So far this year, seven suspects have been released from custody in Berlin because their trials took too long. This was announced by the Senate Justice Department at the request of the German Press Agency. According to the information, eight suspects from four procedures were released in 2021. It was about allegations such as drug trafficking, threats of dangerous bodily harm or serious gang theft with tax evasion. The reason for the release from pre-trial detention is the violation of the so-called speed-up rule in detention matters. After that, the judiciary must do everything possible to start the main proceedings as quickly as possible.
Nationwide, at least 66 suspects were released last year, according to information from the “Deutsche Richterzeitung”. Of these, Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony reported the highest numbers, each with eleven releases from prison. In 2020 there were 40 layoffs nationwide, in 2019 with 69 a little more than in 2021.
The German Association of Judges (DRB) cites the high workload of many courts and public prosecutors as the reason for this. In addition, many procedures would become more complex because, for example, the amount of data to be evaluated would increase by leaps and bounds due to digitization, explained DRB Federal Managing Director Sven Rebehn.
In Berlin, according to the administration of justice, only one person was released from custody in 2020 because his proceedings took too long. In 2019 there were ten and the year before 15 suspects.
