First Release

Year: LIX.
Zagreb, 05 April 2022
PSZ-2022-1-1

ISSN 1334-0557

ADULT PERPETRATORS OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES BY TYPE OF DECISION, 2021

In 2021, public prosecutor’s offices in the Republic of Croatia decided upon crime reports for 47 872 adult perpetrators of criminal offences, which was 0.8% less than in 2020. The number of accused persons increased by 6.3% and the number of convicted persons by 5.6%, as compared to the previous year.

The share of persons reported for criminal offences against property, which was the most frequent type of offence in 2021, was 49.9%, of accused persons it was 28.6% and of convicted persons it was 29.3%. They were followed by criminal offences against personal freedom, with 11.8% of reported, 16.2% of accused and 15.5% of convicted perpetrators.

By type of pronounced criminal penalties or other measures, the most frequent one was suspended imprisonment (80.5%), followed by unsuspended imprisonment (16.7%), suspended fine (1.2%) and unsuspended fine (0.8%).

1. ADULT PERPETRATORS OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES – REPORTED, ACCUSED AND CONVICTED

    Reported Accused Convicted
Total Women Total Women Total Women
2020 48 272 5 347 13 615 1 904 11 634 1 565
2021 47 872 5 564 14 471 2 073 12 286 1 736
Indices
2021
2020
99,2 104,1 106,3 108,9 105,6 110,9

2. DECISIONS OF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICES, BY TYPE OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES, 2021

    Total Criminal offences against
Life and limb Personal freedom Sexual freedom Sexual maltreatment and sexual exploitation of children Marriage, family and children People˙s health Public safety Safety in traffic
Total 47 872 1 765 5 669 303 326 2 782 1 357 458 1 090
Unknown perpetrators 18 491 141 270 29 40 8 32 117 38
Known perpetrators 29 381 1 624 5 399 274 286 2 774 1 325 341 1 052
Women 5 564 179 681 2 12 736 163 41 174
Reports rejected 12 679 605 2 709 83 44 1 233 282 132 180
Interrupted investigation 4 1 - - - - - - -
Terminated investigation 337 49 6 30 11 7 49 8 2
Indictment 16 361 969 2 684 161 231 1 534 994 201 870
Immediate – overall 13 478 763 2 586 81 61 1 501 375 156 768
 Without warrant 7 141 449 1 413 50 57 1 250 170 82 148
 With warrant 6 337 314 1 173 31 4 251 205 74 620
After investigation 2 777 194 49 79 169 23 619 41 102
Against mentally incompetent defendant 106 12 49 1 1 10 - 4 -
Duration of investigative imprisonment 2 731 247 623 64 80 259 222 19 13
Under 15 days 230 14 45 6 3 15 11 - 3
15 – 30 days 1 374 98 409 13 24 168 71 9 2
 1 – 2 months 539 45 116 9 23 50 54 6 4
 2 – 3 months 338 28 44 19 12 22 45 3 3
 3 – 6 months 185 47 9 14 16 4 18 1 1
 6 – 12 months 65 15 - 3 2 - 23 - -

2. DECISIONS OF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICES, BY TYPE OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES, 2021

(continued)                  
    Criminal offences against Other criminal offences Secondary criminal legislation (apart from Penal Code) Indices
2021
2020
Property Economy Counterfeiting Official duty Judiciary Public order
Total 23 910 1 502 2 094 1 477 919 1 962 2 235 23 99,2
Unknown perpetrators 16 090 32 463 16 24 84 1 107 - 93,8
Known perpetrators 7 820 1 470 1 631 1 461 895 1 878 1 128 23 102,9
Women 1 496 269 341 612 350 239 267 2 104,1
Reports rejected 3 263 690 390 1 362 657 380 666 3 101,2
Interrupted investigation - - - - - 3 - - 100,0
Terminated investigation 67 47 4 1 2 25 29 - 117,0
Indictment 4 490 733 1 237 98 236 1 470 433 20 104,0
Immediate – overall 3 993 420 1 212 19 212 919 393 19 102,7
 Without warrant 2 232 203 264 10 68 629 114 2 102,3
 With warrant 1 761 217 948 9 144 290 279 17 103,1
After investigation 486 313 25 79 20 539 38 1 110,2
Against mentally incompetent defendant 11 - - - 4 12 2 - 117,8
Duration of investigative imprisonment 456 62 95 6 17 545 23 - 103,3
Under 15 days 26 7 26 3 4 66 1 - 95,0
15 – 30 days 253 26 50 2 7 237 5 - 102,3
 1 – 2 months 93 3 12 - 4 111 9 - 109,6
 2 – 3 months 58 7 4 - 1 86 6 - 107,6
 3 – 6 months 24 15 2 1 - 31 2 - 113,5
 6 – 12 months 2 4 1 - 1 14 - - 71,4

