Prison Occupancy Rates in Germany Climb Near Capacity Nationwide
A recent study by RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland highlights that German prisons are nearly 86% full, with some states facing critical overcrowding issues.
Germany’s prisons are facing rising occupancy rates, with national figures approaching full capacity according to recent research by RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland. The report finds that out of a total capacity of 70,279 prison spots, 60,391 are currently filled, reflecting an occupancy rate of approximately 86%. The situation is particularly severe in certain states, requiring urgent adjustments and additional arrangements for inmates.
In Rheinland-Palatinate, space is so limited that nearly all available spots are filled, leading authorities to house multiple prisoners in rooms originally designed for fewer people. Other states, including Bremen, Hamburg, Baden-Württemberg, and Saarland, are also seeing occupancy rates exceeding 90%. This marks a significant change from the pandemic period, when inmate numbers dropped sharply, but are now rising again.
Experts say one factor for the increase is the resumption of short-term prison sentences that had been postponed during the pandemic. The latest data accounts for the total number of male, female, and juvenile inmates across the country. Justice officials have acknowledged the need for new measures and have begun implementing different policies in open detention centers to address the growing demand.
