Hesse Offers Free Trace Evidence Collection for Violence Victims

Victims in Hesse now have access to free, confidential trace evidence collection. The Giessen Institute is leading the effort to create a network of support and evidence preservation.

, and Administrator

2025 October 21 . 4:02 AM

1 min read

In the picture we can see inside view of the hospital with beds and patients on it and between the... — In the picture we can see inside view of the hospital with beds and patients on it and between the beds we can see saline bottles to the stand and a woman standing wearing a bag near the patient.

Confidential Evidence Preservation - More Hospitals Sought - Hesse Offers Free Trace Evidence Collection for Violence Victims

Victims of violence in Hesse now have access to free, confidential trace evidence collection, thanks to a new initiative by the Hessian state government. The service, provided through the Forensic Council, is covered by health insurance companies, ensuring no additional cost to victims.

The Giessen Institute of Forensic Medicine, in collaboration with the University Hospital of Hesse, is at the forefront of this effort. They have established a counterpart Forensic Council for Frankfurt and South Hesse. The institute equips hospitals and practices with special sets of utensils and provides training and consultation with forensic medicine specialists. Currently, twelve such facilities in Hesse are partners in this project.

The aim is to create a dense network of competent points of contact for victims. This includes doctors, therapists, and forensic medicine specialists who can collect and preserve trace evidence. Victims can decide later whether to file a complaint, and the archived traces can serve as evidence if needed. The Giessen forensic medicine specialists handle around 350 cases of sustained injuries per year.

The Hessian state government has made confidential trace evidence a regular statutory health insurance benefit. The Giessen Institute of Forensic Medicine is actively seeking more partner hospitals to strengthen this service, ensuring that victims of violence have access to vital support and evidence collection.