3. COURTS DECISIONS AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES OR OTHER MEASURES, BY TYPE OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES, 2021

    Total Criminal offences against
Life and limb Personal freedom Sexual freedom Sexual maltreatment and sexual exploitation of children Marriage, family and children People˙s health Public safety Safety in traffic
Total 14 471 870 2 343 127 133 1 173 841 154 906
Women 2 073 71 218 2 4 223 82 11 172
Convicted persons 12 286 702 1 901 97 115 1 031 786 103 866
Women 1 736 56 176 2 4 187 71 7 159
Not convicted persons 2 185 168 442 30 18 142 55 51 40
Rebuff 79 3 13 - - 4 3 1 -
Terminated criminal proceeding 890 70 171 9 4 73 15 19 19
Judgement of acquittal 652 39 73 13 8 22 25 23 16
Judgement rejecting charges 386 29 110 8 2 21 12 3 5
Mentally incompetent persons – coercive accommodation or outward treatment 178 27 75 - 4 22 - 5 -
Criminal penalties and other measures – total 12 286 702 1 901 97 115 1 031 786 103 866
Imprisonment – unsuspended 2 047 159 213 42 56 75 207 24 76
Long-term imprisonment 4 4 - - - - - - -
20 years 4 - - - - - - - -
15 – 20 years - - - - - - - - -
10 – 15 years 21 9 - 1 1 - 1 - -
5 – 10 years 41 12 - 7 5 - 3 - 3
3 – 5 years 121 22 1 9 13 - 18 1 11
2 – 3 years 137 14 2 8 5 4 27 - 7
1 – 2 years 412 18 27 6 9 21 46 8 16
6 – 12 months 1 055 65 130 10 22 44 107 14 35
3 – 6 months 235 13 50 1 1 6 5 1 4
Up to 3 months 17 2 3 - - - - - -
Fine – unsuspended 96 2 8 - - 2 9 - 20
Suspended imprisonment 9 893 531 1 670 55 49 954 525 78 735
Partially suspended imprisonment 660 26 56 8 19 82 90 3 25
Suspended fine 145 1 6 - - - 10 - 25
Judicial admonition - - - - - - - - -
Educational measures 50 6 4 - 5 - 10 - 5
Juvenile imprisonment 2 - - - - - 1 - 1
Suspension of juvenile imprisonment 51 3 - - 5 - 24 - 3
Convicted, but no penal sentence 2 - - - - - - 1 1
Fine as additional penalty 382 4 3 1 - 1 83 - 3
Security measures 805 79 267 9 15 149 48 10 101
Confiscation of pecuniary benefit acquired by a criminal offence 788 2 - 2 1 - 153 - -
Confiscation of objects 2 180 53 117 6 16 14 533 14 4
Substitution of imprisonment or fine (community sanctions) 575 41 63 5 10 23 77 7 25
Previous convictions 2 995 158 444 28 21 214 177 20 39
Duration of investigative imprisonment 2 554 190 503 46 59 203 235 25 27
 Under 30 days 841 52 143 15 11 46 60 9 15
 30 days – 3 months 673 40 190 7 15 61 56 7 8
 3 –  6 months 634 30 133 10 9 77 60 5 1
 6 – 12 months 276 27 37 5 12 18 32 3 3
12 – 18 months 75 16 - 7 4 1 19 1 -
18 – 24 months 28 9 - 1 6 - 5 - -
2 – 4 years 27 16 - 1 2 - 3 - -

