Nationality, Crime, and Criminal Justice in France (From Ethnicity, Crime, and Immigration: Comparative and Cross-National Perspectives, P 523-551, 1997, Michael Tonry, ed. - See NCJ-165170)

• NCJ Number: 165180
• Author(s): P Tournier
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 29 pages
• Sale Source: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Research on the involvement of immigrants in crime in France and on the response of the criminal justice system is reviewed.

Abstract

The analysis revealed that official statistics in France distinguish only between French citizens and foreigners, except for some prison statistics. Foreigners are overrepresented among persons suspected of offending and among those admitted to and held in prison. The disparities are greatest among pretrial detainees whose cases are handled summarily. In addition, a sizable proportion of foreigners' offenses involve immigration; the disparities are considerably lower when these are deleted from the data. The disparities would be even lower if it were possible to adjust the data to exclude offenses by nonresident foreigners. Therefore, all ratios of disproportion are overstated. In addition, little research has focused on testing discrimination hypotheses. Thus it is difficult to develop firm conclusions on the extent to which bias or xenophobia cause or increase disproportions. 12 references and list of additional readings (Author abstract modified)