Abstract
In the Austrian enforcement of measures, offenders with mental illnesses are housed and treated indefinitely in specialized forensic therapeutic centres. There has been an overall increase in the number of inmates, as well as a corresponding rise in the proportion of individuals with non-Austrian citizenship. This paper presents a qualitative study examining the challenges faced by both affected clients and staff within the preventive detention system. Based on the findings, recommendations are derived to address the changing composition of the inmate population effectively.