Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - II. The Swedish People - 3. National Character and Social Conditions. Introd. by [G. Sundbärg] J. Asproth - Criminality. By [G. Sundbärg] G. Adolf Larsson - Customs and Mode of Life. By [G. Sundbärg and J. P. Velander] Einar J:son Thulin and V. Själander
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CUSTOMS AND MODE OF LIFE. 167
Table 32. Frequency of Grime by Läns.
Län No. of persons condemned for serious crimes annually per 100 000 inh. (1901—10)
Stockholm (urban area) (max) 200-75
Stockholm (län)...... 5310
Uppsala.......... 42-73
Södermanland....... 27-01
Östergötland........ 35-22
Jönköping ......... 21-14
Kronoberg (min.)...... 16-45
Kalmar.......... 32-02
Gottland.......... 35-81
Blekinge.......... 45-77
Kristianstad........ 29-88
Malmöhus......... 56-34
Halland.......... 30-67
Göteborg och Bohus .... 65-11
Älvsborg....................27-67
Skaraborg|..................19’6 5
Värmland..................28’16
Örebro......................3334
Västmanland................44’46
Kopparberg..................37’95
Gävleborg..................64’20
Västernorrland..............50’89
Jämtland....................38’86
Västerbotten................27’41
Norrbotten..................4453
Entire Kingdom 4935
which are not expiable with fines. For minor crimes, during the period 1906
—10, were annually condemned 197 persons per 100 000 inh. (1891—95: 185),
and for misdemeanours (maximum fine imposed 100 kr.) 989, (respectively 602).
The larger proportion of the latter, viz., 935 per 100 000 inh., were cases of
drunkenness.
Remark. The figures given in this article — the completion of an essay by the låte
Gustav Sundbärg — are based npon the information afforded by the official statistics,
and consequently the present arrangement must be retained.
A distribution of all offences committed, according to their anti-social tendency and
represented by the varying severity of the penalties imposed, wonld no doubt throw a
clearer light upon the real conditions of criminality. Farther, it would be better to
reckon the number of crimes and offenders not as a percentage of the whole population,
but as a percentage of that part of the population which had attained penal majority (cf.
the Tables). Also more detailed information as to different offences, the relative
criminality of the urban and rural populations, particulars as to female and youthful offenders,
the frequency of relapse, etc. would be of great interest for a dne estimation of the
tendencies of criminality. It has not been possible, however, here to make such a
re-arrangement of the official statistical material. An interesting survey from these points of view —
however, only for the period 1881—1910 and in Swedish — is given by L. Widell,
Di-rector-in-Chief of Royal Central Bureau of Statistics, in a lecture upon "The Evolution
Tendencies of Criminality in Sweden" (Proceedings of the Society of Swedish Criminalists,
1913). The conclusions arrived at, which correspond on the whole with the particulars
given above, can be summed up as follows: The evolution tendencies of criminality in
Sweden, as far as they can be judged from statistical information, are in several respects
in-contestably satisfactory. A decline in criminality among women, a diminution in frequency
of relapse, a general fall in the number of crimes against the individual and against property
— these are all to be considered as matters for rejoicing. Not encouraging, however, are
the tendencies regarding the offences against public authority and sexual crimes.
Customs and Mode of Life.
The customs and mode of life of the Swedish people have, like those of
other peoples, in the course of the last few decades undergone changes
in many respects. The standard of life has been raised, national
idiosyncrasies have been rubbed off under the influence of a more lively
intercourse with other lands, and the divergencies between different parts of
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