The Gypsies and Crime

The Gypsies are a nomadic people, originally from northern India and Pakistan, whose families are scattered all over the world. At first it was thought that they were from Egypt, for this reason they were called Gypsies. It is a human race that has preserved ancient customs and traditions. Gypsies have their own laws based on their tradition and are not governed by the rules of the countries where they reside. Their language is romany, no matter where they are in the world.

The word Gypsy is often used as a synonym for "swindling" or "deception." Because of their lifestyle and their behavior away from the law, Gypsies have gone through great difficulties throughout history, especially in Europe and United States of America. Cesare Lombroso, forerunner of modern criminology, referred to the Gypsies as: "the living image of a whole race of criminals who reproduce all the passions and vices".

Throughout history, especially since the 15th century, the Gypsies have been expelled, deported, enslaved, forcibly assimilated, imprisoned, separated in ghettos, sterilized and even exterminated. In the western world there have always been prejudices against that ethnic minority. Their customs tend to be different from the rest of civilization and that is why they are rejected.