3. COURTS DECISIONS AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES OR OTHER MEASURES, BY TYPE OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES, 2021

(continued)                  
    Criminal offences against Other criminal offences Secondary criminal legislation (apart from Penal Code) Indices
2021
2020
Property Economy Counterfeiting Official duty Judiciary Public order
Total 4 145 789 997 170 202 953 650 18 106,3
Women 688 128 165 29 72 52 149 7 108,9
Convicted persons 3 605 607 897 111 176 880 391 18 105,6
Women 594 107 155 22 64 48 77 7 110,9
Not convicted persons 540 182 100 59 26 73 259 - 110,3
Rebuff 11 3 2 3 6 - 30 - 80,6
Terminated criminal proceeding 224 79 23 18 4 23 139 - 119,8
Judgement of acquittal 173 64 66 24 14 29 63 - 94,6
Judgement rejecting charges 107 36 8 14 2 3 26 - 121,0
Mentally incompetent persons – coercive accommodation or outward treatment 25 - 1 - - 18 1 - 134,8
Criminal penalties and other measures – total 3 605 607 897 111 176 880 391 18 105,6
Imprisonment – unsuspended 761 107 50 40 19 179 39 - 105,8
Long-term imprisonment - - - - - - - - 66,7
20 years - - - - - - 4 - 400,0
15 – 20 years - - - - - - - - -
10 – 15 years - - - - - - 9 - 233,3
5 – 10 years 1 2 - 3 - - 5 - 102,5
3 – 5 years 36 5 1 - - 2 2 - 94,5
2 – 3 years 40 11 1 4 - 13 1 - 119,1
1 – 2 years 135 27 8 9 - 76 6 - 109,9
6 – 12 months 429 56 30 15 13 78 7 - 104,0
3 – 6 months 110 6 10 9 6 9 4 - 101,3
Up to 3 months 10 - - - - 1 1 - 113,3
Fine – unsuspended 13 9 2 - 6 2 23 - 98,0
Suspended imprisonment 2 786 486 832 71 149 685 274 13 105,6
Partially suspended imprisonment 154 23 15 8 1 141 9 - 119,1
Suspended fine 13 5 12 - 2 12 54 5 107,4
Judicial admonition - - - - - - - - -
Educational measures 18 - - - - 1 1 - 119,0
Juvenile imprisonment - - - - - - - - 40,0
Suspension of juvenile imprisonment 14 - 1 - - 1 - - 110,9
Convicted, but no penal sentence - - - - - - - - 28,6
Fine as additional penalty 60 65 7 13 - 130 12 - 118,3
Security measures 92 4 3 5 2 18 3 - 116,0
Confiscation of pecuniary benefit acquired by a criminal offence 372 113 23 26 - 76 20 - 98,0
Confiscation of objects 199 181 533 9 7 441 53 - 118,0
Substitution of imprisonment or fine (community sanctions) 198 35 14 21 11 43 2 - 100,2
Previous convictions 1 367 146 100 18 44 159 57 3 100,0
Duration of investigative imprisonment 600 80 147 30 8 377 24 - 104,2
 Under 30 days 203 59 106 21 2 85 14 - 113,5
 30 days – 3 months 143 6 26 5 4 102 3 - 92,3
 3 –  6 months 160 7 8 - 1 129 4 - 109,7
 6 – 12 months 72 7 5 1 1 52 1 - 95,2
12 – 18 months 13 - 2 3 - 9 - - 129,3
18 – 24 months 6 1 - - - - - - 107,7
2 –  4 years 3 - - - - - 2 - 90,0

