Increase in juvenile sentences, fewer adult sentences in 2023

The number of juvenile convictions for an offense against the Swiss Criminal Code (SCC) has been rising steadily since 2015. Between 2015 and 2023, it increased by 42.3% from 5991 to 8528. The greatest increase was in sentences for grievous bodily harm, brawling and obstructing an official act. The latter have almost tripled in the past nine years.

The number of convictions for criminal acts against sexual integrity has also almost tripled since 2015. There has been a particularly marked increase in juvenile convictions for pornography, which have practically quadrupled. Offenses against liberty such as threats and coercion as well as property crimes such as theft and robbery have doubled again.

The significant increase in juvenile convictions can be seen among both male juveniles (+38.5%) and female juveniles (+32.7%) as well as among those with Swiss citizenship (+23.7%) and those with foreign citizenship (+43.9%). The increase is strongest among the youngest offenders: The number of under 15-year-olds convicted of an offense under the Swiss Criminal Code increased by 60.2% between 2015 and 2023.

Young people: Decrease in offenses related to narcotics trafficking and consumption

The downward trend in juvenile convictions for violations of the Narcotics Act, such as drug trafficking and consumption, continued in 2023 (-55.4% for both offenses in the last nine years). Compared to 2022, juvenile convictions for narcotics trafficking and consumption decreased by 19.7% and 12.9% respectively.

Young people: More violations of the Road Traffic Act 

In 2023, 5857 juvenile convictions were handed down for violations of the Road Traffic Act. This corresponds to an increase of 16.3% compared to the previous year. The increase in convictions for violating traffic regulations was particularly pronounced. Moderate offenses increased by 21.5% and serious offenses, mainly speeding, by 39.4%.

Young people: Mediation as a conflict resolution model

464 of the 24,312 juvenile criminal cases (1.9%) reported to the FSO in 2023 were resolved amicably through mediation. In the period 2020-2023, conflicts relating to defamation offenses and acts against physical integrity were most frequently resolved through mediation (15.3% and 12.8% respectively).

There are practically no gender-specific differences in the proportion of successful mediations (male offenders: 1.9%; female offenders: 1.3%). However, there are major differences when differentiated by age group. As the age of the young offenders increases, the proportion of successfully completed mediations decreases. While it is 10% for 10-year-olds, it is between 0.7% and 0.9% for 16- and 17-year-olds. Further results on mediation among minors can be found in BFS Aktuell.

Adults: fewer convictions

In 2023, 102,822 adult convictions for a felony or misdemeanour under the Criminal Code, the Road Traffic Act, the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act or the Narcotics Act were entered in the criminal register. This is 1.4% less than in the previous year. Convictions for drug trafficking decreased the most, continuing the downward trend that began in 2015 (-14.2% compared to the previous year; -45.8% since 2015). Offenses against property went in the other direction. Here, for example, an increase of 23.9% was recorded in convictions for theft in 2023 compared to 2022.

In 2023, 69.7% of the criminal convictions included a conditional fine. In 89.6% of these cases, a fine was also imposed. According to Swiss criminal law, this can never be imposed conditionally. In recent years, almost 7% of all conditional fines were revoked during the probation period, after which the convicted persons had to pay the suspended amount.

The number of expulsions issued remained stable between 2022 and 2023 (2023: 1974). 91.7% were mandatory expulsions, i.e. the convicted persons had committed at least one offense for which Article 66a of the Swiss Criminal Code provides for mandatory expulsion.

Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)