Citation

Liem M, Suonpää K, Lehti M, Kivivuori J, Granath S, Walser S, Killias M. Eur. J. Criminol. 2019; 16(1): 81-101.

Affiliation

University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, European Society of Criminology, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1477370818764840

PMID

30675132

PMCID

PMC6328993

Abstract

This study provides an overview of homicide clearance in four West European countries: Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. Using data from the European Homicide Monitor, employing similar definitions and uniform coding schemes, this study allowed for unique cross-country comparisons in factors influencing differences in homicide clearance rates.

FINDINGS based on homicides occurring in the period 2009-14 revealed overall low homicide rates in all countries, with a wide variety in homicide clearance rates, ranging from 77 percent in the Netherlands to 98 percent in Finland.

RESULTS further showed that both event-based as well as victim-based characteristics significantly influenced the likelihood of homicide clearance, suggesting that homicide clearance rates can, for a large part, be attributed to the prevalent types of homicide in each of these European countries.

Language: en

Keywords

Clearance; Europe; homicide; international comparison