Home-based aggression: Bushman encounters hoof-and-mouth disease
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann views electronic ankle monitors as a potential weapon in the battle against domestic violence. He's open to the idea, as shared with Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), but still sees it as a state's responsibility. He suggested that regulations could be implemented within the domestic violence protection law, he stated. Essentially, electronic ankle monitors track the wearer's location, and in the event of a violated restraining order, the authorities are notified if someone gets too close to the victim's residence.
When it comes to domestic violence, local law enforcement is usually the first point of contact. However, it's the states that oversee police law, so they must make the initial decision about implementing electronic ankle monitors in their own policy, Buschmann explained. He had previously discussed the prospect of federal intervention after the Interior Ministers' Conference in June. The current amendments to the child custody and family proceedings law feature enhanced safeguards against domestic violence. For long-term orders, it might be beneficial to involve family courts, he suggested, and he's currently examining the viability of federal legislation in this regard.
As per police crime statistics, a staggering 256,276 individuals experienced domestic violence last year - an increase of 6.5% compared to 2022. There was already an increase of over 8% in 2021 compared to the preceding year.
More recently, Hesse proposed a federal council resolution on the use of electronic ankle monitors in instances of domestic violence. The state's justice ministry suggests that the use of ankle monitors should be established in federal law on domestic violence protection. State Justice Minister Christian Heinz noted, "Currently, only temporary and provisional protection for victims of domestic violence through electronic ankle monitors is permitted according to the state police laws. However, this protection only lasts until judicial measures are enacted."
While the number of domestic violence cases continues to rise, with 256,276 individuals affected last year, there's a growing push for more effective measures. Hesse has proposed a federal council resolution to establish the use of electronic ankle monitors in such cases, given their potential to protect victims more effectively. However, as the justice minister pointed out, current laws only permit temporary protection, and further legislative action is needed to provide long-term protection.
