Executed convict vanishes without a trace upon arrival at execution chamber
In recent news, a prisoner from Stralsund, who was granted leave on June 14, 2022, has been missing since. The reason for his conviction remains unknown. This incident is one of ten cases where prisoners in open prison regime have failed to return as agreed since October 2021.
The open prison regime, designed to facilitate the reintegration of convicted criminals and promote a crime-free life, has been under scrutiny. The regime allows prisoners day releases, weekend leaves, and long-term releases under certain conditions. As of August 19, 2025, there were 109 prisoners in open prison regime, distributed across Waldeck (65 prisoners), Stralsund (32 prisoners), and Neustrelitz (12 prisoners).
The open prison in Stralsund housed 32 prisoners, one of whom has disappeared entirely. In six cases, prisoners returned under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and one also tested positive for drugs. New crimes have been committed by some prisoners in open prison regime, leading to transfers to closed prison regimes.
In the past four years, 163 prisoners have been transferred from open to closed prison regimes due to violations. Alcohol and drug use were the most common reason (68 cases), followed by failed returns (27 cases) and suspected crimes (18 cases).
Sebastian Ehlers, the parliamentary leader of the CDU fraction, has raised concerns about the open prison regime in a parliamentary question. However, the specific nature of his concerns has not been detailed in the provided text.
The minister responsible for overseeing the surveillance of open prison regimes in Germany is not explicitly named in the search results. Issues related to detention and movement restrictions, which could include oversight of prison regimes, fall under the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesinnenministerium), headed by Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) as of 2024/2025. No specific data on the number of reports of violations against the conditions of open prison regimes in the last four years was found in the search results.
It is worth noting that prisoners can regain the freedoms of open prison regime if they demonstrate insight and the severity of their past misconduct is deemed acceptable by the government. The open prison regime presents risks, as highlighted by Sebastian Ehlers in his parliamentary question.
Despite these concerns, the open prison regime continues to be a tool for reintegrating convicted criminals and facilitating a crime-free life. The number of prisoners in open prison regime has not been updated since August 19, 2025. The open prison in Waldeck housed 65 prisoners as of that date.
In three cases, prisoners who failed to return surrendered afterwards, while in six other cases, police returned them against their will, sometimes using force. Between 2021 and 2024, tens of thousands of such relaxations were granted to prisoners in open prison regime.
The open prison system, while designed with good intentions, seems to face challenges in ensuring the safety and compliance of prisoners. The ongoing debate and scrutiny of the system are crucial in addressing these issues and improving the system for the benefit of all involved.
