die  Sicherungsverwahrung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈzɪçəʁʊŋsˌfɛɐ̯ˌvaːʁʊŋ/

🔒 What does Sicherungsverwahrung mean?

The German term die Sicherungsverwahrung refers to a form of preventive detention within the German criminal justice system. Its purpose is to protect the public from dangerous offenders who, after serving their actual prison sentence (Strafhaft), are still considered highly likely to commit further serious crimes.

Unlike a regular prison sentence (Strafhaft), which serves as punishment for the committed crime, Sicherungsverwahrung is purely preventive. It aims to prevent future offenses. Ordering and continuing Sicherungsverwahrung is subject to strict legal requirements and regular judicial review, as it constitutes a significant interference with fundamental rights.

🚨 Important: It is not considered a punishment (Strafe) in the legal sense, but rather a measure (Maßregel) based on the offender's predicted dangerousness (Gefährlichkeitsprognose). It's primarily regulated in § 66 of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch - StGB).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar: Die Sicherungsverwahrung in Detail

The word "Sicherungsverwahrung" is a feminine noun. The definite article is "die". It is typically only used in the singular because it describes a specific legal concept. A plural form is uncommon and mostly theoretical.

Example Sentences

• Das Gericht prüft die Anordnung der Sicherungsverwahrung.
  (The court reviews the order for preventive detention.)
• Die Voraussetzungen für die Sicherungsverwahrung sind im Strafgesetzbuch (§ 66 StGB) geregelt.
  (The requirements for preventive detention are regulated in the Criminal Code (§ 66 StGB).)
• Nach seiner Haftstrafe wurde der Täter in Sicherungsverwahrung genommen.
  (After his prison sentence, the offender was placed in preventive detention.)

⚖️ Usage in Context

The term die Sicherungsverwahrung is used almost exclusively in legal and jurisprudential contexts. You will find it in:

• Criminal codes (like the German Strafgesetzbuch) and legal commentaries
• Court judgments and decisions
• Legal journals and academic discussions
• Media reports on serious crimes and court proceedings

It is crucial to distinguish Sicherungsverwahrung from Strafhaft (imprisonment as punishment). Strafhaft is the time-limited sentence for punishing a crime. Sicherungsverwahrung can potentially be indefinite (though subject to regular review) and begins *after* the Strafhaft if continued dangerousness is determined.

⚠️ Due to its history and the profound impact on fundamental rights, the term and the practice are often subjects of public and legal debate in Germany.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of related words: die Sicherung (the fuse / the securing), die Verwahrung (the custody / safekeeping) → therefore die Sicherungsverwahrung.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine society needs to be kept sicher (safe/secure) from someone by putting them in Verwahrung (custody). It's about achieving Sicherung (security/protection) through Verwahrung (detention/custody).

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

Watch out for similar words:

• Strafhaft/Freiheitsstrafe: (Punitive imprisonment/Prison sentence) - Serves as punishment, usually time-limited, precedes Sicherungsverwahrung.
• Untersuchungshaft (U-Haft): (Pre-trial detention) - Detention before a conviction to secure the criminal proceedings.

😂 A Little Joke (Handle with Care)

German: Warum hat der Anwalt für Strafrecht immer einen Ersatzschlüssel dabei? Falls er mal wieder jemanden aus der Sicherungsverwahrung holen muss... und sei es nur zum Kaffeetrinken im Hof. 😉

English Translation: Why does the criminal defense lawyer always carry a spare key? In case he needs to get someone out of preventive detention again... even if it's just for coffee in the yard. 😉

(Note: This is a very sensitive topic. The joke is chosen carefully and intended to humorously hint at the complexities, not to trivialize the issue.)

📜 A Little Poem

German:
Ist die Strafe abgesessen,
Doch die Gefahr nicht vergessen,
Bleibt ein Risiko, sehr groß,
Lässt die Gesellschaft nicht mehr los.

Dann kommt, nach strenger Richterwahl,
Die Sicherungsverwahrung - manchmal Qual.
Kein Strafvollzug, doch hinter Mauern,
Um Sicherheit für uns zu dauern.

English Translation:
When the sentence has been served,
But the danger is still observed,
A risk remains, quite vast,
Society's concern holds fast.

Then comes, by judge's strict decree,
Preventive detention - Sicherungsverwahrung, you see.
Not punishment, but behind walls kept,
So public safety can be adept.

❓ A Riddle about Sicherungsverwahrung

German:
Ich bin keine Strafe, folge ihr aber oft.
Ich diene dem Schutz, wie man es erhofft.
Ich bin an Gefahr gebunden, nicht an die Tat allein.
Mein Ende ist offen, mein Anfang streng – wer mag ich sein?

English Translation:
I am not a punishment, but I often follow one.
I serve protection, as hoped for by everyone.
I am tied to danger, not just to the deed alone.
My end is open, my start is strict – who am I, known?

Solution: Die Sicherungsverwahrung (Preventive Detention)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Sicherungsverwahrung" is a compound noun formed from:

• Die Sicherung: Derived from "sicher machen" (to make safe/secure), here meaning the protection of the public.
• Die Verwahrung: Meaning custody, safekeeping, here referring to detention or confinement.

Historical Context & Controversy:

Sicherungsverwahrung has a difficult history, having been used excessively during the Nazi era. It was enshrined in the post-war German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) but has undergone numerous reforms and adjustments, partly due to rulings by the German Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). It remains a legally and ethically controversial instrument, balancing the individual's right to liberty against the public's need for protection.