Prison in Germany - focus on violent offenders
The prison system provides therapy and deradicalization programs for serious criminals such as murderers and rapists, in the hope that they will be less dangerous afterward. Politically or religiously motivated offenders are also "ticking time bombs" with a high risk of recidivism. Many become even more radicalized in prison or lack insight into their actions. ZDFinfo shows what happens behind bars to these dangerous criminals. "I'm a pedophile," confesses Tim D. The 28-year-old is a convicted sex offender and is incarcerated for the fourth time.
This time, he is serving a multi-year sentence for possession of child pornography. He was already showing signs of trouble at the age of 13 and openly admits: "Little girls sexually arouse me." He is incarcerated in the so-called social therapy unit of Aachen Prison, along with 33 other violent offenders. Some have committed murder or manslaughter, but the majority are sex offenders. “It’s the intensive care unit of therapy,” explains a therapist from the department. An open living unit, two corridors where the violent offenders can move freely.
A shielded world within the prison. For good reason, because sex offenders are the lowest category in prison, experiencing a great deal of violence from fellow inmates, like Tim D. “During my last sentence, a fellow inmate knocked my teeth out.” There, the violent offenders have a protected space and group and individual therapy several times a week. “Therapy is hard work,” explains the therapist, because the offenders have to understand their monstrous acts and their inner demons and want to change.
The Dieburg prison in Hesse also aims to change its inmates. There, they rely on NeDis, a deradicalization project for offenders who have committed right-wing, left-wing, or Islamist-motivated crimes. Reichsbürger (citizens of the Reich) who end up in prison are also targeted by the program. During his time in juvenile detention, Yassin L. witnessed how quickly young men like him can fall prey to hate preachers and become radicalized behind bars. Today, he wants nothing to do with that and, in his second incarceration, places his trust in the imam of the Dieburg Correctional Facility.
The imam acts as a kind of chaplain for Muslim prisoners, countering radical views, examining Quranic texts, and noticing during the weekly tea ceremony and Friday prayers when prisoners are developing radical beliefs. Specialized officers, known as structural observers, are also deployed to identify these networks within the prison. Like a puzzle, they piece together observations: Who talks to whom, what outside contacts does the prisoner have, is the inmate suddenly behaving strangely, or has he changed his cell? The prison authorities monitor all of this.
Broadcasting on 27th of December 2025 at 08.15pm on ZDF/ZDFinfo
Music: POPVIRUS Library