Five-Point Plan Against Juvenile Crime in Vienna

In view of the sharply increasing numbers in certain age groups, the working group "Child and Youth Crime", led by the Vienna State Police Directorate and the Federal Criminal Police Office and including representatives from all major organizations, aims to counteract with a five-point program. As a last resort, the introduction of closed facilities, as provided for in the government program, is also considered.

This measure is still controversial among the participating organizations - especially the child and youth welfare services have been strictly against it so far. However, as Walter Dillinger from the Vienna State Police Directorate and head of the working group (AG) and Johannes Köhler, head of the Vienna Child and Youth Welfare (MA 11) said to journalists on Monday, a rethinking seems to be taking place. "We are facing a completely different situation," said Köhler. "It was shocking that the state cannot defend itself against individuals if they do not want to. That will change," emphasized Dillinger.

Networking Measures and "Coordinated Intervention"

The five-point program includes, before moving intensive offenders who cannot be reached otherwise into closed facilities, prevention and networking measures for parents, educational institutions such as kindergartens and schools, as well as networking meetings of the organizations involved in the AG.

A "Coordinated Intervention for Threshold Offenders" (KISI) is the next step in the future when minors commit an offense for the first time. This involves a security police consultation for the guardians in the presence of the child by police officers. This is followed by monitoring for up to five months, at the end of which another consultation takes place. If there have been further offenses committed by the child in question, a steering group (KISI) - consisting of representatives of the Vienna Child and Youth Welfare - decides on further measures. The trial phase starts on June 1, 2025.

Guidance and Closed Facility

The third stage includes guidance (OH) for underage intensive offenders, i.e., children who, by definition, have at least five entries for offenses in police databases within a year. The OH aims to offer a long-term relationship ideally with fixed trusted persons, continuously accompanying the children. Such children have often already experienced multiple relocations in group homes and crisis centers. The specific implementation of the OH is carried out in close coordination with the social worker handling the case.

As the last measure for underage system breakers - children who commit more than 50 offenses in a year - there should be temporary placement in a closed facility. This would be intended as an ultima ratio, but the legal prerequisites for this must first be created. Köhler estimated that in Vienna, with currently around 30 to 40 intensive offenders, about ten to 15 places would need to be provided.

According to the representatives of AG Dillinger, they agreed that lowering the age of criminal responsibility "makes no sense." The police officer stated: "However, it cannot be that twelve-year-olds are randomly causing a stir in Vienna because we lack the legal means." Under the current legal situation, children cannot be detained in crisis centers and residential communities, Köhler added.

Experts Look Abroad

To actually implement these closed facilities, a federal legal basis is still needed. This must also include a judicial decision on how long the child in question may or must be detained. According to MA-11 head Köhler, suitable facilities must also be found, as existing facilities cannot be converted into closed ones. Currently, experts are looking at concepts in Switzerland, Germany, and Scandinavia. The required residential measures should not be compared to a prison. There must be therapeutic settings and education must be offered, as the children are still of school age. Additionally, security personnel and strict rules are needed.

These closed facilities will count among the "most expensive facilities we have," said Köhler. Petra Huber-Lintner from the Federal Criminal Police Office pointed out that it also costs a lot not to take measures. "Each individual repeat offender causes 1.7 million euros in consequential costs," she said, citing a study from North Rhine-Westphalia. This includes the direct costs for the victims and the indirect costs from care facilities. Because many offenders are at risk of not being able to establish themselves in the labor market later, costs for social measures are added.

All this will probably take some time. How much, Köhler did not yet know. "But it's probably not years, because there is also corresponding political pressure."

More Suspects Aged Ten to 14 in Vienna

Why the issue is so pressing now was explained by Dieter Csefan, head of the department for combating organized and general crime at the Federal Criminal Police Office (BK) and the newly established task force for combating youth crime last year. According to him, the number of suspects aged ten to 14 nationwide increased from 9,730 suspects to 12,049 last year, a rise of 23.8 percent. In Vienna, the number of suspects in this age group literally exploded: from 2,392 in 2023 to 5,066 last year - an increase of 112 percent.

Köhler also spoke to the APA about the increasing danger to his employees. Every two weeks, a social educator is injured.

(APA/Red)

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