Germany's justice system is grappling with a growing backlog of unresolved cases, with nearly 933,000 open investigations reported by the end of 2024. This marks a 30% increase since 2021, according to the German Judges' Association.

The surge in cases has led to delays in legal proceedings and a decline in the number of indictments.

Some states, like Hamburg and Saxony, have seen their case numbers more than double in recent years.

Efforts to address the issue, such as reallocating resources and hiring more staff, have been insufficient.

Experts warn that without immediate action, the justice system risks becoming a bottleneck in crime prevention.