Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/866

 NOTES AND ABSTRACTS.

Criminality in France in 1895. — The official statistics for 1895 show an impor- tant decrease in crime in France. For a number of years there has been a diminution of crime, coincident with the development of instruction and the progress of civiliza- tion. This diminution is not always apparent from the crude figures of statistics. But those who believe crime is increasing overlook the fact that population has increased, that the law now specifies as crime many things that formerly existed unchecked, that the police is more effective in bringing crime to light, and that public opinion is more sensitive. But in 1895 even the crude figures show the diminution. Thus, in 1894 there were 1451 indictments and 1704 accused of crimes against persons, and 1402 indictments and 227J accused of crimes against property, while in 1895 there were only 1302 indictments and 1562 accusations for crimes against persons, and 1124 indict- ments and 1991 accusations for crimes against property. Up to 1892 indictments for crimes against property exceeded those for crimes against persons, while the reverse was the case in 1893, 1894, 1895. The total number of indictments for crimes against persons and property from 1886 to 1895 was successively: 3252,3164,3126, 2950, 2982, 2939, 2949, 3035, 2853, 2526. The total number of accused for the same years was: 4397, 4298, 4258, 41 13, 4078, 4207, 4096, 4269, 3975, 3553.

The statistics for homicide, extending over fifty years ( 1 845-95 ), also show a decrease, though not so marked. Assassination and murder together show an increase in 1895 over the years 1845, 1855, 1865, and 1875, but a diminution from the years 1885, 1893, and 1894 ; 'h^ increase of these crimes for the fifty years is proportionally more than the increase of population. But there is a decrease in the number of cases of poison- ing and of parricide during the same period, which compensates for the increase of murder and assassination, so that the proportion of homicides to the total population was, in 1895, 1.30 per 100,000 inhabitants, as against 1.50 per 100,000 in 1845, and 1.47 in 1893. This proportion places France below England (0.48) and Germany (0.85), but in advance of Belgium (2.41), Spain (4.17), Italy (6.45), and the United States (11 to 12).

Homicide is most frequent in Corsica (22 per 100,000) and in the southeastern departments, where the passionate Italian element is strong. Then follows the depart- ment of the Seine, including Paris (2.44). The smallest proportion is found in the Jura, the most advanced department from the cultural point of view (0.29). No rule is apparent in the distribution of homicides : industrial and rural, northern and south- em, eastern and western departments are mingled in confusion in the classification. Yet, aside from the southeastern districts and Paris, homicides are most numerous in the rural departments.

With respect to sex, women commit 15 per cent, of the homicides in France, as against 21 per cent, in England, and 5 per cent, in the United States. If infanticide is included, the proportion rises to 37 per cent.

The number of those accused of rape against adults decreased between the years 1875 and 1895 from 186 to 87, and against children, from 831 to 519. The rural departments show the greatest number of assaults upon children.

The number of indictments for theft decreased from 1238 in 1875 to 975 in 1890 and 707 in 1895. Prosecutions for arson have decreased regularly for many years, the record for the five years ending with 1895 being 215, 196, 190, 168, 157.

Until 1S94 there had been a constant and rapid increase of crime among minors from sixteen to twenty-one years of age. But in 1895 there was a sudden fall — j0,763, as against 32,317 in 1894. This improvement is especially shown with refer- ence to theft.

This decrease in criminality is the more striking as it coincides with a general

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