die  Kriminalstatistik

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/kʁɪmɪnalʃtaˈtɪstɪk/

📊 What Exactly is die Kriminalstatistik?

Die Kriminalstatistik (feminine, article: die) refers to the systematic collection, processing, and presentation of data on reported criminal offenses, suspects, and victims.

It serves several purposes:

• 📈 Tracking crime trends over time.
• 🗺️ Identifying regional crime hotspots.
• 👮 Supporting the planning of police measures and resource allocation.
• ⚖️ Providing a basis for criminological research and political decisions (Kriminalpolitik - crime policy).

⚠️ It's important to note that Kriminalstatistik usually only reflects the so-called Hellfeld (literally 'bright field'), meaning crimes reported to and registered by the police. The Dunkelfeld ('dark field' - unreported or undiscovered crimes) often remains unaccounted for.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Check: Die Kriminalstatistik under the Microscope

The word "Kriminalstatistik" is a feminine noun. The correct article is die.

It is mainly used in the singular. The plural ("die Kriminalstatistiken") is possible but refers to multiple different statistics (e.g., from different countries or time periods).

Declension (Singular)

Example Sentences

1. Die aktuelle Kriminalstatistik zeigt einen Rückgang der Diebstähle.
   (The current crime statistics show a decrease in thefts.)
2. Laut der Kriminalstatistik sind junge Männer häufiger Tatverdächtige.
   (According to the crime statistics, young men are more often suspects.)
3. Man sollte der Kriminalstatistik nicht blind vertrauen, da sie nur das Hellfeld abbildet.
   (One should not blindly trust the crime statistics, as they only depict the reported crimes.)
4. Die Polizei veröffentlicht die Kriminalstatistik jährlich.
   (The police publish the crime statistics annually.)

📰 Where and How is 'Kriminalstatistik' Used?

The term die Kriminalstatistik is primarily used in the following contexts:

• Media Reporting: Newspapers, news programs, and online portals regularly report on the latest figures from the Kriminalstatistik, often in connection with security policy.
• Politics and Administration: Politicians use the data to argue for or against certain measures. Authorities like the police or the Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt) compile and analyze these statistics. A key example in Germany is the Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik (PKS).
• Academia: Criminologists and sociologists use crime statistics for research purposes to investigate the causes and patterns of crime.
• Public Discussion: In debates about internal security and crime prevention, the Kriminalstatistik plays an important role, although its validity is often discussed.

Comparison: While "Kriminalstatistik" is the general term, the "Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik (PKS)" specifically refers to the statistics kept by the German police.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Kriminalstatistik'

Article Mnemonic (die): Many German nouns ending in -ik, especially those denoting fields of study or concepts, are feminine: die Statistik, die Politik (politics), die Physik (physics). Thus: die Kriminalstatistik.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of tracking CRIMINAL activity using STATISTICS. Combine them, and you get Kriminalstatistik.

🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Terms

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Statistiker ungern den Zug?
(Why are statisticians reluctant to take the train?)

Weil sie die hohe Dunkelziffer bei den Schwarzfahrern fürchten!
(Because they fear the high dark figure of fare dodgers!)

(Refers to the 'Dunkelziffer' concept, also important for Kriminalstatistik.)

📜 Verses about Numbers and Deeds

Die Akten voll, die Zahlen klar,
die Kriminalstatistik ist da.
Sie zählt den Diebstahl, den Betrug,
zeigt auf, wo Unrecht Fäden zog.

Doch hinter jeder Ziffer kalt,
steht Schicksal, jung und manchmal alt.
Ein Spiegelbild, doch nie komplett,
was im Verborgnen bleibt, das wett'.

(The files are full, the numbers clear,
the crime statistic is here.
It counts the theft, the fraud, the lie,
shows where injustice threads did ply.

But behind each number cold,
lies fate, both young and sometimes old.
A reflection, but never complete,
what stays hidden, can't be beat.)

❓ Who am I?

Ich sammle Daten, Jahr für Jahr,
über Taten, schlimm und sonderbar.
Die Polizei, sie füllt mich aus,
bring Licht ins Dunkel, Maus für Maus.
Politik und Presse schauen drauf,
im steten gesellschaftlichen Lauf.

Wer bin ich?

(I collect data, year by year,
about deeds, both grim and queer.
The police, they fill me out,
bringing light to darkness, mouse by mouse about.
Politics and press observe my yield,
in society's ever-turning field.

Who am I?)

Solution: Die Kriminalstatistik (Crime Statistics)

🧩 Word Building and Background

Word Composition

The word "Kriminalstatistik" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Kriminal-: Related to crime (from Latin 'crimen' = crime, accusation).
• Statistik: Statistics, the science of collecting, analyzing, and presenting data (from Latin 'statisticum' = concerning the state).

So, it literally means "statistics about crime".

Points of Criticism

Kriminalstatistiken are often criticized because they can be influenced by various factors:

• Reporting behavior: Not every crime is reported (Anzeigeverhalten).
• Police control intensity: Increased police checks can lead to more recorded offenses without an actual increase in crime (Polizeiliche Kontrolldichte).
• Changes in law: New laws can create new criminal offenses or modify existing ones (Gesetzesänderungen).