G-1.  REPORTED, ACCUSED AND CONVICTED ADULT PERSONS, 2020 AND 2021

Number of persons

G-2.  CONVICTED ADULT PERSONS, BY CRIMINAL PENALTIES OR OTHER MEASURES, 2021

G-3.  REPORTED, ACCUSED AND CONVICTED ADULT PERSONS, 2012 – 2021

Number of persons

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Source and methods of data collection

On the basis of the Official Statistics Act (NN, No. 25/20), data on criminal offences of adult reported, accused and convicted persons are collected by regular statistical surveys, which use the following statistical reports: the Statistical Report for an Adult against Whom Criminal Proceedings Based on Crime Report and the Interlocutory Proceedings Have Been Concluded (SK-1 form) and the Statistical Report for an Accused Adult against Whom Criminal Proceedings Have Been Validly Concluded (SK-2 form).

Statistical reports are filled in by competent public prosecutor’s offices after the final decision has taken place as well as county and municipal courts of first instance that act after the criminal procedure was validly concluded. Observation units are adult perpetrators of criminal offences, who can be either direct perpetrators, accomplices, instigators or assistants.

On 1 January 2013, the new Penal Code (NN, Nos 125/11, 144/12, 56/15, 61/15 – correction, 101/17, 118/18, 126/19 and 84/21) entered into force. This code, besides implementing new and modifying existing general institutes of material criminal law, prescribes a new catalogue of criminal offences.

Coverage

Statistical surveys cover all adult perpetrators of criminal offences, whether reported, accused or convicted, in order to examine the volume and spread of crime for the whole territory of the Republic of Croatia.

Definitions

Crime, in terms of statistical surveys, ranges from reporting a criminal offence to the valid conclusion of legal proceedings by a public prosecutor’s office, that is, to pronouncing a valid court decision.

Adult perpetrators of criminal offences are persons who turned 18 at the time of committing the criminal offence and against whom proceedings based on crime report and interlocutory proceedings have been concluded and accused persons (including those who were charged on the basis of private suit) against whom legal proceedings have been validly concluded.

Person reported as known perpetrator is an adult perpetrator of a criminal offence against whom proceedings based on crime report and interlocutory proceedings have been concluded with a decision by which either the crime report is rejected, or the investigation was interrupted, or the investigation was terminated, or indictment was submitted.

Person reported as an unknown perpetrator is, starting with the 2015 reference year, an unknown person who was reported for a criminal offence to the public prosecutor. Until the end of 2014 reference year, an unknown perpetrator was defined as an unknown person who was reported for a criminal offence to the public prosecutor and who remains unknown even after one year from the day of the submission of the crime report. This change is expected to have a limited influence on data on total reported perpetrators as well as on reported unknown perpetrators, as it can be expected that a certain number of initially unknown perpetrators’ identities will be revealed during the same year, consequently resulting in double counting.

Accused person is an adult person against whom an indictment, accusatory motion or private suit is filed before the court, against whom criminal proceedings have been concluded with a valid court decision by which the proceedings are terminated, indictment is dropped, the person is acquitted, the accusation is rejected, a mentally incompetent person is assigned to a coercive accommodation or outward treatment or a perpetrator is convicted.

Younger adult person is a person who turned 18 but not yet 21 years of age at the time of committing a criminal offence to whom court may pronounce educational measures consisting of special obligations, increased supervision and juvenile imprisonment. In case a perpetrator did not turn 21 years of age, the court may also pronounce educational measure of assignment to a centre for disciplinary development and correctional institution measure. To a perpetrator who turns 21 years of age during the trial, a court may pronounce imprisonment instead of juvenile imprisonment sentence, within the boundaries that apply for the duration of the juvenile imprisonment.

Convicted person is a convicted adult person against whom the following criminal penalties or other measures have been pronounced: imprisonment, fine, educational measures, judicial admonition (milder act principle) and a convicted person, but no sentence has been imposed.

 

Abbreviations    
       
NN Narodne novine, official gazette of the Republic of Croatia
       
Symbols      
       
- no occurrence  
0,0 value not zero but less than 0.05 of the unit of measure used

 

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