New criminal sentencing system to be introduced
Published:
The Riksdag voted in favour of the Government's proposal for a new criminal sentencing system. The purpose of the proposal is to create a fairer criminal justice system where the penalty more accurately reflects the seriousness of the offence, the sentences that are given appear to a greater extent to be reasonable and fair, the crime victim's perspective is given a greater influence and protection of society is enhanced.
The Government's proposals include:
- presumption against prison, that is the main rule that other penalties besides prison should primarily be chosen, will be abolished. Instead, a system of conditional imprisonment will be introduced; All alternatives to prison that involve no deprivation of liberty for young offenders will, according to the proposal, be included in the new system of conditional imprisonment. This means that the penalties conditional sentence and probation will be abolished;
- it will be possible to use the full scale of penalties to a greater extent when penalties are determined. The purpose is to make sentencing more nuanced for all types of offences.
- the current possibility of being granted a reduction of penalties will be abolished. When a person is sentenced for several offences, each further offence will have a greater impact on the length of the penalty. The penalty will be based on the total penal value of all the offences that the individual is being sentenced for.
- Certain grounds for penalty reduction - grounds for mitigation - will be abolished.
The amendments will come into force on the date decided by the Government.