The trials for 28 935 committed crimes were concluded in 2024. Proceedings of 10 235 crimes were ended with effective sentences, 13 596 crimes - with conditional sentences, 744 crimes - with acquittal sentences, 282 crimes - with suspension, and 4 078 crimes - with release of penalty.
The number of accused persons in 2024 was 26 930, of which:
The number of persons convicted with enforced penalties was 21 821 in 2024. Compared to 2023, the number of persons convicted decreased by 5.3%. The juvenile persons (14 - 17 years) were 781, or 3.6% of the total number of convicted persons.
The number of convicted males was 19 941, or 91.4%, and females - 1 880 (8.6%). Among both men and women, the highest share of convicted was in the 30 - 39 age group - 28.2% for men and 31.6% for women. In second place, for men was the 18 to 24 age group and the 40 to 49 age group - for women (Figure 2).
The rate of criminal activity1 was 389 per 100 000 persons from the criminally responsible population2 (Table 1). For males, the rate was 748 per 100 000 and for females - 64 per 100 000 of the respective population. The rate of criminal activity of juvenile persons was 295 per 100 000 persons from the respective population.
| Table 1. Rate of criminal activity per 100 000 persons by sex of the persons convicted | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Total | Males | Females |
| 2020 | 365 | 691 | 64 |
| 2021 | 406 | 775 | 66 |
| 20223 | 428 | 822 | 70 |
| 2023 | 411 | 794 | 64 |
| 2024 | 389 | 748 | 64 |
Crimes with inflicted penalty and convicted persons by chapters of the Criminal Code (CC) and certain types of crimes in 2024
Among the crimes with penalty inflicted, the highest number and share were generally dangerous crimes - 11 424, or 47.9%. The second place in the structure was the crimes against the property with 4 597 punished crimes, or 19.3% (Figure 3).
2 391 crimes against the activity of state bodies, public organisations and persons performing public functions were convicted, which represents 10.0% of all punished crimes.
There were 2 313 crimes against the person (9.7%), 866 crimes related to documents (3.6%) and 759 crimes against the economy (3.2%).
1 Persons convicted per 100 000 persons from the average annual population aged 14 and over.
2 The population aged 14 and over is criminally responsible - see methodological notes.
3 There is a break in the time series for all coefficients since 2022 - see methodological notes.
Almost half of the persons convicted were punished for committing generally dangerous crimes - 10 096, or 46.3%. In second place in the structure were those convicted for crimes against property - 4 980 persons (22.8%).
2 273 persons, or 10.4%, were convicted for committing crimes against the activity of state bodies, public organizations and persons performing public functions. 1 788 persons (8.2%) were convicted for crimes against the person, 721 persons (3.3%) - for crimes against the economy.
Generally dangerous crimes1
Among the generally dangerous crimes, the highest number was of punished crimes against transport and communications - 7 699. That represents 67.4% of the total number of generally dangerous crimes. The number of persons convicted for that type of crimes was 6 893, or 68.3% of the convicted for generally dangerous crimes.
The number of punished drug-related crimes was 3 258 (28.5%) as persons convicted for that type of crimes were 2 812 (27.9%).
Crimes against the property2
Among the crimes against property, theft of property was the most common - 68.8%. Convicted for this type of crime were 3 583 persons, or 71.9%.
According to their legal and criminal characteristics, robberies are among the most severe crimes - 508 persons were convicted for the commitment of 477 robberies.
Crimes against the activity of state bodies, public organizations and persons performing public functions3
Illegal crossing of the boundary was the most common type among these crimes - 1 075 persons were convicted for 1 056 committed crimes, or 44.2% of the crimes and 47.3% of the convicted persons for crimes against the activities of state bodies, public organizations and persons performing public functions, respectively.
115 persons, or 5.1% of those convicted under this chapter of the Criminal Code, were convicted for 97 crimes of bringing persons across the boundary.
1 Incl. crimes committed in a generally dangerous manner or by generally dangerous means, transport and communications crimes, crimes against the people’s health and the environment, and crimes related to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
2 Incl. theft and robbery, misappropriation, fraud, extortion, constructive theft, destruction and damage, and breach of trust.
3 Incl. crimes against the governmental order, malfeasances, crimes against justice and bribery.
Crimes against the person1
Among the crimes against the person with extremely high public danger are homicides. The cases for 59 homicides (completed and attempted) have concluded with convictions and 62 people were convicted for their commission (3.5%).
