Prosecutor Shortages Hamper Germany's Fight Against Money Laundering and Organized Crime

Germany faces a critical shortage of prosecutors, with approximately 2,000 vacant positions nationwide, severely affecting the country's ability to combat financial crime and organized crime. According to the German Judges' Association (Deutscher Richterbund), this lack of resources has resulted in a backlog of around one million unresolved cases, many involving complex financial and economic offenses that frequently end with plea deals due to insufficient investigative capacity.

The Judges' Association highlights that around 100 billion euros in illicit funds are concealed annually in Germany, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced prosecution efforts. Sven Rebehn, the federal director of the association, criticized state governments for neglecting necessary investments in law enforcement personnel. He argued that every additional euro spent on investigators focused on financial and economic crimes could generate significant returns for the state treasury.

Moreover, Rebehn noted that organized criminals, including drug gangs and human traffickers, exploit the gaps in Germany's law enforcement capabilities, operating with less hindrance due to under-resourced prosecutorial offices. The federal government pledged around 500 million euros over the next four years to fund additional judiciary positions, aiming to alleviate the strain on the justice system. However, disagreements over financing led to the removal of this issue from the agenda of the recent conference of state premiers, impeding progress.

The German Judges' Association calls for a reassessment of priorities to invest appropriately in personnel and resources necessary to effectively tackle these pressing crime challenges. Without these measures, Germany risks continued impunity for large-scale financial crimes and organized criminal activities.