A report examined data on drug use among prison populations in Europe, and responses to the health needs of drug-using prisoners.
Source: Prisons and Drugs in Europe: The problem and responses, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Dec
A study identified and mapped existing data and resources on sexual violence against women in the European Union. Domestic violence against women remained widespread and under-reported, and victims of violence were not effectively supported by public services.
Source: The Study to Identify and Map Existing Data and Resources on Sexual Violence against Women in the EU, European Institute for Gender Equality
Links: Report | Summary | EIGE press release | EWL press release
Date: 2012-Nov
An article examined socio-economic inequalities in homicide mortality across Europe. The analysis focused on the 35-64 age group. Educational inequalities in homicide mortality were present in all countries. Absolute inequalities in homicide mortality were larger in the eastern part of Europe and in Finland, consistent with their higher overall homicide rates. Relative inequalities were high in the northern and eastern part of Europe. Patterns were less consistent among women. Socio-economic inequalities in homicide were thus a universal phenomenon in Europe. Wide-ranging social and inter-sectoral health policies were needed to address the risk of violent victimization, targeting both potential offenders and victims.
Source: Andrew Stickley et al., 'Socioeconomic inequalities in homicide mortality: a population-based comparative study of 12 European countries', European Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 27 Number 11
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Nov
A report said that hate crime in the EU was increasing, despite the 'best efforts' of member states to root it out. Verbal abuse, physical attacks, and murders motivated by prejudice affected a wide range of groups, including visible minorities to those with disabilities. A linked report examined victims' experiences.
Source: Making Hate Crime Visible in the European Union: Acknowledging victims rights, European Agency for Fundamental Rights | Minorities as Victims of Crime, European Agency for Fundamental Rights
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | FRA press release
Date: 2012-Nov
A new book examined the development of criminal law in the context of the European Union, asked whether this had led to a European criminal policy, and considered the legal effects of European-level initiatives on national criminal law and on suspects.
Source: Samuli Miettinen, Criminal Law and Policy in the European Union, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Nov
A report examined trends in reoffending in Scotland, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Norway, and New Zealand. A 'typical' range of re-offending (measured via re-imprisonment) in national studies was 30–50 per cent).
Source: Sarah Armstrong and Fergus McNeill, Reducing Reoffending: Review of selected countries, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Nov
A new book examined the doctrine laid down by the European Court of Human Rights on the relationship between counter-terrorism measures and human rights.
Source: Ana Salinas de Frias, Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights in the Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Nov
A paper examined the implications of protocol 36 to the Lisbon Treaty, which gave the United Kingdom the right to opt out en bloc of all the police and criminal justice measures adopted under the Treaty of Maastricht ahead of the date when the Court of Justice would acquire jurisdiction in relation to them. It challenged the assumption by those who advocated using the opt-out that it would completely remove the UK from the sphere of European Union influence in matters of criminal justice and that it could be exercised cost-free.
Source: Alicia Hinarejos, John Spencer, and Steve Peers, Opting out of EU Criminal Law: What is actually involved?, Working paper 1, Centre for European Legal Studies (University of Cambridge)
Links: Paper | CELS press release
Date: 2012-Oct
The coalition government said that its 'current thinking' was that the United Kingdom would exercise its right to opt out of 130 European Union police and criminal justice measures, and then negotiate with the European Commission and other member states to opt back into those individual measures that it was in the national interest to rejoin.
Source: Debate 15 October 2012, columns 34-45, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Hansard | BBC report | Guardian report | Statewatch analysis
Date: 2012-Oct
A report examined whether the European Union had competence to adopt legislation on hate crimes against groups defined by reference to race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, and religion. It concluded that the best way forward would be to adopt a Directive concerning bias/hate crimes as regards all groups, which would incorporate and strengthen the existing framework decision on racism and xenophobia.
Source: Steve Peers, The Legal Grounds for Inclusive EU Legislation against Bias Violence and Hatred, ILGA Europe
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Oct
The Council of the European Union adopted a Directive establishing minimum standards on the rights, support, and protection of victims of crime. It contained obligations for member states to provide information to victims, such as information on a decision not to proceed with the case. The Directive was also designed to ensure that every victim was offered protection measures during the criminal proceedings in accordance with their needs, and that support measures were available to victims and their families.
Source: Press release 4 October 2012, European Commission
Links: European Commission press release
Date: 2012-Oct
An article compared police performance management in Britain and France. It looked at the relationship between the rise of police performance management and the wider politicization of 'law and order' in both contexts. It then discussed the themes of 'centralization' and 'localism', the dimensions of policing that formed measurements of police performance, the role of 'transparency' and exposure of data in performance management, and the role of 'consumerism'.
