Crime and punishment in Uddevalla 1917-1918 : A study on crime and punishment in Uddevalla during the years 1917-1918

The purpose of this paper is to create a deeper understanding of crime and its consequences in Uddevalla during the period 1917–1918. The analysis is based on the social unrest and other issues that the First World War brought to society. The study employs a quantitative method, with the results presented in various tables and diagrams. The theoretical framework of this paper consists of three distinct theoretical perspectives focusing on conflict and crime in society. The source material used in this paper includes Uddevalla stadsfiskal, Brottmåls diarier, C IV a 1914–1923, which are available at Riksarkivet in Gothenburg, and Bohusläningen from the years 1917–1918, which is available at Bohusläns föreningsarkiv in Uddevalla. The results of the essay show that 20 different crimes occurred, with the five most common being public intoxication, minor offenses, assault, disorderly conduct, and theft during 1917-1918. The most frequent punishment was fines by a wide margin. Penal labor and imprisonment were also relatively common, with an occasional case involving placement in a reformatory institution. Criminal activity in Uddevalla was at its lowest during 1917–1918 compared to other years within the period 1914–1923. When comparing local crime statistics with national data from Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB) and Hanns von Hofer, it can be concluded that this trend was also observed at the national level.