The German Bundestag has passed a measure giving authorities the option to mandate electronic ankle monitoring for perpetrators of domestic violence. This legislation, titled “Introduction of Electronic Occupancy Monitoring and Perpetrator Work in the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act” received votes from the Union, SPD, AfD, and Green parties. The Left Party abstained, citing the need for a more comprehensive overall strategy.
The proposed changes aim to grant justice authorities new tools to prevent domestic violence and enforce compliance with protection orders. Key elements of the bill include mandatory anti-violence training and the potential use of electronic ankle monitoring, modeled after the Spanish system.
While the initial concept allowed victims of domestic violence to decide whether they wished to carry a tracking device, the latest version of the draft restricts this choice, meaning the affected women can no longer decide for themselves if they want the ankle monitor applied.
Beyond monitoring, the law incorporates requirements for perpetrators. Family courts will be empowered to mandate that offenders participate in social training courses. Furthermore, the legislation proposes stricter penalties for violating protection orders, raising the maximum possible prison sentence for such violations from two to three years.
To enhance preventative security, the measure also introduces improved risk assessments. In the future, family courts will be allowed to request information from the weapons registry as part of this process.
