A total of 1,785 prisoners were temporarily released. Of these, 1,530 returned safely before the deadline expired on December 30 at 10 p.m. The 255 others are currently still missing. The prisoners did not wear electronic ankle bracelets because they are only used after a court order, which was not issued in this case, according to local media.
Temporary release at Christmas is provided for in the Prison Act and can be granted to prisoners under certain conditions. For example, they must have already served 60 percent of their sentence and be in semi-open detention. Since 2019, people imprisoned for crimes resulting in death are no longer entitled to the gesture.