 ′ 52.8 "  N , 16 ° 4 ′ 33.1"  E