In the Plötzensee prison, 129 men who were fined are currently serving a substitute prison sentence Photo: Paul Zinken/dpa
From Hildburg Bruns
There are currently 316 women and men in the Berlin prison system because they have not paid a fine. The average amount was 151.55 euros, according to the Senate’s response to a Green Party question.
The number of applications for compulsory detention has been relatively stable in recent years, at around 33,500.
Often these are administrative offenses or criminal offenses such as persistent fare evasion on buses and trains.
While last year 57 of those affected had to come in with a warrant, this year there were five people.
How high are the unpaid claims on average?
► 2023: From 10 to 1,500 euros fine, on average 151.55 euros
► 2020: 10 to 20,000 euros, on average 710.20 euros.
The maximum duration of compulsory detention has shrunk in recent years and has now reached a maximum of 55 days. Last year it was an average of 5.5 days and this year it was around four days.