Prison is full: new building and extension

Justice - Prison is full: new building and extension

Hessian Measure Implementation is Full. Behind walls, convicted criminals are housed in Hessen, who are to be treated for their addiction or psychological illnesses instead of going to prison. The Hessian Health Minister, Diana Stolz (CDU), stated in response to an inquiry from the FDP-Landtags opposition: "The occupancy situation in the measure implementation is tense nationwide."

In Hessen, countermeasures are being taken: "Existing buildings were strengthened, places were densified, and external housing groups were set up." Currently, a new building for forensic psychiatry in Haina in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district and an addition to the forensic psychiatry clinic in Hadamar in the Limburg-Weilburg district are being built.

The Vitos Clinics for Forensic Psychiatry in Hessen have been commissioned with the measure implementation. As the non-profit GmbH recently announced, their 909 treatment places were 103% occupied in the past year, meaning they were overbooked: Additional beds had to be added to the wards.

Increasing Pressure of Occupancy

The Chairman of the Management Board, Reinhard Belling, emphasized: "The sustained increasing pressure of occupancy on the Hessian measure implementation clinics poses great challenges for the clinics' personnel." For the patients, a suitable therapy and appropriate accommodation are necessary - with the goal of "successfully reintegrating treated patients into society."

According to Health Minister Stolz, the greatest challenge "besides the occupancy situation is the staff shortage in the medical and nursing field." At the same time, the CDU politician emphasized, "the proper implementation of the measure - despite the occupancy increase - has always been ensured so far."

Escapes

According to Vitos, 24 patients escaped from the Hessian measure implementation in the past year. Most of them returned or were returned by the police. Hessen's "escapes rate" is below the national average.

The measure implementation of the Vitos Clinics in Hessen is distributed across six locations with approximately 1,600 employees. The non-profit organization also operates many other institutions in the health and social sectors. The sole shareholder of Vitos is the Hessian Welfare Association.

Source: Landtagspro Protocol 21/480

1. The new building for forensic psychiatry in Haina, located in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district of Hesse, is part of the measures being taken to accommodate convicted criminals with addiction or psychological issues.
2. Diana Stolz, the Hessian Health Minister from the CDU party, mentioned that the occupancy situation in the correctional facilities for treatment is strained not just in Hesse, but nationwide.
3. In response to the high occupancy rate, an addition to the forensic psychiatry clinic in Hadamar, Limburg-Weilburg district, is also being constructed to provide additional treatment places.
4. Escape attempts from the Hessian measure implementation clinics, managed by Vitos Clinics, occurred 24 times last year, but Hesse's "escapes rate" is lower than the national average.

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