German Justice Ministers Unite Behind Reforms for Foreign Convicts and Judicial Efficiency
At a recent conference in Bad Schandau, the Justice Ministers of Germany’s federal states have collectively agreed to reform the country’s penal system for foreign nationals. According to Schleswig-Holstein’s Justice Minister, Kerstin von der Decken, the new policy will allow for the suspension of prison sentences for those who have a legal obligation to leave the country, provided they voluntarily agree to do so. This change will be a departure from the previous practice, which only applied to individuals with a pre-arranged deportation order.
The conference also saw the ministers advocate for a nationwide pact to strengthen the rule of law, with von der Decken specifically calling for the creation of at least 2,000 new positions for judges and prosecutors, as well as increased funding for the digitalization of the justice system. Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence in criminal proceedings is set to be explored.
Another key decision involves the modernization of the criminal procedure code, with a focus on establishing a central evidence cloud. The ministers emphasized that this move aims to speed up proceedings and alleviate the burden on the justice system.