Among the crimes against the person, the highest was the number and share of bodily harms. The number of crimes concluded with penalties inflicted for a commitment of that type of crimes was 1 056 (45.7%) and 865 persons were convicted for that type of crimes (48.4% of the total number of convicted persons for crimes against the person).
263 criminal proceedings (11.4%) were concluded with a penalty for depravity and 202 persons were convicted (11.3%). 28 of them were for rape (completed and attempted) and 26 persons were convicted.
130 crimes for trafficking of people have concluded with a penalty, or 5.6% of the crimes against the person. 31 persons were convicted for that type of crime.
Convicted persons by penalty type
In the structure of convicted persons by penalty type, highest was the share of persons convicted to imprisonment. They were 17 623, or 80.8% of the total number of convicted persons in 2024. Most of them were convicted to imprisonment up to 6 months (45.7% of the total number of convicted persons to imprisonment) followed by those convicted to imprisonment from 6 months to 1 year - 34.8%.
A penalty of probation was imposed on 2 524 persons (11.6% of the total number of convicted persons). A penalty of fine was imposed on 1 578 persons (7.2%) whereas public censure on 91 persons. A penalty of life imprisonment was imposed on 5 persons (Figure 4).
1 Incl. homicides, bodily harms, kidnapping and illegal constraint, compulsion, insult and libel, depravity and trafficking of people.
Methodological notes
The statistical survey on crimes, accused and persons convicted with inflicted penalties ensures information on the basis of annual data, received from the regional, district and military courts.
The object of the survey is the activity of the regional, district and military courts and the Specialized Criminal Court on penal trials of general, private and administrative nature. According to the Judiciary System Act (amended and supplemented by SG 32 of 26 April 2022), the Specialized Criminal Court is abolished. Criminal cases of the first instance before the Specialised Criminal Court, in which a dispositional hearing has been held, become subject to the jurisdiction of the Sofia City Court and their examination continues by the panel of judges which held the hearing. The judges of the Trial Chambers who have not been reassigned to the Sofia City Court shall be seconded to take part in the examination of the cases until the conclusion of the proceedings on them.
Units of a survey are crimes, accused and persons convicted with a sentence that has come into force during the reference year.
The number of crimes with penalties inflicted includes proceedings that finished with conditional or effective sentences irrespective of the number of perpetrators.
A crime committed by more than one person (in complicity) is counted as a crime with a penalty inflicted when at least one of the accused persons is effectively or conditionally convicted. In case when all persons have been acquitted, a crime committed in complicity ends with acquittal. A crime is counted as suspended when the proceeding against the perpetrator or all perpetrators ends with suspension.
The number of accused persons includes effectively and conditionally sentenced persons, as well as acquitted persons, persons released from penalty, and persons against whom the proceedings have been suspended.
The number of persons convicted are those with an effective or conditional sentence that has come into force.
When a crime is committed by several persons, the crime is counted only once, and each perpetrator - individually depending on the results of the proceeding. In case there is a convicted person for more than one committed crime in one proceeding, the most severe punishment is counted. If a person is convicted for several crimes, the person is counted against the most serious punishable offence and each crime is counted separately according to the respective type of crime.
The age of persons convicted is indicated in years of age at the time of the crime.
Juveniles are persons aged 14 - 17 years.
Adults are persons aged 18 and over.
Convicted juvenile persons are included in the total number of persons convicted.
According to Chapter Three, Art. 31, para. 1 and 2 of the Penal Code criminally responsible is the person of age - who has reached 18 years of age, who in a state of sanity commits a crime. A juvenile who has reached 14 years of age, but who has not reached 18 years of age, shall be criminally responsible if they were able to realize the quality and the importance of the act and direct their actions.
The criminal activity rate is calculated as a correlation between the number of persons convicted and the average annual number of the criminally responsible population (aged 14 and over) per 100 000 persons.
The population estimate as of 31 December 2024 reflects the changes in population numbers and structure recorded in the Census 2021. In this regard, there is a break in the time series for all coefficients since 2022.
The data on Crimes, Accused and Persons Convicted are obtained from an exhaustive survey by filling in the statistical questionnaire ‘Card for accused person’, by the pre-trial and trial proceedings and data from the administrative source - Unified Information System for Counteraction to Criminality (UISCC).
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