PERPETRATORS OF MISDEMEANOURS, BY TYPE OF MISDEMEANOUR, 2023

In 2023, there were 93 938 accused adult perpetrators of misdemeanours, which represents a decrease of 5.9% compared to 2022, while the number of those found guilty decreased by 7.0% compared to the previous year.

The number of accused juvenile perpetrators of misdemeanours amounted to 2 021 in 2023, which represents an increase of 2.0% compared to 2022, while the number of those found guilty decreased by 19.5% compared to the previous year.

In 2023, there were 11 082 accused legal entities – perpetrators of misdemeanours, which represents a decrease of 21.1% compared to 2022, while the number of those recognised as responsible decreased by 21.4% compared to the previous year.

The number of accused persons in charge – perpetrators of misdemeanours amounted to 10 881 in 2023, which represents a decrease of 23.2% compared to 2022, while the number of those who were found guilty decreased by 22.8% compared to the previous year.

Adult perpetrators of misdemeanours committed most misdemeanours in the field of safety in traffic (51.2%) and juvenile perpetrators in the field of public order and peace and general safety (58.0%). Legal entities as well as persons in charge committed most misdemeanours in the field of financial activities (45.2% of legal entities and 49.5% of persons in charge).

G-2  JUVENILES, BY PRONOUNCED SENTENCES, 2023

G-3  LEGAL ENTITIES AND PERSONS IN CHARGE, BY TYPE OF DECISION, 2023

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

On the basis of the Official Statistics Act (NN, No. 25/20), data on misdemeanours committed by adult and juvenile persons as well as by legal entities and persons in charge are collected by regular statistical surveys, which use the following statistical reports: the Statistical Report for Accused Adult against Whom Misdemeanour Proceedings Have Been Validly Concluded (SPK-1 form), the Statistical Report for Accused Juvenile against Whom Misdemeanour Proceedings Have Been Validly Concluded (SPK-2 form) and the Statistical Report for Legal Entity and Person in Charge against Whom Misdemeanour Proceedings Have Been Validly Concluded (SPK-3 form).

Statistical reports are filled in by competent municipal courts as well as by competent state administration bodies, authorised to adjudicate in misdemeanour proceedings: tax administration offices, regional customs offices, harbour master’s offices, management body of air traffic and financial inspectorate.

The Misdemeanour Act (NN, Nos 107/07, 39/13, 157/13, 110/15, 70/17, 118/18 and 114/22) was put into effect on 1 January 2008 and, since then, it has been applied in statistical surveys.

Coverage

Statistical surveys cover all perpetrators of misdemeanours – adults, juveniles, legal entities and persons in charge – in order to examine the volume and spread of misdemeanours for the whole territory of the Republic of Croatia.

Definitions

Misdemeanours are conducts that violate or threaten public order, social discipline or other social values guaranteed and protected by the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, national and international laws, the protection of which is not possible without the misdemeanour system of sanctions and is not achieved through the penal coercion.

In regard of statistical surveys, misdemeanours cover an occurrence that starts with reporting a committed misdemeanour and ends with a valid conclusion of proceedings done by a competent misdemeanour body.

Adult perpetrator of misdemeanour is a person who turned 18 at the time of committing a misdemeanour, and against whom misdemeanour proceedings have been validly concluded by either a decision on termination of the proceedings, judgement on rejection of charges, judgement of acquittal, or a decision by which a person is found guilty.

Juvenile perpetrator of misdemeanour is a person who, at the time of committing a misdemeanour, turned 14 but not yet 18 years of age, and against whom misdemeanour proceedings have been validly concluded by either a decision on termination of the proceedings, decision by which person is found guilty (juveniles between 16 and18 years of age who were sentenced by juvenile imprisonment or fine).

According to the Misdemeanour Act (NN, Nos 107/07, 39/13, 157/13, 110/15, 70/17, 118/18 and 114/22), educational measure is applied to a juvenile perpetrator of misdemeanour by court‘s decision. In the pronunciation of the decision, it is only stated which measure is applied, but the juvenile perpetrator is not pronounced guilty of the committed misdemeanour.

Person in charge – perpetrator of misdemeanour is a person in charge (director, accountant manager, cashier etc.) in a legal entity (trade company, state body etc.) against whom misdemeanour proceedings have been validly concluded by either a decision on termination of the proceedings, judgement on rejection of charges, judgement of acquittal, or a decision by which person is found guilty.

Legal entities – perpetrators of misdemeanours are domestic legal entities (for example, trade companies, state bodies, unions and alike) as well as foreign entities considered as legal entities under Croatian law, against which misdemeanour proceedings have been validly concluded by either a decision on termination of the proceedings, judgement on rejection of charges, judgement of acquittal, or a decision by which legal entity has been find responsible.

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 111
Press corner: press@dzs.hr

Persons responsible:
Dubravka Rogić Hadžalić, Director of Demographic and Social Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Maja Martinac Turčinović and Mario Vlajčević

USERS ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO STATE THE SOURCE.

Customer Relations and Data Protection Department

Information and user requests
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 138, 48 06 154, 48 06 115
E-mail: stat.info@dzs.hr

Subscription
Phone: (+385 1) 21 00 455
E-mail: prodaja@dzs.hr