pretrial detention
die U-Haft
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pretrial detention
Short for Untersuchungshaft: the detention in which an accused person is held during ongoing criminal proceedings before the verdict.
Die U-Haft wurde vom Gericht um weitere drei Monate verlängert.
The court extended the pretrial detention by another three months.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| genitive | der U-Haft |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die U-Haft | – |
| accusative | die U-Haft | – |
| dative | der U-Haft | – |
| genitive | der U-Haft | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The “U” stands for “Untersuchung” (investigation), while “Haft” remains written out. You will often encounter this abbreviation in news reports and coverage of criminal proceedings.
Laut einem Zeitungsbericht sitzt der Verdächtige seit Freitag in U-Haft.
According to a newspaper report, the suspect has been in pretrial detention since Friday.
For an existing stay in detention, “in U-Haft” takes the dative, usually without an article. When someone is remanded in custody, “in U-Haft” takes the accusative; the case is made visible, for example, by an adjective.
Der Beschuldigte befindet sich seit einer Woche in U-Haft.
The accused has been in pretrial detention for a week.
Die Richterin schickte den Beschuldigten in eine mehrwöchige U-Haft.
The judge sent the accused into several weeks of pretrial detention.
Typical collocations are “U-Haft anordnen” (to order pretrial detention), “die U-Haft verlängern” (to extend pretrial detention), and “jemanden aus der U-Haft entlassen” (to release someone from pretrial detention). These describe court decisions about the beginning, duration, and end of the detention.
Nach der Anhörung ordnete die Richterin U-Haft an.
After the hearing, the judge ordered pretrial detention.
