Need for and feasibility of an EU offence policy

Description

Over het boekStarting from the observation that criminal law is different in each of themember states as a result of which1 what constitutes an offence in one member state does not necessarily constitute an offence in another member state,2 even where offences are equally criminalised in all member states, the sanction levels may still vary and3 more generally, the position of theoffences in the entirety of the justice system may vary,the question arises to what extent those so-called offence diversities are an obstacle for EU policymaking and to what extent it is feasible to overcome those obstacles.The author underpins the need for the development of an EU offencepolicy, using the common criminalisation acquis as a centre piece. She arguesthat the common criminalisation acquis can help1 to ensure comparabilityof crime statistics,2 to avoid redundant double criminality testing,3 toovercome evidence gathering difficulties,4 to clarify the mandates of the EUlevel actors,5 to identify the equivalent national sentence and6 to scopethe taking account of prior convictions. The only condition the developmentof a comprehensive, consistent and well-balanced EU offence policy.This book contains the conclusions of her publication based doctoral thesisdefended at Ghent University on 22 June 2012. It is essential reading forpolicy makers both at national and European level in any policy field that islinked to offences.Uit de inhoudInhoudsopgaveOver de auteursWendy De Bondt holds a masters degree in law 2006 and criminology2007 and a PhD in law 2012. She has been a member of the Institutefor International Research on Criminal Policy affiliated to the Department ofPenal Law and Criminology of Ghent University since 2007.