Germany’s Justice System Collapses Under Record Case Backlog and Staff Shortages
Germany’s criminal justice system is facing its worst backlog in history, with over one million unresolved cases piling up. The German Judges Association (DRB) has warned that understaffing is causing investigations to be dropped and suspects to be released before trial. Now, the organisation is pushing for urgent action to restore public trust in the rule of law.
The crisis stems from years of chronic underfunding and a surge in complex criminal cases. Courts and prosecutors’ offices struggle to keep up, leading to lengthy delays. In Magdeburg alone, around a quarter of the required prosecutors are missing, according to the local Judges’ Association. Staff shortages are worsened by long-term sick leave, seconded employees, and hiring freezes in states like Saxony-Anhalt.
The DRB estimates that 2,000 more judges and prosecutors are needed to tackle the workload. Without them, high-priority suspects are being released from pretrial detention at a rate of one per week due to postponed hearings. Many investigations are also being abandoned early because there simply aren’t enough staff to handle them thoroughly. To address the problem, the DRB has proposed a ‘rule of law pact’ between the federal government and the states. This would include an initial €240 million in funding to boost personnel. However, not all states agree on how to move forward, with some, including Saxony-Anhalt, holding different views on staffing levels and solutions.
The growing backlog and staff shortages risk undermining confidence in Germany’s legal system. The DRB’s call for extra funding and personnel aims to prevent further delays and dropped cases. Without intervention, the number of unresolved investigations is likely to keep rising.
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