Germany expands electronic ankle‑bracelet monitoring for domestic violence

Germany is overhauling its violence‑protection framework by significantly expanding the use of electronic ankle bracelets. The reform of the Gewaltschutzgesetz, announced by Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) and Hessian Justice Minister Christian Heinz (CDU), will enlarge the Joint Electronic Monitoring Centre (GÜL) from roughly 30 to 102 locations, enabling nationwide, simultaneous monitoring of perpetrators and at‑risk victims. The system records the positions of both parties and triggers a multistage alarm – including a panic button for the protected person – when a perpetrator approaches a predefined exclusion zone.

The GÜL, led by Alma Friedrichs in Weiterstadt, currently oversees about 145 men wearing the devices. Friedrichs explained that when a monitored individual breaches a “prohibited zone,” staff call the person directly to demand immediate withdrawal, noting that violations have been rare. The expanded law is slated to take effect on 1 July 2027, following a May 2026 amendment that already permits ankle‑bracelet use in high‑risk domestic‑violence cases. Germany’s pilot programme, operating since early 2025 in Hessen under a “Spanish model,” already provides voluntary trackers for endangered women alongside perpetrators. “Wegschauen ist keine Lösung. Wir müssen häusliche Gewalt ächten,” Hubig emphasized, underscoring the aim to prevent repeat abuse.