Lentz shared insights during his appearance on RTL Radio, addressing the pressing issue on Tuesday morning.
While the previous year witnessed a record surge in cases involving child abuse, youth mistreatment, and juvenile delinquency, Lentz revealed that the current year’s figures are set to drastically surpass those of the past. Notably, last year alone saw the opening of 1,500 new case files. As of 1 August this year, a staggering 1,200 new files had already been logged, pointing to an impending new record.
The Department for the Protection of Minors at the Public Prosecutor’s Office deals with cases that encompass both instances where minors are victims and perpetrators. Lentz cited a 15% rise in overall crime rates. A particularly concerning escalation is witnessed in abuse cases, i.e., cases in which minors are victims, with a 44% upsurge.
Lentz delved into the contributing factors behind this disconcerting trend. While acknowledging population growth, he also attributed the spike to heightened prevention measures, leading to greater reporting and a potentially lower number of unreported cases. Stressing that young people themselves are not inherently more criminal, Lentz lamented the general increase in societal aggression, which inadvertently sets a negative example for younger generations.
Concurrently, Lentz acknowledged the shortfall of detention facilities for juvenile offenders. In the absence of space at the juvenile unit UniSec in Dreiborn, extreme cases see minors relegated to the adult prison in Schrassig — a measure he described as “regrettable yet necessary for societal safety.” The UniSec institution in Dreiborn, designed to house just 12 individuals, has proven inadequate from its inception, Lentz noted. To comprehensively address this issue, Lentz called for an expansion of necessary structures, encompassing both UniSec and specialised infrastructures that facilitate targeted interventions, such as reintegration into a school curriculum paired with structured evening and overnight confinement.
Expressing reservations about the youth protection reform, Lentz advocated for prioritising structural expansion prior to comprehensive reform implementation. He highlighted the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s reservations, stressing that separating youth protection from juvenile criminal law, as outlined in the proposed reform, “doesn’t make sense.” According to Lentz, the public prosecutor’s office often notices that children and adolescents are not only perpetrators, but also victims.
