Nachsorge unter erschwerten Vorzeichen – Erfahrungen forensischer Nachsorgeambulanzen mit Sexualstraftätern, die nach der Novelle der Verhältnismäßigkeitsregelung entlassen wurden

A major amendment of the German Criminal Code concerning treatment in forensic psychiatric hospitals (Secs. 63, 67 StGB) became effective in August 2016 and has led to an increasing number of discharges of sex offenders. In addition to inpatient treatment practice, this also poses great challenges for forensic aftercare. After a brief overview of the amendment, this article examines how it affects the release practice and legal probation. Based on the analysis of the post-inpatient development of ten sex offenders from North Rhine-Westphalia who were released for disproportionate reasons, the far-reaching consequences of the amendment forensic aftercare have to deal with are illustrated. Finally, attention is drawn to the great need for action and alternative solutions to reduce the length of stay and strengthens the patients fundamental right to freedom are proposed.

Twenty years of forensic aftercare in Hessen, Germany

In Germany, the Forensic Hospital in Haina/Germany has a tradition of more than two decades of continuously outpatient treatment of mentally ill offenders. In our system, patients were conditionally released after a successful hospital order treatment. Time under parole for these patients normally spread between two to five years. In nower days, after a reform of penal law, time under parole can be unlimited.Since 1988 far more than 1000 patients were released from the forensic hospital and treated under parole conditions in the community.The paper will describe the careers of these patients, demonstrate rates of success and failure, and explain our treatment and risk-management approach.