Enhanced safeguarding for victims through fresh tracking agreements

In a significant step towards ensuring justice for victims of violence, Minister Manne Lucha has signed contracts with the University Hospitals Freiburg and Ulm, following the initial agreement with University Hospital Heidelberg in 2023.

These contracts, which also involve health insurance companies and legal medical institutions, regulate the details of claim and confidential billing for independent trace evidence collection. This innovative approach allows victims to secure evidence without the immediate need to file a criminal complaint.

The University Hospital Freiburg, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Annette Thierauf-Emberger, Medical Director of the Institute of Legal Medicine, warmly welcomes the financial support and cost coverage for independent evidence collection by the statutory health insurance companies. Similarly, Prof. Dr. Sebastian Kunz, Medical Director of the Institute of Legal Medicine at the University Hospital Ulm, emphasizes that easy access to expert consultation, care, and court-admissible documentation of injuries is the foundation for increased legal certainty for victims of violence.

The contracts signed with the Institute for Victims of Violence at the University Hospital Freiburg and the Violence Victim Ambulance at the University Hospital Ulm, among others, have made it possible for four violence ambulances in Baden-Württemberg to offer independent trace evidence. These ambulances, located at the university clinics in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Ulm, and Stuttgart, are open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, origin, or financial situation.

For insured persons, the respective health insurance company covers the costs of trace evidence in a confidential manner. This court-admissible, anonymous, and free trace evidence gives victims the security that they can report the crime at any time, and the evidence is not irretrievably lost.

The operation of the violence ambulances has been funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs since their inception, with around one million euros allocated in 2024. For press inquiries and general inquiries from citizens, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, and Integration can be contacted via email.

Early examination is particularly recommended in cases of domestic violence, strangulation, suspected child abuse, sexual assault, violence against the elderly, or other violent acts such as brawls or attacks with dangerous objects. The court-admissible securing of evidence enables the conviction of perpetrators at a later date and gives victims the option of not having to decide immediately after an incident whether to file a criminal complaint.

With these initiatives, Baden-Württemberg continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting victims of violence and ensuring justice is served.