In Germany, over 60,000 individuals reside in jail. Half of them will come again after launch. Subsequently, critics are calling for a extra open felony system (learn a report on juvenile offenders in open run right here). However what's the actuality for almost all of prisoners in Germany? Jörn Patzak is the pinnacle of the biggest jail in Rhineland-Palatinate and explains the place the issues lie and why he defends the system.
TIME ONLINE: From 2014, you handle the Wittlich Jail, the biggest jail within the Rhineland-Palatinate. What ideas undergo your head in your first day at work?
Jörn Patzak: I used to be very sorry after I first got here to the asylum. Though I used to be a prosecutor for 15 years and I knew JVA properly, I observed comparatively shortly that I had no thought concerning the operation. For instance: How do I open and shut a door right here? It begins with this. How do I shut? At first I stood just like the ox in entrance of the mountain in entrance of the door. You must know wherein route you need to put the important thing and wherein route you'll flip. When you have by no means performed it earlier than, you might be flawed. One other instance is the private emergency name gadget that each worker carries. First I needed to know concerning the operation.
TIME ONLINE: What are your obligations as jail chief?
Patzak: I'm just like the mayor in a small city. On the one hand, it has to handle the residents, however however it has to comply with the proceedings. I've 360 workers to prepare and 600 prisoners for watching. Along with staffing issues, my duties embrace organizational preparations, particularly these involving different entities. I additionally do the press and public relations. Detainees are significantly involved concerning the rest of choices. In precept, service officers are chargeable for the " however in some critical choices I've to approve as jail chief. Typically I additionally speak to a prisoner, however that is uncommon. There isn't any time for therefore many prisoners. Within the 4 and a half years that I've been in jail, I've not been bored for a minute.
With us it isn't miserable, however extra like within the hospital.
TIME ONLINE: What's the scenario in your jail?
Patzak: You can be stunned. We rebuilt in 2010 and the brand new constructing could be very fashionable, so it doesn't have the sense of jail as it on TV. The partitions of the varied sections are adorned in several colours. The corridors are comparatively giant, huge and vivid. The previous constructing, which operated from 1902 to 2010, nonetheless resembles the scene of the crimeHe is aware of: darkish corridors, doorways that sound. That is the everyday picture of the JVA citizen. However it isn't inconceivable to not rebuild the previous constructing as a result of growing variety of prisoners. Anybody who involves us as a prisoner will move by means of the water catchment space instantly after the doorway gate. Floor water runs, which resembles a small lake. Since we even have geese on it, they've settled there independently. With us it isn't structurally miserable, it seems extra like a hospital.
TIME ONLINE: However the geese are usually not at your service?
Patzak: We inform you jokes concerning the executives. However we have now nothing to do with them.
TIME ONLINE: Beneath what rules was the brand new constructing constructed?
Patzak: About 100 years in the past, it was at all times made pantopically, which meant that supervisors have been in a position to monitor all of the cells from the underside upwards all through the constructing from a central level. This isn't the case right this moment. Within the meantime, our divisions are separated. Every consists of three wings that accommodate 75 to 90 prisoners. We don't distinguish between offenses, however we have now a separate referral part, accesses, and the drug abstinence part. Now we have now a lot smaller items, so it's utterly quieter and we higher look after the person.
© Harald Tittel / dpa
TIME ONLINE: What number of prisoners reside in a hive?
Patzak: In Germany, prisoners now have a declare for isolation. In every wing there are one or two bigger rooms, which may be accommodated twice on the request of the prisoners. Nevertheless, in overpopulations resembling this, we additionally must double the one detention rooms, after which the 2 prisoners share the cell of 11 sq. meters. We now have separate liquid cells, that means that the bathroom and sink are separated from the remaining by a wall. This enables us to repeat the cells. Within the previous wing, the bathroom is within the room, it shouldn't be as a result of it might hurt the privateness of the prisoner if he had to make use of the bathroom in entrance of a relative prisoner. The bathe just isn't within the jail room, however in frequent showers.
TIME ONLINE: Was the prisoners concerned within the reconstruction of detention amenities in 2010?
Patzak: I can't think about.
TIME ONLINE: Let's say I've been convicted and are available to you in jail. What's my first day?
Patzak: With you, it might be tough as a result of you're a girl and we're a pure male jail. However let's say you come to us with a punishment. On the primary day he writes: They take jail from us. They offer you nearly all of yours. That is recorded and stamped in your presence, so it doesn't find yourself saying one thing has escaped. From there he goes to the hospital for you, you might be medically examined. Then you have got a primary session with the Entry Division, the place you meet the pinnacle of the division and a social employee and attempt to discover out the place your issues are. You then come to an entry part. At first, the jail weights are bigger. Outdoors, all the pieces goes below the sewer for you. Chances are you'll fear about your loved ones, perhaps your husband can break up with you, how do kids go? Issues from overseas carry individuals to jail, to a world they have no idea. Subsequently, the entry part's consideration is on suicidal precaution.
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