The clinic is responsible for the execution of the adult penal system in accordance with Section 63 StGB and Section 64 StGB. Temporary placement in accordance with Section 126a of the German Code of Criminal Procedure is also carried out here.
The purpose of forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy is to secure and treat addicted or mentally ill offenders who have been legally placed. A placement is always considered if an offender was unable or only partially able to recognise the wrongfulness of their offence when they committed it due to their mental illness, or if they were unable to act in accordance with this understanding (incapacity or diminished culpability) or if they committed the offence due to their addiction. In addition, there must be a risk of further offences due to the illness. This mainly affects patients with schizophrenic disorders, patients with an intellectual disability or a dependency syndrome or addiction disorder.
The execution of the prison sentence is the responsibility of the Free State of Bavaria and is carried out by the Medical Director of the Clinic for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy as the lower state prison authority at Günzburg Hospital. The ZBFS (Zentrum Bayern Familie und Soziales, Amt für Maßregelvollzug) is the specialist supervisory authority; the cost bearer is the Free State of Bavaria.

The aim of treatment in a correctional facility in accordance with Sections 63 and 64 of the German Criminal Code is to minimise the risk of relapse through a multidimensional therapeutic approach based on the multifactorial aetiopathogenesis of mental illness. This includes both psychotherapeutic and sociotherapeutic measures as well as sufficient and modern psychopharmacotherapy, if necessary. The treatment and resocialisation of mentally ill offenders are legally monitored by the respective penal execution chamber by reviewing the need for further treatment annually in accordance with Section 63 or every six months in accordance with Section 64 and, if necessary, ordering their release if the legal prognosis is favourable (Section 67 e/d StGB). According to § 68 StGB, supervision of conduct usually takes place after release.

As part of this supervision of conduct, the responsible penal execution chamber issues instructions for "outpatient forensic aftercare".

This is implemented by the multi-professional team of the Forensic Aftercare Outpatient Clinic (Fona) of the Clinic for Forensic Psychiatry at Günzburg District Hospital with needs-orientated care with home visits and outpatient appointments in cooperation with the probation service and, if necessary, additional institutions and covers the period from release from the penal institution to the end of the supervision of conduct.

The aim is to maintain the success of the inpatient therapy by keeping the offender free of recidivism and reducing the risk of reoffending in order to prevent further offences.

Further information can be found in the brochure"Information for in-patients in the penitentiary system".