Probation services on the rise: This is how the justice system is changing in Austria!

Probation services on the rise: This is how the justice system is changing in Austria!

In Austria there is a clear trend towards more probation assistance, which has increased significantly in recent years. According to a report by the Small newspaper The judges have increasing confidence in this measure, which is reflected in a 13 percent increase in the number of Neustart association clients over the last ten years. There was a decline in final convictions in 2024, further explaining the increased use of probation.

In addition, a recent survey in January 2025 showed that 99 percent of those cared for are satisfied with the support from Neustart. 93 percent said that their lives had improved significantly as a result of the measures. Kohlberger, a representative of the association, emphasizes the importance of violence prevention advice, which is carried out on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior, and emphasizes that this help eliminates many factors that lead to crimes. In 2024, around 3,075 of the total 12,300 clients were looked after by volunteer probation officers, which particularly highlights the civil society anchoring of this work in Europe.

Debt advice and income distribution

In another aspect that sheds light on the social situation in Austria, statistics from... Statista that many debt counseling clients struggle with varying income levels. These data highlight how widespread financial difficulties are and highlight the need for additional social support. The distribution of clients by income level in 2022 is seen as a clear indicator that shows that the challenges in the financial sector are anchored in a broad segment of the population.