Section 10 (7) of the Federal Employee Representation Act, the Federal
Minister of Justice finally made a decision to start a pilot project to
employ craftsmen at the Gerasdorf, Graz-Karlau, Stein and ViennaSimmering correctional institutions on 1 October 2014 with a total of 19
craftsmen. The pilot project will be evaluated in December 2014.
Therefore, until the additional (100 in all) executive service positions are
filled, the hiring of craftsmen (by the recruitment agency for justice
supporting staff) for a period of one year will serve the purpose of
increasing the employment rate, reducing the days on which
operations are shut down, and providing relief to the correctional
institution.
There are currently (as at 4 November 2014) four additional civilian
employees working at Graz-Karlau: a painter, a plumber, a cook and
a locksmith. Three additionally skilled personnel (a cook, a baker and
a bricklayer) will start providing services in the near future. The
experience in Graz-Karlau has been extremely positive thus far.
Moreover, the employee representatives have demonstrated a
willingness to cooperate.
Positive feedback
The NPM regrets that an amicable solution could not be found with the
employee representatives. However, it welcomes the steps taken by
the Federal Ministry of Justice. They not only serve to implement the
recommendations of the CPT, frequently expressed by them (e.g.
CPT/Inf[94]15, etc.), but also honour Item 26.2 et seq. of
Recommendation REC (2006) 2 (“European Prison Rules”), to which
Austria subscribed in May 2007.
International
requirements met
Efforts to find an amicable solution with respect to personnel matters may not be so
protracted that there is an adverse impact on the interests of inmates.
If necessary, the Federal Ministry of Justice must again make use of the decision-making
authority granted to it by statute.
2.5.2.2
Depressing incident triggers special audit and reform of detention of
mentally ill offenders
In May 2014, the media reported an appalling case involving toleration
of the neglect of an inmate who had been held in detention for
mentally ill offenders at the Stein correctional institution for many
years. The NPM used these reports as a reason to monitor the facility
in question. The purpose of this was not to answer questions that are
the responsibility of the law enforcement authorities. Rather, the NPM
was interested in determining how a person who was under the care
of the state could end up in such a condition.
NPM reacts promptly
The inmate was a 74-year-old prisoner, who, after serving a prison
sentence in Switzerland, had been in the detention for mentally ill
offenders at the Stein correctional institution since 2008. His legs were
Shocking photos
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