Correctional institutions Treatment in a group setting was not permitted. Group counselling, a method that contributes to an improved atmosphere through de-escalating conflict and clearing up misunderstandings, was limited to five participants. As the management of Mittersteig correctional institution put it, in actual fact the psychotherapies only started very sluggishly. Some therapists refused to continue therapies via the internet because they considered the data transmission via a software that can be purchased on the open market not to be secure. They terminated existing contracts. The administration of the judiciary had to look for replacements. In Graz-Karlau correctional institution, there was still not a single detainee in psychotherapeutic treatment in July 2020. Video therapy as opportunity Although prescribed by the general directorate and recommended by the Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy (Österreichischer Bundesverband für Psychotherapie) and public health insurers, not all correctional institutions enabled psychotherapy per video conference. It had not been heard of in the Floridsdorf satellite facility of Mittersteig correctional institution at the end of November. The NPM is of the opinion that this opportunity should be expedited, thus making it possible to hold group therapies. 2.5.2.9 Relaxed detention Day release prisoners Prison inmates shall be detained in relaxed detention if the structural conditions allow and it can be expected that the eased restrictions will not be abused. The easing of restrictions includes limiting or not deploying guards when working. The detainees are also allowed to leave the institution once or twice a month on day release. Curfews for months Day release is the term used if the prisoners work for a company outside of the institution without guards. At the end of March, the general directorate decreed that day release shall only be granted for “urgently required systemrelevant workers to maintain the infrastructure and supply (e.g. harvest hands)”. This restriction was gradually relaxed as the other measures were eased and reinforced again recently. It was throughout forbidden to leave the institution. The Federal Ministry of Justice defended the restrictions with the argument that it is far more difficult to check if the measures are being complied within the family and circle of friends than at work. The risk of carrying the virus into the correctional institutions was considered to be high. Requirement shall be evidence-based 109 The NPM sees these infringements of privacy and family life critically. In addition to the intensity of the infringement, the time factor in particular creates problems, as nobody can say for how long restrictions will have to be tolerated in view of the (again) current strong increase in numbers of infections.