Correctional institutions
communication processes within the framework of the update of the suicide
prevention concepts is considered expedient.
XX
Suicide prevention concepts should be regularly evaluated.
XX
It shall be ensured that the exchange of specialist information necessary for effective
suicide prevention functions between the professional services and the prison.
2.5.3.2 Bottlenecks in acute psychiatric care
Acute psychiatric care continues to pose an unsolved problem. On almost
every visit, the prison wardens complain that there is no adequate acute
psychiatric care for detainees awaiting trial and convicts. What is desirable
is the establishment of a forensic therapeutic centre for eastern Austria,
comparable to the former Asten Centre for Forensic Therapeutic Science that
is now operated as a correctional institution (see Annual Report 2018, p. 159
et seq.).
Structural deficit
The NPM receives recurrent reports that there are problems and long delays
in admitting psychotic patients, as the hospitals are often full and badly
prepared for such patients.
Not enough beds
Clinics see themselves as being partially incapable of treating acute psychiatric
detainees on an in-patient basis. They merely carry out an assessment and
usually refer the patient to Mauer-Öhling Regional Clinic. There, patients
are only admitted if there are sufficient grounds that the delinquent was
unaccountable for their actions at the time of the deed and, due to their
mental disorder, a precautionary measure that deprives liberty will be imposed
(Section 429 of the Austrian Code of Criminal Procedure). In the remaining
cases, patients are sent to the University Clinic in Linz or Pavilion 23/2 of Otto
Wagner Hospital in Vienna. As the capacity of Pavilion 23/2 is usually fully
utilised, the patients are often transported to Linz. The escorting prison officers
report that there have been “challenging scenes” during the drive there.
Dangerous transport
Just how critical the impact of bottlenecks can be became evident at the
beginning of 2020. An inmate attempted to hang himself in his cell at
Wels correctional institution. The prisoner was due to be transferred to the
Neuromed Campus in Linz. As there was no free bed there, he had to stay in
Wels correctional institution. A fellow inmate saved his life by intervening in
time. The injured man was taken to Wels hospital.
Suicide prevention at
the last minute
112
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