Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Justice, Euro-Style

When the cops close in, be sure they bust you in Leoben, a small town in central Austria. Why there? Because their prison is built into the Justizzentrum (Justice Center) Leoben. The prison's policy is inscribed on the outer wall (my rough translation):
All men are born free with equal dignity and rights. Those deprived of their liberty must be treated humanely and their inherent human dignity respected.
How did Leoben implement this policy? By building (again, my rough translation), "the safest and most modern prison in Europe. . . the first in Austria designed as a visual showpiece."

The Daily Dumper has the pics to prove it (more photos here and here). It's a good deal for the 205 inmates. I doubt any are contemplating this sort of break-out.

According to the building's architects , the prison environment was intended (my rough translation again) "to reflect the housing, work and leisure conditions of everyday life in freedom." Mission accomplished, at least if everyday life is a high-priced city condo. What's missing from Justizzentrum Leoben? Not much--merely justice and punishment.

Lets hope Anthony Kennedy never hears of the place.

(via reader Anita S.)

2 comments:

OBloodyHell said...

> (my rough translation again) "to reflect the housing, work and leisure conditions of everyday life in freedom."

Uh, so how is it supposed to discourage the commission of crimes, then?

"Well, if you commit a crime, you'll be living, well, pretty much just like you do now!!"

??

Or, alternately and LOL, is this more supposed to be an indictment of living in Austria, where the whole place is like living in a giant prison?

Maybe this is why Arnold left... (snicker).

.

Assistant Village Idiot said...

A big cage is still a cage. Combine that with OBH's cynical second part and we may have broken the code.