Statistical presentation

Data description

The statistics on convicted persons form part of the criminal statistics. The criminal statistics include statistics on criminal cases from reported crimes and victims to convictions and also arrests and imprisonments.

The statistics on convicted persons are person-based statistics, which shed light on the number of persons convicted for violation of the penal code, the road traffic act and other special legislation. The convictions include imprisonments, fines and withdrawals of charges. The statistics do not contain information on all fines as fines for violation of the road traffic act less than DKK 2,500 and fines of less than DKK 1,000 for the violation of most of the other special laws are not registered in the Central Criminal Register, which is the data source of the statistics.

The conviction concerns the main case as more than one case can be decided in the same conviction. The police chooses one of the cases (typically the most serious) as the main case in a complex of cases. One perpetrator can have one or several convictions during a year.

In the published statistics the convicted persons are classified into sex, age, municipality, national origin, country of origin and type of offence and conviction. From 2018-2021 also into citizenship and from 2021 into socio economic status and education. For the purpose of comparing the level of criminality among different groups of national origin a standardised index of criminality is calculated. In calculating the index adjustments of the different age and socio-economic composition in the groups are made. For each person a weight representing the exact period the person has been resident in Denmark during the year is calculated.

Documentation of the variables in the statistics is available on The website of statistics Denmark.

Classification system

Origin, municipalities and regions plus grouping of the types of decisions and of codes of the criminal offences. The criminal offences are divided into the penal code, the road traffic act and special law/legislation. The penal code is furthermore divided into four subgroups: Sexual offences, Crimes of violence, Offences against property and Other offences. The most special laws/legislation are referred to as single acts, while the rest are categorised as 'Other special laws/legislations'.

The provisions of the Danish Criminal Code regarding sexual offences went through essential amendments taking effect from 1 July 2013. The amendments resulted in e.g. more categories of sexual offences than previously being placed under the provisions about rape (section 216). See more: Rape A new concept of consent regarding rape is taking effect from 1st of January 2021 which has resulted in new ways for the police to register offences regarding rape. This has to be taken into account when comparing data over time.

Sector coverage

Not relevant for these statistics.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Type of decision: Nature of the sentence passed. This can be an unconditional or a suspended prison sentence, a fine, discharge or dismissal of charge, withdrawal of a charge, sentence to treatment, acquittal etc. Overall, a distinction is made between two types of decisions: verdicts of guilty and verdicts of not guilty. Acquittal and withdrawal of a charge are verdicts of not guilty, whereas all other types of decisions are verdicts of guilty.

Type of offence: Type of offence describes the kind of law violation which the conviction concerns. The criminal offences are divided into the penal code, the road traffic act and special law/legislation. Violations of the penal code are grouped in sexual offences, crimes of violence, offences against property and other offences. The most special laws/legislation are referred to as single acts, while the rest are categorized as 'Other special laws/legislations'. The grouping of offense codes used is available here: Violations of the penalcode.

Origin: Origin states whether a person is immigrant, descendant or of Danish origin. For immigrants and descendant it is also stated which country they origin from and whether it is a western or a non-western country.

Statistical unit

The unit in the statistics on convicted persons is persons. One person can be represented several times in the statistics if the person has been convicted for more than one type of offence. E.g., if a person has been convicted for violation of the penal code but also for violation of the road traffic act the person will count both under the penal code and the road traffic act. Similarly, if a person has been convicted for more than one of the main groups of penal code offences, e.g. both crimes of violence and offences against property, the person will count both places. Finally, if a person has been convicted for more than one type of violence offences, the person will only count under the type of violence offence for which the most severe penalty has been sentenced. Similar circumstances applies to subgroups of sexual offences, offences against property, other penal code offences, road traffic act offences and special law offences.

Statistical population

The population covered by the statistics is persons, who have been found guilty in one or several violations of the penal code, the road traffic act and/or the special laws during a calendar year. All convictions registered in the Central Criminal Register before data are delivered to Statistics Denmark, are covered by the statistics. The data are typically delivered about 1 February following the relevant calendar year.

All convictions concerning violation of the penal code, the firearms act, act on hunting, euphoriants act and specific violations of the aliens act, act on customs duties and act on the prevention of cruelty to animals are included in the statistics.

Decisions concerning other special laws than the above mentioned are also included in the statistics except for fines less than DKK 1,000. Similarly, fines less than DKK 2,500 for violation of the road traffic act are not included in the statistics. However, fines less than DKK 1,000/DKK 2,500 are included in the statistics provided the fine is a reduced fine and the normal amount is higher than the mentioned amounts. Only persons who are residents of Denmark 1 January and/or 31 December the year in question are covered by the statistics. That is, persons both immigrated and emigrated during the year, are not included.

Reference area

Denmark, except the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Time coverage

The statistics covers the period from 1995 and onwards.

Base period

Not relevant for these statistics.

Unit of measure

Number.

Reference period

01-01-2023 - 31-12-2023

Frequency of dissemination

Annual.

Legal acts and other agreements

The Act on Statistics Denmark section 6.

There is no EU Regulation related to the statistics on convictions.

Cost and burden

There is no response burden as the statistics are based on registers.

Comment

Convicted persons have a Subject page.