Multitude of Penalty-Induced Lawsuits Over Crime Allegations
In the year 2023, Brandenburg, a state in Germany, saw a notable increase in the number of suspended criminal cases. A total of 6,436 cases were suspended, marking an uptick of 659 cases compared to the previous year.
This rise in suspended cases was not limited to a specific type of offense. Apart from traffic offenses, which accounted for 3,606 suspensions, there were 1,233 cases of other offenses suspended. Interestingly, four cases under the Healers' Act and four cases related to medical professionals were also suspended.
The payments made in connection with these suspended cases amounted to approximately 3.5 million euros, representing an increase of nearly 409,000 euros compared to the previous year.
It is worth noting that in Brandenburg, prosecutors can suspend a criminal case before it begins with judicial approval, if the offender's guilt is considered minor and there is no public interest in the case. Similarly, if a charge has already been filed, a court can suspend the case with the prosecutor's consent, sometimes requiring the defendant's agreement.
The Brandenburg state treasury also saw an increase in its revenues. In 2024, the treasury received approximately 1.62 million euros, an increase of around 350,000 euros compared to the previous year.
In terms of charitable contributions, "Aktion Deutschland Hilft," a coalition of organizations that supports people affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises, received around 48,300 euros in the year 2023. The highest payment made to a non-profit organization in Brandenburg that year was over 94,100 euros, given to Brandenburg Victim Support. In total, approximately 1.88 million euros were paid to non-profit organizations in 2024, an increase of around 60,000 euros compared to the previous year.
For more detailed statistics on suspended criminal cases by offense type in Brandenburg, it is recommended to consult official publications by the Brandenburg Ministry of Justice or its statistical office, reports from Destatis on crime and justice at the state level, or research studies or government transparency portals regularly publishing crime statistics in Germany. These data reports usually cover trends over time, including suspensions due to various legal or procedural reasons, categorized by offense type.
The increase in suspended criminal cases in Brandenburg, Germany, in 2023, included not only traffic offenses but also cases related to general news, such as the suspension of four cases under the Healers' Act and four cases involving medical professionals. The payments made in connection with these suspensions led to a rise in the Brandenburg state treasury's revenue, totaling approximately 3.9 million euros, an increase of nearly 764,100 euros compared to the previous year, also encompassing charitable contributions and payments to non-profit organizations.