For several weeks, the Berlin Prosecutor’s Office has been unable to send out orders requiring individuals to appear for sentencing due to a critical shortage of envelopes. As a result, convicts who were scheduled for prison have remained at large, leaving correctional facilities with empty spaces.
Department officials stated that the issue stems from a new form introduced by a decree of the Ministry of Justice issued on March 31, 2025. The decree entered into force on August 1, 2025, with a transition period until July 31, 2026 during which older forms could be used.
Special yellow envelopes are required for such official communications in Germany. Despite having 16 months to adjust, the enforcement department exhausted its stock of new envelopes within two weeks due to unexpectedly high demand. Additionally, delays in purchasing additional supplies were caused by similar surges in demand across other departments.
