Note 251 — CRIMINALITY. (continued 2)

In the period 1887–1891 the number of illegitimate children to 100 born living was 3.2251; the mortality among illegitimate children during their first year rose to 26.6% as against 17.5% among children in general (1885–1893).252 It is not possible to calculate for the population in general the number of individuals born of illegitimate unions and arrived at the age at which they are capable of committing crime, but it is certain that the mortality is greater among illegitimate children at each age than among legitimate children, and that the number of children legitimated is very considerable. The percentage of illegitimates to the whole population, then, is much smaller than 3.2. It is consequently probable that in Holland also illegitimate children are more likely to become criminals than legitimate children.