¹ A “Maßregel der Besserung und Sicherung”; see § 61 StGB.Google Scholar

² For the circumstances under which this can be done, see § 66 StGB.Google Scholar

³ § 67 of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

⁴ The figure was 31 in 1990, see Bundesamt für Statistik (Wiesbaden, Strafverfolgungsstatistik 1990).Google Scholar

⁵ See Gesetz zur Bekämpfung von Sexualdelikten und anderen gefährlichen Straftaten, v. 26.1.1998 (BGBl. I S. 160).Google Scholar

⁶ See § 66a of the Penal Code, v.21.8.2002 (BGBL I S. 3344).Google Scholar

⁷ See article 70 of the Grundgesetz.Google Scholar

⁸ See article 74(1) No.1 of the Grundgesetz.Google Scholar

⁹ See article 72(1) of the Grundgesetz.Google Scholar

¹⁰ See § 67d(1) of the Penal Code prior to its 1998 amendment.Google Scholar

¹¹ In terms of § 67d(3) of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

¹² In terms of § 67d(2) of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

¹³ For details and citations, see Dünkel in Nomos-Kommentar § 57 Rn 14.Google Scholar

¹⁴ § 67d(2) of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

¹⁵ See article 103(2) of the Grundgesetz.Google Scholar

¹⁶ See the early (1977) decision of the Federal Constitutional Court in the leading case on the principles governing life imprisonment, (BVerfGE 45, 187) discussed in detail in Dirk van Zyl Smit, Taking Life Imprisonment Seriously 145 (2002).Google Scholar

¹⁷ Leitsatz 1a: As is customary, the Court spells out the principles (Leitsätze) that are to be derived from the decision at the beginning of the judgment.Google Scholar

¹⁸ Leitsatz 1b.Google Scholar

¹⁹ Leitsätze 2a and 2b. In this instance to the doctrine of proportionality as applied to the implementation of sentences of life imprisonment (see BVerfGE 70, 297 (311)) is adopted.Google Scholar

²⁰ See in this regard Streng, Festschrift für Lampe 611, 633 and the further sources cited there.Google Scholar

²¹ Cf. § 67d(1) of the Penal Code prior to its amendment.Google Scholar

²² Cf. BVerfG NJW 1998, 1133 (1134); NStZ 1998, 373 (374).Google Scholar

²³ On relaxations of prison regimes, see D. van Zyl Smit, Leave of Absence for West German prisoners. Legal Principle and Administrative Practice, 28 British Journal of Criminology 1, 1-18 (1988).Google Scholar

²⁴ As contained in article 103(2) of the Grundgesetz.Google Scholar

²⁵ Leitsatz 3.Google Scholar

²⁶ See in this regard Jung, Was ist Strafe? Ein Essay 33 (2002).Google Scholar

²⁷ Leitsatz 4.Google Scholar

²⁸ This provision must be read in contrast with § 2(1) of the same Code, which provides that punishment is governed by the law that was in force at time of the commission of the offence.Google Scholar

²⁹ The prohibition on the State using excessive power or intervening more widely in the lives of its citizens than it is constitutionally allowed to do.Google Scholar

³⁰ See Kinzig, Die Sicherungsverwahrung auf dem Prufstand (1996).Google Scholar

³¹ BVerfG ZfStrVo 1998, 180; NStZ 1998, 373; NStZ 1998, 430; NJW 1998, 1133; NStZ-RR 1998, 121 See, however, also the decisions of the Federal Constitutional Court that exclude relaxations in specific cases: NStZ 2002, 202 for a lifer who was not prepared to co-operate in meeting the purpose of imprisonment but who had served 26 years; and BVerfG 2 BvR 116/02 for a person in preventive detention for longer than ten years.Google Scholar

³² That is, detention in terms of § 66(1)1 and 2 and (2) to (4) of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

³³ Article 1(1) of the BayStrUBG. Art1(1) of the UBG LSA is almost identical. In Bavaria a three judge chamber of the court for the implementation of prison sentences can impose such preventive detention for a period which in principle has no maximum, while in Saxony-Anhalt such preventive detention is initially for a period of six months which be may extended by an additional twelve months.Google Scholar

³⁴ Dünkel, & Kunkat, , Neue Kriminalpolitik 16 (2001); Kinzig NJW 1455 (2001); Ullenbruch NZtS 291 (2001).Google Scholar

³⁵ The prohibition on the State failing to use its authority in order to protect its citizens.Google Scholar

³⁶ See § 67d(2) and (3) of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

³⁷ See § 145a of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

³⁸ Bundesgerichtshof, the highest Court dealing with civil and penal matters.Google Scholar

³⁹ Frankfurter Rundschau of 25 February 2004.Google Scholar

⁴⁰ By the law on the law on the alteration of the provisions on criminal offences against sexual integrity of 91 December 2003 (BGBl. I S. 3007); See in this regard Frommel, Neue Kriminalpolitik 6 (2004).Google Scholar

⁴¹ See § 106(3) of the Juvenile Justice Act (JGG).Google Scholar

⁴² Offenders under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Courts, sentenced for offences committed at the age between 18 and 21 years.Google Scholar

⁴³ See § 106(5) and (6) of the Juvenile Justice Act as amended by the proposed bill.Google Scholar

⁴⁴ See the new § 275a of the Criminal Procedure Act proposed by the draft bill.Google Scholar

⁴⁵ For a general critique, see Dünkel, Neue Kriminalpolitik 2 (2003).Google Scholar

⁴⁶ Cf. Dünkel, in Nomos-Kommentar § 57 Rn 110, 123 (2003); Jehle, Heinz & Sutterer, Legalbewährung nach strafrechtlichen Sanktionen 69 ((2003).Google Scholar

⁴⁷ In terms of § 57 of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

⁴⁸ Cf. Peglau 2000 ZRP 150.Google Scholar

⁴⁹ In terms of § 66a of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

⁵⁰ See the critical comments in a different context of Schoch, in Festschrift für Kaiser; Nedopi, Forensiche Pscyhiatrie 248 (2000); Dünkel, , Nomos-Kommentar § 57 Rn 118 (2003).Google Scholar

⁵¹ See Dünkel & Kunkat, Neue Kriminalpolitik 16 (2001).Google Scholar

⁵² Kinzig NJW 1457 (2001).Google Scholar

⁵³ See motivation 20.Google Scholar

⁵⁴ See Dünkel & Drenkhahn, in Forschungsthema Strafvollzug 387 (Bereswill & Greve eds., 2001).Google Scholar

⁵⁵ See § 68f of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

⁵⁶ § 145 of the Penal Code.Google Scholar

⁵⁷ See, e.g., the Bundesrat draft BR-Drs 507/02.Google Scholar