Light regime planned for defendants in Zurich

In detention centers in Zurich, detainees should be able to spend more time outside the cell in the future. (Photo: KEYSTONE / BALLY GAETAN)

(nda)

Pre-trial detention is considered one of the most restrictive forms of detention, although detainees are not yet sentenced. Pre-trial detention is still critical when the presumption of innocence is applied to detainees, Roland Zurkirchen, director of the detention centers in Zurich (UGZ), told reporters on Friday.

The cantonal authorities want to react to such criticism: if someone is long held in one of the five remand centers in Zurich, he should be able to spend more time outside the cell – provided that there is no danger of collapse

. is to "counteract the harmful side effects of preventative detention," Zurkirchen said. Self-sufficiency of people should be encouraged with regard to release. "There are always cases in which people are innocent."

Five hours outside

The suspects are not sitting up to 23 hours a day alone in their cell, according to Zurkirchen – how often does the rumor circulate. On average, they are five hours outside the cell every day. Whenever possible, they would be busy working, and there would also be times when detainees would be free to move and visit, for example, their fellow prisoners.

There will be more social workers in the future to take care of inmates and their surroundings. Limmattal Prison plays an important role in implementing a more flexible regime than anywhere else: the site offers more space to occupy the prisoners. Employees should also be encouraged to be more open to prisoners.

More Employees

The limits are also limited: for example, the detention cells of the Zurich prison, more than 100 years old, have an area of ​​seven square meters. Zurkirchen says.

A more open framework also requires more staff. The head of the Corrections Department, Thomas Manhart, believes that the extra costs can be offset by savings elsewhere.

The two-phase model will be introduced by the end of 2018. It is six months later than expected. One of the reasons for this was that the attorney's agreement was more complicated than expected, said Manhart. Coordination with the federal government and the other cantons was also necessary

No difficult stories

The number of days spent in detention in the canton of Zurich has increased by 16% since 2013, going from from 139,386 to 116,453 per year. 2017 has decreased. This is justified by the fact that crime is decreasing in the canton of Zurich as well as in all of Switzerland.

Contrary to this trend, fewer prisoners would be conditionally released towards the end of their detention, said Manhart. A conditional dismissal automatism like 25 years ago, while rarely anyone has served the last third term, is no longer there. "We are looking closer."

The use of the prison was about 88%, which Manhart described as optimal. Manhart spoke of a "stable year". Visibly relieved, he notes that there have been no "difficult stories", unlike the year before. At that time, the office came because of the cinematic escape from a babysitter with a prisoner.