is the national independent mechanism for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in Germany. The Agency will undertake regular visits to places where people are deprived of their liberty, identify problems and make recommendations to the relevant authorities. Furthermore, it will report annually to the German parliament and government.

Only places under federal jurisdiction i.e. Federal Police (Bundespolizei) and Federal German Defence Forces (Bundeswehr) fall under the mandate of the Federal Agency. Other institutions such as police stations, psychiatric hospitals and prisons lie within the jurisdiction of the states (Länder). Thus, there will soon be installed a Joint Commission of the Länder which will encompass the facilities within the jurisdiction of the States.

The Federal Agency for the Prevention of Torture is not an individual complaints mechanism, nor will legal advise be given.

The honorary director of the Federal Agency is Klaus Lange-Lehngut, former governor of the Berlin-Tegel Prison. Klaus Lange-Lehngut directed the prison for more than 25 years. Additionally, he lectured prison law at the Freie Universität Berlin for over 30 years.

The Federal Agency's administration is an annex to the Centre for Criminology (KrimZ) located in Wiesbaden.