Secure detention to be introduced as new sanction for serious offences
Published:
It will be possible to sentence a person who has committed a serious offence against another person and who also has a high risk of recidivism to secure detention for an indefinite period. The Riksdag voted in favour of the Government’s proposal.
Secure detention means that the court first determines a minimum period that must be served in prison and that corresponds to the prison sentence that would otherwise have been passed. In addition, a framework period of a further four to six years will be determined. The framework period may be extended by a maximum of three years at a time if absolutely necessary to prevent the offender from relapsing into serious crime.
Once the minimum period has ended, the court can decide on conditional transition. This means that the Prison and Probation Service can decide that the offender should serve the sanction outside the institution with special support and under supervision. If the person misbehaves or commits another offence, the conditional transition may be suspended.
The purpose of the Government’s proposal is to strengthen society’s protection from people who have committed serious offences against other people and who also have a high risk of recidivism, but for whom forensic mental care or lifetime imprisonment are not relevant.
The new rules will come into force on 15 April 2026.
Committee report (In Swedish):
Säkerhetsförvaring – en ny tidsobestämd frihetsberövande påföljd (JuU27)