Correctional institutions 2.5.2.3 After-care and follow-up facilities In the year under review, the NPM again visited socio-therapeutic residential facilities where persons are placed after being held in detention for mentally ill offenders (so-called after-care or follow-up care facilities). These facilities provide housing to persons after their detention has ended and prepare them for life in the outside world. Persons placed there also receive support in searching for apartments and work. Conditionally released persons are also assisted in complying with court-ordered instructions and avoiding future criminal offences. Goal and tasks The NPM has repeatedly criticised the shortage of after-care facilities. Recommendation for release from experts are often subject to the availability of a place at a suitable socio-therapeutic residential facility. In practice, this results in excessively long detentions. However, in the year under review the NPM became aware of a paradoxical situation: on one hand, inmates and their care personnel complain of the lack of places. On the other hand, the managers of after-care facilities say they are not full to capacity. Needs-based assignment The lack of such care facilities for juveniles and persons with multiple disabilities is particularly distressing. During a visit to the forensic ward at Hall Regional Hospital in mid-May 2016, the NPM found that one sixth of the assigned patients were only being held in the hospital because there was no suitable follow-up care place available. Lack of residential places XX  There must be more follow-up-care places throughout Austria. XX  The creation of follow-up-care places for juveniles and persons with multiple diagnoses must be a priority, particularly in the western Laender. XX  To better match up supply and demand, allocation management must be optimised with respect to after-care facilities. Ability to lodge complaint and crisis intervention plans - Neuland Salzburg after-care facility In early February 2017, the NPM visited the Neuland Salzburg after-care facility. The shared accommodation made a good impression in terms of its quality of care and treatment of residents. But the NPM criticised the lack of ability to lodge complaints anonymously. In addition, there were no individualised crisis intervention plans for residents. Open atmosphere Both recommendations were implemented. A complaint box was set up in the entrance area of the residential building, far away from the charge office Complaint box required 113