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.
European Union