Father returns runaway boy to Vienna’s time-out group home

A 13-year-old who left a Vienna hospital has been returned to the “Auszeit-WG”, a group home for young people below the age of criminal responsibility, ORF reported, citing the city’s Child and Youth Welfare Service (MA11). His father brought him back to the facility.

How the boy managed to leave the hospital in Vienna’s Donaustadt district is under investigation, MA11 spokesperson Ingrid Pöschmann told ORF’s Ö1 Mittagsjournal. The Vienna police said a missing-person report had been filed.

The boy was admitted to the group home about a month ago after repeated criminal acts. He was taken by ambulance to hospital on Monday and admitted for treatment. Pöschmann said he was no longer there by Tuesday morning. The service declined to disclose his health problems, citing his personal rights.

MA11 said the group home was created to detain young people below the age of criminal responsibility who repeatedly commit serious offences, with the aim of protecting the public and breaking cycles of violence. Pöschmann said the current legal framework was insufficient, but argued that detention was preferable to inaction.

Vienna’s Greens renewed their call for a fundamental rethink of support for children and teenagers who show violent behaviour. Family spokesperson Ursula Berner said short-term measures and coercive settings were not lasting solutions. She called for early intervention and support lasting at least a year, based on sustained relationships.