Linz prison

Prison as an oasis of well-being? Life behind bars

A view of the inner courtyard and table tennis table from the prison in Linz.(Bild: © Harald Dostal / 2024)

E-mails, phone calls, a written request for photographs to the Ministry - the preparation for the appointment in Linz prison was time-consuming. It's not every day that you go to prison voluntarily. I wanted to know what it really looks like in there: A feel-good oasis or harsh everyday prison life?

We have to identify ourselves at the entrance and are then picked up by Alexandra Roth, the head of the training center, and taken to the boss. Iris Hofer offers us a coffee and explains a few things about "her" facility: "We have people on remand and in prison, currently around 260 inmates. They stay in Linz prison until they are sentenced and, if they serve more than 18 months, until they are transferred to a penal institution. So from a relatively short time to years," says Hofer.