Source: Jacques de Maillard and Stephen Savage, 'Comparing performance: the development of police performance management in France and Britain', Policing and Society, Volume 22 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Oct
A report provided a comparative picture of judicial systems in 46 European states and the main trends in judicial policies.
Source: European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice, European Judicial Systems: Edition 2010 (data 2008) – Efficiency and quality of justice, Council of Europe
Links: Report | Council of Europe press release | Guardian report | Full Fact comment
Date: 2012-Sep
An article examined conflicts of justice in Europe. Although European Union law could be understood as an instrument for the incorporation of the demands of justice and the articulation of 'the good' beyond the nation state, it also potentially skewed the distributive criteria and assumptions of justice that underlay the national welfare state. In the absence of a transnational political system that could bound such conflicts of justice, the author suggested that the capacity of the EU to contribute to, rather than detract from, the attainment of justice depended on the careful articulation and institutionalization of the different types of transnational solidarity that existed in Europe.
Source: Floris de Witte, 'Transnational solidarity and the mediation of conflicts of justice in Europe', European Law Journal, Volume 18 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Aug
An article examined whether the confidence of immigrants in European countries in criminal justice institutions could be explained by two counteracting processes: expectations formed in the country of origin and discrimination experienced in the residence country. The data strongly supported the hypothesis that the high confidence of first-generation immigrants could be explained by frames of reference formed in the country of origin. Some, but limited, support was also found for the impact of discrimination.
Source: Antje Roder and Peter Muhlau, 'What determines the trust of immigrants in criminal justice institutions in Europe?', European Journal of Criminology, Volume 9 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Aug
An article described the origins of a programme of comparative research into cross-national variations in public trust in justice and in the police in Europe. It also outlined some of the early findings.
Source: Mike Hough, 'Researching trust in the police and trust in justice: a UK perspective', Policing and Society, Volume 22 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
A new book examined the transition from juvenile to adult crime in Europe and the United States of America. It called for special legal provisions for offenders aged 18-24.
Source: Rolf Loeber and David Farrington (eds), From Juvenile Delinquency to Adult Crime: Criminal careers, justice policy and prevention, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Jul
An article examined the policy implications of a decline in crime in developed countries, focusing on the relationship between crime reduction and social welfare.
Source: Paul Knepper, 'An international crime decline: lessons for social welfare crime policy?', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 46 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
A new book examined the place of social crime prevention (aimed at addressing the root causes of crime) in European scientific discourse. It considered whether there was still a place for social crime prevention in prevention, safety, and security policies; what kind of social causes of crime were tackled in social crime prevention; and how professionals committed to social crime prevention reacted to recent changes affecting the welfare state.
Source: Patrick Hebberecht and Evelyne Baillergeau (eds.), Social Crime Prevention in Late Modern Europe: A comparative perspective, ASP
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Jun
The European Commission published a strategy designed to tackle human trafficking, bringing together a wide range of legislative and policy measures to prioritize the protection of children against sexual exploitation, forced labour, begging, criminal activities, and the removal of organs.
Source: The EU Strategy Towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016, European Commission
Links: Strategy | European Commission press release | European Parliament press release
Date: 2012-Jun
A new book examined European Union action to combat terrorism since the attacks of 11 September 2001, and the implications that action had had for the EU legal order.
Source: Cian Murphy, EU Counter-Terrorism Law: Pre-emption and the rule of law, Hart Publishing
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Jun
A report examined mediation and restorative justice in prisons, based on research in Hungary, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium.
Source: Tunde Barabas, Borbala Fellegi, and Szandra Windt (eds.), Responsibility-Taking, Relationship-Building and Restoration in Prisons, National Institute of Criminology, Budapest (Hungary)
Links: Report | Foresee press release
Date: 2012-May
A report examined the recent sharp falls in prison populations experienced by several European countries. It highlighted a number of features in continental justice systems that were associated with a more moderate use of prison. These included: distinctive approaches to young offenders, with higher ages of criminal responsibility and a flexible approach to young adults; large numbers of cases settled by prosecutors rather than proceeding to courts and sentencing; greater availability of mediation and restorative justice options at various stages of the process; less severe sentencing tariffs; and infrequent use of life and indeterminate sentences.
Source: Rob Allen, Reducing the Use of Imprisonment: What can we learn from Europe?, Criminal Justice Alliance
Links: Report
Date: 2012-May
An article said that the immigrant share in crime figures in Europe varied greatly from country to country. This suggested that the non-national contribution to crime was not associated with immigration as such, but with the contexts in which immigration occurred and features of the immigration inflow. In particular, 'culture, respect for rights and universalism' in the host countries were associated with lower immigrant crime.
