As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), a total of 813,300 persons were finally convicted of crimes or offences in Germany in 2010. 687,200 persons convicted were counted in the former territory of the Federal Republic (including Berlin) and 126,100 in the new Länder.
Six out of ten investigation proceedings discontinued in 2009
Press release
No.
080
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2011-02-28In 2009, about 2.5 million out of 4.1 million finally completed investigation proceedings were discontinued by the public prosecution offices, which is a rate of 62%. As the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reported, the discontinuation rate in Germany increased slightly over the last few years – in 2000 it had amounted to 60%. Some 33% of investigation proceedings were discontinued because the offence could not be proved, 24% for reasons of discretion, as it is called, and without any conditions being imposed, and another 5% subject to certain conditions, for instance that a specified amount of money be paid to a non-profit institution.
Number of persons convicted further decreasing in 2009
Press release
No.
388
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2010-10-27As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), a total of 844,500 persons were finally convicted of crimes or offences in Germany in 2009. 710,600 persons convicted were counted in the former territory of the Federal Republic (including Berlin) and 133,900 in the new Länder.
2008: In seven of ten prison sentences execution is suspended
Press release
No.
382
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2009-10-08As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, a total of 874,700 persons were finally convicted of crimes or offences in Germany in 2008. Compared with the previous year, the number of persons convicted fell slightly. The decline against 2007 (898,000) amounted to some 3%.
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No.
299
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2008-08-20As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), nearly 75,200 prisoners served a sentence in German penal institutions or were only temporarily absent (for example due to leave from retention) on 30 November 2007. Hence, the rate of detention per 100,000 registered inhabitants was 91 in Germany. In 2000, the rate of detention for Germany was still 98. Since then, that rate has been on the decrease, as is also the case with absolute figures. The decrease is primarily due to the trend observed for detainees awaiting trial. Between 2000 and 2007, the number of detainees awaiting trial decreased by 31% (from 18,300 to 12,600), mainly because of different measures taken to avoid detention.
2006: More than two thirds of all sentences passed were fines
Press release
No.
439
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2007-11-01As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, a total of 751,400 persons were finally convicted of crimes or offences in the former territory of the Federal Republic (including Berlin) in 2006. Data for the entire territory of the new Länder are not available yet. Another 123,300 persons convicted were counted in the new Länder (excluding Sachsen-Anhalt) in 2006.
Press release
No.
517
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2006-12-11A total of 64,512 persons served a sentence of imprisonment or youth custody in a German jail on 31 March or were held in preventive detention. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, the total number of convicted prisoners had thus reached a new high in unified Germany. Some 90 prisoners and persons held in preventive detention were in jail per 100,000 persons of the population having attained the age of criminal responsibility (from 14 years), one year earlier the figure had been 89, and ten years before 67 men and women had been imprisoned.
Press release
No.
453
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2004-10-28As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, 736,300 persons in the former territory of the Federal Republic including Berlin were, in 2003, finally convicted for having committed crimes or offences, which was an increase of 2% compared with 2002.
