A Peek Inside Justice: Unveiling the Rhineland-Palatinate's Criminal Court Confidential
Violators of the rule of law face prosecution as over 8,500 individuals are held accountable. - Thousand-eight-hundred individuals subject to legal system's jurisdiction
When it comes to understanding a day in the life of a court, or delving behind the prison walls, Rhineland-Palatinate's "Week of Justice" opens doors that usually remain closed. From the courtroom to virtual witness simulations, the justice system is eager to showcase its responsible, diverse, and forward-thinking workings. Let's dive in and answer some burning questions.
What's the manpower behind the justice system in Rhineland-Palatinate?
The ministry reveals that around 8,500 people currently work in the justice system, with a majority (6,320) found at courts and public prosecutor's offices. Approximately 1,400 individuals are judges or public prosecutors, and nearly 1,000 work as legal executives, overseeing independent tasks like issuing certificates of inheritance or conducting forced auctions. Legal executives can also transition to becoming public prosecutors with additional training and move onto investigating criminal cases. The largest group consists of around 2,450 justice administration specialists and other justice employees, responsible for service units like file management, incoming mail, and deadline control. Around 400 bailiffs ensure court security, while close to 2,250 people work in corrections, including correctional officers, administrative staff, and healthcare professionals like social workers, psychologists, doctors, and nurses.
Are there enough young talents keeping the justice system running?
"The justice system in Rhineland-Palatinate has a wealth of diverse tasks and promising career opportunities," says a Ministry of Justice spokesperson, currently led by Minister Philipp Fernis (FDP). The high volume of applications exceeds the number of hires, with positions in the judicial and public prosecution services especially sought after. As competition among justice employees, justice administration specialists, and legal executives stiffens, the "Week of Justice" seeks to educate about available career paths and opportunities.
How does the e-file system shape up?
Courts in Rhineland-Palatinate are undergoing a modern transformation, aiming for increased speed, modernization, and efficiency. The electronic court file (e-file) is expected to play a major role in these efforts. Since September 2024, all 56 ordinary courts have been equipped with e-files. By June 1, 2025, a total of 453,575 e-files had been created, with 337,795 cases already closed. The specialized courts (administrative, financial, labor, and social courts) have also seen the creation of 45,329 files, with 30,143 cases closed. The lower e-file numbers at public prosecutor's offices can be attributed to their later rollout, according to the ministry.
What role does AI play in the justice system?
AI is gradually making its presence felt in the justice system, supporting decision-making processes and predicting reoffending rates. To ensure fairness, transparency, and privacy, it's essential that AI is approached with caution. The "Week of Justice" also discusses the ethical implications of AI in the justice system.
Join us as we witness the judiciary in Rhineland-Palatinate increasingly embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) according to the ministry. Several projects are already testing or using AI technology, such as the language assistant eManuel, based on ChatGPT, which is being tested at three local courts in the district of the Higher Regional Court Koblenz. This application answers technical questions about the electronic file. Another tool, Codefy, automatically structures files, following a successful pilot phase in Koblenz, with testing now beginning in Zweibrücken.
Since spring 2025, all employees have had access to jurisKI, a combination of a legal database and an AI language model. The beck-Chat, a new AI function on the beck-online platform, is undergoing testing. A noteworthy project is the virtual witness simulation using a VR headset, where trainee lawyers can practice witness interrogations in a realistic, AI-supported scenario.
Can convicted mothers bring their young children into prison?
The Zweibrücken Prison (JVA Zweibrücken) is planning to introduce a new building in 2027, providing prison placements for mothers with young children. Five prison spots will provide housing for one mother with up to two small children each. This innovative initiative is designed for children up to 12 months old. The prerequisite is approval from the youth welfare office, and the sentence duration must be manageable, with the child leaving the prison by their first birthday. The future facility will offer accommodations for inmates from neighboring Saarland as well.
- The Rhineland-Palatinate justice system values education and self-development, as seen in the pursuit of online education and learning opportunities to educate about career paths within the system.
- Vocational training plays a significant role in the justice system, with legal executives having the chance to transition into investigating criminal cases with additional training.
- Technology integration is becoming more prevalent in the justice system, with AI tools like eManuel, Codefy, jurisKI, and beck-Chat being tested or used for various purposes such as answering technical questions, auto-filing structuring, and legal research.
- The criminal court in Rhineland-Palatinate emphasizes health-and-wellness aspects, considering mental-health, fitness-and-exercise, and health-care professional staff like social workers, psychologists, doctors, and nurses, in corrections.
- Artificial Intelligence is being employed in the judiciary to support decision-making and predict reoffending rates, though the ministry is cautious to ensure fairness, transparency, and privacy in its application.