Source: Luigi Solivetti, 'Looking for a fair country: features and determinants of immigrants involvement in crime in Europe', Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Volume 51 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
A new book examined the relationship between changes in state security regimes and the right to religious freedom in the European Union.
Source: Karen Murphy, State Security Regimes and the Right to Freedom of Religion and Belief: Changes in Europe since 2001, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-May
An article examined the trust of the police in citizens in Europe. It compared the level of generalized trust among police officers and other respondents. The analysis to some extent supported the assumption of cynicism among the police. However, the generalized trust of those working in the police forces closely reflected the level of generalized trust in the society as a whole. In countries where citizens generally trusted each other, the police also trusted the citizens: in countries with a low level of trust in general, the police were also cynical towards citizens.
Source: Juha Kaariainen, and Reino Siren, 'Do the police trust in citizens? European comparisons', European Journal of Criminology, Volume 9 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
A new book examined the constitutional principles underlying European Union criminal law.
Source: Ester Herlin-Karnell, The Constitutional Dimension of European Criminal Law, Hart Publishing
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-May
A new book examined whether public security could be enhanced in the face of new global threats without undermining justice, human rights, and the rule of law.
Source: Barbara Hudson and Synnove Ugelvik (eds.), Justice and Security in the 21st Century: Risks, rights and the rule of law, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Mar
An article examined the socio-economic causes of terrorism and political violence in a sample of 12 countries in western Europe. The larger the set of existing economic opportunities for individuals, the lower the likelihood or the willingness for them to be involved in a terrorist activity. Terrorist brutality (measured in people killed) was positively associated with real national income per capita.
Source: Raul Caruso and Friedrich Schneider, 'The socio-economic determinants of terrorism and political violence in western Europe (1994-2007)', European Journal of Political Economy, Volume 27 Supplement 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Mar
A paper examined trafficking for labour exploitation in Europe. It considered the practical and conceptual implications of the expansion of initiatives to trafficking outside the sex sector, especially for service providers and for those seeking assistance.
Source: Nerea Bilbatua Thomas and Xenia Commandeur, More Trafficking Less Trafficked : Trafficking for exploitation outside the sex sector in Europe, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Mar
A new book examined national probation systems in Europe in the light of the Framework Directive (2008) allowing the recognition and supervision of probation measures in a member state other than the one that pronounced the sentence.
Source: Daniel Flore, Stephanie Bosly, Amandine Honhon, and Jacqueline Maggio (eds.), Probation Measures and Alternative Sanctions in the European Union, Intersentia
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Mar
A report by a committee of peers said that the European Union drugs strategy had been successful in providing a guiding framework within which member states could formulate their national drug policies. It said that the next phase of the strategy should concentrate on areas where the EU could make a major contribution, such as the co-ordination of the fight against drug trafficking.
Source: The EU Drugs Strategy, 26th Report (Session 2010-12), HL 270, House of Lords European Union Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Mar
A new book examined the processes and factors shaping the development of homeland security policies in the European Union, within the wider context of European integration.
Source: Christian Kaunert, Sarah Leonard, and Patryk Pawlak (eds.), European Homeland Security: A European strategy in the making?, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Mar
A report drew on results from the European Social Survey to examine trust in criminal justice systems. People in Nordic countries were the most trusting of their police and courts and believed that their institutions were legitimate holders of power and authority: whereas people in eastern and sometimes southern European countries tended to be less trusting.
Source: Jonathan Jackson, Mike Hough, Ben Bradford, Tia Pooler, Katrin Hohl, and Jouni Kuha, Trust in Justice: Topline results from round 5, ESS Central Coordinating Team, City University
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Jan
A new book examined the security threats, both new and traditional, confronting Europe – including new forms of nationalism; ethnic conflict and civil war; information technology; biological and chemical warfare; resource conflicts; pandemics; mass migrations; transnational terrorism; and environmental dangers.
Source: Peter Burgess and Serge Gutwirth, A Threat Against Europe: Security, migration and integration , Institute for European Studies
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Jan
A report highlighted the United Kingdom's option under the Lisbon Treaty to use a 'block opt-out' to repatriate 130 European Union crime and policing laws that had been adopted before the Treaty came into force. If the UK did not opt out, it would have to accept the European Court of Justice's full powers of jurisdiction over these laws from December 2014.
Source: Stephen Booth, Christopher Howarth, and Vincenzo Scarpetta, An Unavoidable Choice: More or less EU control over UK policing and criminal law, Open Europe
Links: Report | Open Europe press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-Jan
