Une « bonne » statistique pour la lutte contre la criminalité? Observations sur les origines de la statistique criminelle en Allemagne au XIXe et au début du XXe siècle

In: Déviance et société, Volume 22, Issue 2, p. 113-125

Abstract

German criminal statistics which covered the whole of Germany started in 1882. There were a number of events which precipitated them : the foundation of the German empire in 1871, and the introduction of the Imperial penal code in 1871, as well as that of the penal procedural code and legislation concerning judicial organisation in 1879. During the first half of the nineteenth century, penal statistics from different states of the German Federation were not comparable. None the less, even during this period, German intellectuals, including judges and statisticians, were questioning the validity and reliability of the penal statistics in a relatively modern fashion. The aim of the article is to analyse this discussion and to show its impact on contemporary views about criminality.