European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics - 2010

Abstract

This is the fourth edition of a data collection initiative that started in 1993 under the umbrella of the Council of Europe. Previous editions were prepared by an informal group of experts from several countries. The format developed during the compilation of earlier editions was maintained, especially the network of national correspondents and regional coordinators whose contribution has, once more, been decisive in collecting and validating data on a variety of subjects from 37 countries. While in the third edition some chapters could not be updated, the present document covers the years of 2003-2007 for all areas. In-depth analyses are presented for the year 2006. The basic structure of five chapters – offences and offenders known to the police, prosecution, convictions and sentences, corrections including non-custodial sanctions and survey data – has been maintained. However, several chapters were revised and extended in various respects. For example, efforts were made to extend the Sourcebook’s coverage beyond ordinary (‘street level’) crimes and to include offences such as fraud, offences against computer data and systems, money laundering and corruption. More detailed information has been collected for certain offences, e.g. assault, drug trafficking, sexual assault and sexual abuse of minors. In the chapter on prosecution, information about restrictions of freedom imposed upon persons under investigation, such as police custody, pre-trial detention, bail and electronic monitoring, has been added. In the chapter on convictions, more detailed information is now available on both adults and juveniles, including new forms of non-custodial sanctions (such as community service) and persons held in pre-trial detention. Chapter 4 continues along this line by including information on both those held in custody and those under the supervision of the correctional services. Finally, Chapter 5 presents data from the International Crime Victimisation Surveys conducted between 1989 and 2005. In addition, for the first time information is included in Chapter 5 on self-reported delinquency among juveniles (aged 13-16) that was collected in 2006 during the second international self-reported delinquency survey held in 17 European countries. Our basic collection principle was to gather information from the national correspondents. In a few cases, however, this was not possible and other channels were used, e.g. data provided by Eurostat, UNODC and the Council of Europe SPACE project on the basis of a mutual agreement of supporting each other’s initiative by exchanging information. The data for Chapter 5 was obtained through international surveys. The data presented here will be available on www.europeansourcebook.org as well. The electronic publication includes supplementary detailed technical information provided by national correspondents.