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Vienna's 'Time-Out Flat' for underage offenders ready to open
🇦🇹 Austria /Crime & Justice

Vienna's 'Time-Out Flat' for underage offenders ready to open

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Vienna has completed renovation work on a new facility for underage offenders, dubbed the "Auszeit-WG" (Time-Out Shared Flat).
  • The facility will house 11- to 13-year-old intensive offenders who have committed serious crimes like robbery or burglary, and for whom other care methods have failed.
  • A commission will decide on placements, which can last up to twelve weeks, in the secure house designed to help change destructive behavior.

Vienna is set to open its "Auszeit-WG," a specialized shared living facility for underage offenders, after completing renovation work. The project, intended for children aged 11 to 13 who have committed serious offenses and whose behavior has not improved with other interventions, aims to provide a structured environment for rehabilitation.

With such a pioneering and sensitive project like the Auszeit-WG, thoroughness clearly takes precedence over speed. The structural renovation measures are already fully completed.

— statement from Bettina Emmerling's officeThe office of the responsible city councilor explained that the renovation work was taking longer than initially planned, emphasizing the need for careful planning in such a sensitive project.

The facility, located in Simmering, is designed to house up to 16 intensive offenders annually, with stays potentially lasting up to twelve weeks. These young individuals have been involved in offenses such as robbery and burglary. Placement in the "Auszeit-WG" is possible under the current home stay law, provided a psychological impairment is diagnosed, which is often assumed in cases of severe behavioral issues like those seen in knife-point robberies.

A commission comprising social pedagogues and police officers will evaluate each case and apply to the court for a measure review. If no objections arise, the child will be moved to the facility. The house itself is a 140-square-meter space with reinforced windows and doors. The exact address is being kept confidential, and direct visits will likely not be permitted, unlike in traditional detention.

Since these are children in a highly complex life situation, every detail in the process and the care concept must be planned down to the last detail for the preparations for moving in, so that the measure takes effect from day one.

— statement from Bettina Emmerling's officeThe office stressed the importance of meticulous planning for the residents' integration and care, ensuring the program's effectiveness from its inception.

The care provided will be managed by an association trained in de-escalation. The facility will also regularly host social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and remedial teachers. Their collective goal is to work with the residents to change their destructive behaviors and offer a path toward rehabilitation.

The move-in will therefore take place soon.

— statement from Bettina Emmerling's officeFollowing the completion of renovations and detailed planning, the office indicated that the residents would be moving in shortly.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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