Rising numbers: More and more criminals in the enforcement of measures!

Rising numbers: More and more criminals in the enforcement of measures!

Enzkreis, Deutschland - The situation in the intelligence is more and more concerned. A current survey of the White Ring shows that the number of criminals accommodated has increased noticeably in psychiatric institutions and withdrawal institutions. In recent years, the occupancy in numerous federal states has increased significantly. Rhineland-Palatinate recorded an increase in the accommodated persons from 604 in 2015 to 715 in 2024, while Hessen grew from 681 to 950 patients. There is also a worrying trend in North Rhine-Westphalia: The number of people accommodated has increased from 2,930 to 3,323. In Berlin the number of affected people rose from 801 to 848.

Psychiatric experts warn that the majority of people with mental illnesses are not violent, which dgppn.de. The forensic psychiatrist Henning also emphasized that certain diseases such as schizophrenic psychoses and dissocial personality disorders can increase the risk of violence. However, these psychological problems are only one of many risk factors that also include drug abuse, alcohol, gender and social conditions.

challenges in the enforcement of measures

The results of the survey of the White Ring also show that prevention and good psychiatric care are the key to reducing violence. “Treatment instead of punishment” is the motto, but reality looks different. In particular due to a lack of spatial and personnel resources, there are overcrowding and obstacle treatment conditions in many clinics. dgppn.de reports that 60% of the clinics are often overcrowded and therapies cannot be carried out. As a result, a third of the clinics report on increasing physical attacks by patients.

The most common crimes in the enforcement of measures include physical injuries, property, sexual and killing offenses. On average, patients spend about 6 years in Hesse and over 10 years in Schleswig-Holstein in these facilities. Instead, instead there are always relapses in dismissed sex offenders, which also heats up the discussion about the enforcement of the measure.

pandemic and crises as influencing factors

The criminologist Britta Bannenberg emphasizes that an increase in very rare and heavy deeds has been observed in recent years. Reasons for this could include Corona pandemic, the Ukraine War and the associated immigration. Another disturbing fact is that warning signals for potential deeds often remain undetected for a long time. Thoughts and preparations could take years without noticing the environment.

In this context, an improvement in psychiatric care in correctional facilities is urgently warned. It is estimated that up to 88% of the occupants suffer from mental illnesses. These grievances are no longer acceptable, and it is time that legislative measures are initiated to analyze and improve the situation. This is a challenge that must face in the interest of everyone involved.