Germany judicial system faces massive backlog of criminal cases

Germany is facing a significant crisis in its judicial system due to a massive backlog of criminal investigations. In Braunschweig, the number of open cases at the public prosecutor's office rose to over 9,000 by mid-2026, up from approximately 7,000 a year prior. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Justice attributes this increase to a nationwide rise in cases and new investigative methods, proposing additional personnel as a solution.

However, political opposition from the CDU argues that the issue is a structural capacity problem rather than a temporary surge. Across Lower Saxony, the total number of unfinished investigations reached 82,135 by mid-2026.

Similar pressures are reported in Hamburg, where nearly 100,000 cases remain open between the police and the prosecutor's office. Critics warn that this overload undermines the rule of law, as delays can lead to statutes of limitations expiring and criminals remaining at large. Nationally, it is estimated that more than one million unprocessed cases are currently pending across German prosecutor's offices.