The German Judges Association (DRB) has voiced concerns that the Federal Ministry of Justice’s proposed increase in penalties for the use of incapacitating substances like date-rape drugs is insufficient to effectively address the rise in related crimes. While the DRB supports the planned minimum five-year prison sentence for offenders utilizing sedatives to facilitate sexual assault or robbery, they argue that relying solely on harsher punishments will prove ineffective in bolstering victim protection and deterring potential perpetrators.
DRB Federal Managing Director Sven Rebehn, speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, emphasized that the deterrent factor lies not in the theoretical maximum sentence – already permitting up to 15 years imprisonment – but in the perceived risk of conviction. He pointed to the significant strain on public prosecutor’s offices nationwide as a critical obstacle hindering swift justice. The current backlog of cases, largely attributable to understaffing and resource constraints within state-level law enforcement agencies, is crippling the judicial process.
Rebehn cautioned that delays significantly impede the pursuit of truth and inflict immense distress upon victims who are forced to relive traumatic experiences through protracted legal battles. He described the use of narcotics in violent crimes, particularly sexual assault and robbery, as “particularly perfidious and dangerous.
The DRB’s critique extends beyond legislative action, accusing policymakers of engaging in “symbolic politics” without tackling the underlying systemic issues. The association contends that without significant investment and improvement in the capabilities of state-run prosecution services, harsher criminal codes will fail to deliver tangible improvements in public safety. They highlighted a worrying trend: with a staggering number of criminal files remaining unaddressed, proceedings are increasingly being dropped and only one out of sixteen cases ultimately leads to indictment, raising serious questions about the efficacy of the current legal infrastructure. The call is now for a comprehensive overhaul, demanding substantial financial support and resource allocation from the states to ensure a functioning and responsive criminal justice system.