Immigrants, Crime, and Criminal Justice in Switzerland

Switzerland is among the European countries with the largest foreign population and the longest immigration tradition. Over many decades, immigrants were not overrepresented in official crime data. More recently, the proportion of non-Swiss offenders increased substantially, but more for nonresident (often illegal) aliens than for legal residents. Victims' accounts of offenders' characteristics confirm the disproportionate crime involvement of immigrants, particularly in violent crime. However, disparity in reporting decisions by victims has not been observed, nor have major disparities in prosecution, sentencing, or time served. Immigrants are not disproportionately victimized, and their attitudes toward police and criminal justice are more positive than those of Swiss respondents. Nonetheless, certain groups have higher offending and victimization rates. Cultural factors, socioeconomic status, and social integration may account for these differences.