THE SLOVAK Health Ministry, in cooperation with the Justice Ministry, is to establish a detention facility for sex offenders. The facility will treat mentally ill criminals who might still pose a danger to society after their release from prison. The Slovak cabinet approved a Justice Ministry's proposal at its session on July 9, the SITA newswire reported.
The announcment comes after Antonín Novák, a Slovak with a history of sex crimes, confessed to raping and killing a 9-year-old in the Czech town of Havlíčkův Brod at the beginning of May.
At the time of the murder, Novák was wanted by the Slovak police for not attending mandatory therapy sessions. But when police showed up at his permanent residence, they found he hadn’t lived there in three years.
The incident sparked a flood of negative criticism and prompted the ministries to take action.
The facility will be built at the Psychiatric Clinic in Hronovce in the Levice District. The Health Ministry has earmarked Sk127 million (€4.3 million) from the state budget for the purpose. It is to be completed by the end of next year.Placement in the facility will be used isolate recently released prisoners from society, as well as provide them with necessary treatment. Specialists will focus on changing their attitudes.
A judge or the director of the institution where the person served their sentence will decide on placement in the facility. The court will also determine the length of stay and date of release based on expert opinion.
