JA Münnichplatz in Vienna currently without classes

In the new Vienna correctional facility (JA) Münnichplatz for male inmates aged 14 to 18, no classes are currently taking place. In time for the start of the new school year, the spatial conditions were created to teach school-age inmates in two new classrooms. The education directorate also secured two additional positions for school operations.

The ombudswoman responsible for penal institutions, Gabriela Schwarz (ÖVP), called this development "very regrettable, but expected." At the end of May, the General Directorate for Penal Institutions and the Execution of Custodial Measures had stated that in July, all school-age Viennese prisoners would first be relocated from the youth department of JA Josefstadt, and from mid-August, the school-age pre-trial detainees would also move to the new location. The youth department of JA Josefstadt is known to be dissolved, and the inmates at Münnichplatz are finally supposed to receive infrastructure corresponding to modern juvenile detention.

Department for Prisoners Without School-Age Inmates

At Münnichplatz, however, there are currently no school-age inmates in the department for prisoners, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice informed upon APA inquiry. The department for pre-trial detainees at Münnichplatz is still under construction and not yet completed. Since a spatial separation between pre-trial detainees and prisoners is mandatory, underage pre-trial detainees will consequently remain in Josefstadt for the time being and will also be taught there.

As confirmed by the education directorate to APA, there are four teachers for compulsory school students detained in Vienna. Both school classes have initially started at the Josefstadt location. This "also met the education directorate's request to operate both classes at one location at least for an initial phase," the Ministry of Justice emphasized in a written statement. The JA Münnichplatz is expected to commence full operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, the ministry concluded.

"Now Used to Delays and Postponements"

"First, full operations were promised for July, then postponed to autumn along with the start of the school year, and now the end of the construction site is mentioned as the year's end. But we are unfortunately now used to delays and postponements with this project," said ombudswoman Schwarz. She expressed irritation to APA about the reason for the delay. "On one hand, we were informed by the General Directorate that the school operations could not start as planned because necessary staffing could not be carried out as quickly as hoped. On the other hand, during our last visit to the Josefstadt correctional facility, there was no separation between pre-trial detention and imprisonment," Schwarz referred to the federal commission's documentation in December 2024.

"I am curious to see how long the youths will actually have to wait until they can be taught at Münnichplatz," remarked Schwarz. The new target date is now the autumn holidays: "Whether it will be achieved by then, I doubt."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.