Defining and Registering Criminal Offences and Measures - Oapen

Sanctions 247
Compared with the last ESB questionnaire that featured a chapter on sanctions
(2nd edition), the only difference of the new table on sentence lengths of unsuspended
custodial sanctions was the restriction to adults. This change did not pose
any significant problems, but helped to improve data quality instead. Data on the
length of sentences imposed upon minors will be subject to remarkable variation
between European countries and were therefore excluded for good. All responding
countries were able to provide information on sentence lengths for most offence
groups.
Data availability was also very good regarding sanctions imposed upon adults
(tables 3.2.1 of the questionnaire). All responding countries were able to provide
information, also differentiated by offence groups. Of course, not every country
was able to provide data for every sanction category provided in the table. This is,
however, not primarily a problem of data availability, but reflects the differences
in criminal law. Not all countries have all possible types of sanctions in their
criminal code. Data availability for sanctions imposed upon minors (table 3.2.2 of
the trial questionnaire) was also very high. Only Poland stated to have no data
available.
3. Final questionnaire and evaluation
For the final questionnaire, the introducing comments on table 3.2.1 and 3.2.2
were modified for clarification reasons. Apart from that, minor editorial changes
were applied since the trial tables 3.2.1 and 3.2.2 accidentally featured an outdated
offence list.
The new versions of these tables, complete with introducing remarks and
technical questions, have the following wording: