Geneva and Vaud imprison more than the other Swiss cantons. This is revealed by a study published on Wednesday, conducted by the University of Geneva, which points to a more punitive criminal culture as the main cause of prison overcrowding.
The study of Roman laboratory on prison decreases, A research system instituted at the University of Geneva has looked into the deep causes, prison overcrowding. According to her, these deep causes in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud are not linked to a lack of establishments.
The reality is quite different. The number of prison places available per capita is sufficient, or even much higher in the cantons of Vaud and Geneva compared to the rest of Switzerland. In Geneva, for example, there are 141 places per 100,000 inhabitants, 60 more than the national average.
Fewer crimes, but no more prison
The study also twists the neck at another received idea, according to which crime would be higher or different in this region of French -speaking Switzerland. In reality, the figures show no significant specificity in these two cantons. Burglaries and offenses to the drug law even decreased there in the past fifteen years.
The study highlights their punitive culture. Although all cantons are subject to the same criminal law, these two cantons interpret and apply the law differently, more punitively.
The Roman laboratory on prison decreases therefore recommends that they reduce the use of detention, strengthen alternatives to prison and limit the conversion of fines to private sentences.
Radio subject: Charlotte Frossard
Adaptation web: Miroslav Mares
