Pending court cases in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
In a concerning development, the German Judges' Association reported an increase in crime cases in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in the first half of 2025. This increase has also been noticed during the current municipal election campaign, according to Gerd Hamme, the chairman of the German Judges' Association NRW.
The surge in crime is reflected in the growing number of pending cases in the public prosecutor's offices of NRW. As of June 30, 2025, there were nearly 267,000 pending cases, marking a 4.6% increase compared to the previous year. This increase over the past few years has been the highest in recent years.
The German Civil Service Federation (DBB) has demanded an expansion of personnel positions in the public prosecutors' offices of NRW for 2026. This is to ensure sufficient staff for effective prosecution and law enforcement. The DBB has requested a total of 400 additional posts.
However, the NRW Ministry of Justice has only planned 60 additional posts in the state government's budget for 2026, with 40 for public prosecutors and another 20 for other staff. This falls short of the demand made by the German Judges' Association NRW.
The increase in pending cases is not only due to the rise in new cases but also due to the significant increase in inquiries from the state parliament. These inquiries, which include cases of mistakes and prison escapes, are processed by politics and are reportedly burdening public prosecutors with less time for their actual work.
The news of the rising crime trend and pending cases in NRW was reported by the news agency dpa and on the website's current affairs program on September 4, 2025, at 11 a.m. on multiple websites, including our website 2, our website 4, and our website 5.
Compared to the end of 2021, the increase in pending cases is around 40%. Nationwide, public prosecutor's offices are managing over 964,000 pending cases, an increase from around 951,000 at the turn of the year.
Sven Rebehn, business manager of the judges' association, made a statement in an interview, emphasizing the need for more staff in the public prosecutor's offices. He noted that the increase in pending cases is not only a problem in NRW but is a nationwide issue.
In a stark contrast, the number of open cases has been reduced by more than a third in Brandenburg. This reduction could serve as a model for other states in addressing the issue of pending cases.
The NRW Ministry of Justice has not provided a definitive explanation for the increase in investigation cases in recent years. The ministry's silence on the matter has raised concerns among the judiciary about the resources available to handle the growing caseload.
Crime trends in NRW have shown a significant increase, particularly in sexual offenses, acts of violence, and politically motivated violence such as the destruction of election posters and attacks on politicians. The German Judges' Association NRW has called for immediate action to address this issue and ensure the safety and security of the citizens of NRW.
Read also:
- Impact of Alcohol on the Human Body: Nine Aspects of Health Alteration Due to Alcohol Consumption
- Understanding the Concept of Obesity
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Tough choices on August 13, 2025 for those born under Aquarius? Consider the advantages and disadvantages to gain guidance
){kind=link}