In 2023, at least 6,125 inmates in Germany were released earlier than the originally scheduled end of their sentences, according to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. The figures come from a survey carried out by the justice ministries of the individual Länder.
Among the states that keep records, Baden-Württemberg recorded the highest number of early releases with 2,061 inmates. The next largest figures were in Niedersachsen (896), followed closely by Hessen (814). Smaller states also contributed: Rheinland‑Pfalz had 485, Saarland 361, and Hamburg 346. Berlin released 326 inmates, Sachsen 280, Brandenburg 202, Sachsen‑Anhalt 137, and Thüringen 129. The fewest early releases were registered in Bremen, with only 88.
The number of early releases in Sachsen‑Anhalt remains uncertain, and Bayern, Nordrhein‑Westfalen and Schleswig‑Holstein do not keep such data.
When the shares of early releases relative to all releases are considered, significant variations appear. In Saarland, early releases comprised roughly 45 % of all releases. In both Hessen and Baden-Württemberg the share was about 30 %. Niedersachsen’s share was close to 20 %. At the lower end, Sachsen and Thüringen had shares of roughly 12 % and 8 % respectively.