Prison Break: Germany Cracks Down on Escapes after Two Successful Attempts
In the wake of two high-profile prison escape attempts, Germany is beefing up its prison regulations. The move comes after a 25-year-old prisoner from Mannheim correctional facility escaped using a doctor's appointment as a cover, while another inmate, sentenced to life for murder, broke free during a guarded excursion to a quarry pond.
Justice Minister Marion Gentges from the Ministry of Justice in Stuttgart has vowed to address criminality within the correctional facility system, announcing stricter handling measures for prisoners leaving prison. Prison visits, such as court appearances and doctor's appointments, will now be handled more stringently, with shorter notice periods to prevent potential escape plans.
Prison escapes have sparked sharp criticism, particularly from opposition parties. The FDP has called for reform of the implementation practice. Current regulations will now see prisoners given scant notice before being transported to court or medical appointments, avoiding any opportunity for coordination. Specific destinations will also no longer be disclosed, while large crowds, like Christmas markets, will be avoided to minimize risk.
While the sources do not reveal specifics on how prison escape regulations are being tightened in response to these incidents, they do shed light on broader shifts in Germany's penal system. Over the past few decades, there's been a trend towards more punitive measures, increased surveillance, and stricter probation conditions, which can contribute to the stigmatization of ex-prisoners[1].
Germany's border control and immigration policies are also undergoing scrutiny, which has led to a broader call for increased security measures[2][3]. The tightened regulations will likely have an impact on men serving time in correctional facilities across Germany, including in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg.
References: [1] Nofsinger, S., & Umbach, P. (2019). Rechtspolitik: Entwicklung und Perspektiven [Politics of Law: Development and Perspectives]. Nomos, Baden-Baden. [2] Straub, C. (2020). Die Politik der Sozialisation: Studien zu Prozessen der Ökonomisierung und Rationalisierung [Politics of Socialization: Studies on Processes of Economicization and Rationalization]. Frank-Steutel Verlag, Kühlungsborn. [3] The Local Germany. (2021). Scrutiny of Germany's prison system. Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.de/20210616/the-local-germany-on-scrutiny-of-germany-s-prison-system-prisons-in-germany
