Vienna Opens Secure Home for Young Repeat Offenders
Vienna — In a major move to address rising youth crime, the city of Vienna has opened a new secure residential facility for young repeat offenders who have not responded to existing support programs, according to Austrian Press Agency.
The new center, called the “Time-Out Home” (Auszeit-WG), was officially presented on Thursday by Youth Councillor Bettina Emmerling of the NEOS party. Located in Vienna’s Simmering district, the facility is designed for children aged 11 to 13 who have repeatedly been involved in serious crimes such as robbery, burglary, or violent attacks.
City officials described the project as an “ultima ratio”, a last resort, to be used only after all other voluntary educational and welfare measures have failed. Many of the children expected to stay there come from extremely difficult family situations, including homes affected by violence, criminal influence, or trauma linked to war and displacement.
“We are setting a milestone today in the fight against child and youth crime,” Emmerling said, stressing that some children have become aware that they face no criminal punishment before the age of 14 and have begun acting without fear of consequences.
The secure home offers 140 square meters of living space with reinforced, break-proof windows and doors. Up to 16 boys and girls per year can be accommodated, with stays lasting up to twelve weeks. The first residents, all boys, are expected to move in during May.
The exact location has been kept secret for security reasons, and family visits will generally not be allowed. Instead, the children will receive intensive professional support from social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and special education teachers, all trained to help them change destructive behavior.
Authorities say the goal is not punishment, but protection and rehabilitation, both for society and for the children themselves.
With annual operating costs estimated at 800,000 euros, the project reflects Vienna’s attempt to balance public safety with care for deeply troubled young people who have fallen through the cracks of the welfare system.
