Inmate found dead in Rheinbach JVA - public prosecutor's office investigates

Inmate found dead in Rheinbach JVA - public prosecutor's office investigates

Last weekend, a 53-year-old prisoner was found lifeless in his cell at the Rheinbach Correctional Facility (JVA). This reports radiobonn.de. The man who was in custody for burglary was under special observation; his cell was checked every 15 minutes. Despite these measures, there were no signs of foul play at the time of his death. The emergency doctor could only determine death after the prisoner was found strangled on Saturday afternoon. The responsible public prosecutor's office has now started investigations.

What is particularly tragic is that the deceased's prison sentence would have ended in just a few months. His mental state was unstable, but until recently he was not considered to be at acute risk of suicide. Such cases shed light on the challenges facing prisons in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Mental illness in prison

The situation in the Rheinbach JVA is not unique. In many German prisons, prisoners struggle with mental illnesses that often go undiagnosed. Experts say at least a third of prisoners suffer from mental illness, with depression and claustrophobia common. Deutschlandfunk culture reports that many inmates with such problems are diagnosed during their time in prison. The staff are often overwhelmed and cannot provide sufficient help.

Correctional facilities are regularly confronted with the challenge of providing justice to these prisoners. One reason for this is the lack of psychiatric care services, which varies from state to state. In 2024, almost 44,000 people were in prison in Germany, although official figures on mentally ill prisoners are missing. The German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurology estimates that up to 88 percent of prisoners have psychological problems.

Therapy instead of punishment

An important step towards improving the situation in North Rhine-Westphalia prisons is the “Therapy instead of Punishment” program. This was launched in 2005 and aims to help prisoners live drug-free lives to avoid relapses after release. Review online reports that Justice Minister Benjamin Limbach recently emphasized this in the Rheinbach prison. Participation in this therapy can result in reduced sentences, but there are some challenges. Inmates who suffer from drug addiction can, under certain conditions, have their remaining sentence reduced if they take part in therapy.

The program provides incentives to combat drug addiction, but even though 90 percent of eligible inmates accept the offer, only 30 to 40 percent manage to get clean. The incentives are important to give inmates the support they need, but there are still hurdles. A court ruling excludes prisoners who postpone their sentence in favor of therapy from basic security, which puts many in financial difficulties.

The fate of the deceased inmate highlights the pressing issues facing the justice system. It is clear that both mental health and drug addiction in prison are pervasive issues that require urgent solutions.