Sign up for the editor's
weekly newsletter
- Sweden edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Germany |
- Norway |
- Switzerland
Reader Offer
February 14, 2012
Sweden to get tougher on violent crime
Published: 28 Jan 10 09:11 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/24648/20100128/
Sweden's government is calling for the introduction of a new level of crime classification that will lead to longer jail terms for especially brutal forms of assault.
- Man held for stabbing Swedish 10-year-old (14 Feb 12)
- Psychiatrist had sex with patient during therapy (11 Feb 12)
- Two Swedes arrested for sex crimes in New York (9 Feb 12)
The minster indicated that the new legislation would tackle crimes including, for example, the assault of disabled people, elderly people, as well as forms of assault "that are akin to torture".
Especially brutal assaults would lead to a minimum jail sentence of four years. Under current legislation, aggravated assault is punishable by a minimum of one year in prison.
The government also wishes to raise the minimum sentence for aggravated extortion from six months to one year.
The Justice Minister also said the courts would be encouraged to set tougher sentences in cases where there was a clear element of organized crime.
"We need to have sanctions that are considered reasonable and logical. Obviously there have to be consequences for people who commit serious crimes," said Ask.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Fark It!
Digg This
Share everywhere
Send to a friend
Printable version
Twitter ThisToday's headlines
GOTHENBURG SCHOOL STABBING
Man held for stabbing Swedish 10-year-old
A 28-year-old man suspected of stabbing a young girl in the throat at the beginning of February, has been apprehended and is being held in another country pending Sweden's extradition demand. READ »
Swedish man lay 'dead for weeks' in Lund flat
A man in Lund, southern Sweden, lay dead in his house for weeks before his body was discovered, as visiting care staff had left after the man failed to answer his door. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Sweden expels foreign official: report
The Swedish government said on Tuesday it has expelled a foreign diplomat, but spokespeople were unwilling to confirm international reports that it was a high level official from Rwanda. READ »
THE LOCAL LIST
Sweden's seven 'sexiest' places explored
On Valentine's Day, The Local invites you on a journey of seduction through Sweden, a country which may be worth probing further when it comes to matters of love. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Valentine's day in Sweden - readers' sweet tweets and love stories
With Valentine's day upon us again, The Local called for messages from the star-crossed lovers of Sweden, who sent us their loving letters and sweet tweets in a celebration of love in Sweden. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Swedish tourist halted for having 'terrorist name'
A Swedish man set to take off on his "dream holiday" to Mexico was turned away before boarding, as flight officials claimed he shared the name of a wanted terrorist. READ (17 COMMENTS) »
Swedish man suspected of 'kidnapping himself'
A 29-year-old man in northern Sweden has been remanded into custody together with an accomplice after trying to extort money from his parents by pretending he had been kidnapped. READ (5 COMMENTS) »
Sweden at ’real risk’ of terror: government
The Swedish Government has penned a new terror strategy, upgrading Sweden’s risk status since the last plan four years ago, calling for an ‘inter-agency cooperation’ in the fight to counter terror in Sweden. READ (11 COMMENTS) »
More Politics
- 13/02 Löfven ready to negotiate over nuclear power (3 comments) »
- 13/02 Rise in polls 'Löfven-effect': political expert »
- 10/02 Reinfeldt 'hopeful' of Ethiopia pardon (5 comments) »
- 09/02 Brits in Sweden to forge northern alliance: paper (23 comments) »
- 08/02 British PM in Sweden to discuss women and work (20 comments) »
- 07/02 Swedes should work until they’re 75: Reinfeldt (63 comments) »
- 05/02 Swedes meet Ethiopian PM over jailed journalists (11 comments) »
- 04/02 Government split on sex-change sterilization (1 comment) »
- 03/02 'Sjöstedt-effect' boosts Left Party figures (3 comments) »
- 03/02 Löfven won’t block profits in care sector (8 comments) »
20 things to know before moving to Sweden
As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »
How far can English take you in Sweden?
Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »
Find a new job in Sweden now
| 14/02 | Data Warehouse Developer for DONG Energy IT DONG Energy |
Gentofte |
| 14/02 | Software Engineer (.NET) - Limited Contract Monster |
Prague |
| 14/02 | Software Engineer - Online EA DICE |
Stockholm |
| 14/02 | UX Engineer Monster |
Prague |
| 14/02 | Business Controller Michael page |
Göteborg |
| 14/02 | Purchasing Program Manager Volvo |
Göteborg |
Blog Update: Julie's Nordic Island
"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »
- 11/2 09:27 Fika Quiz (The Swedish Teacher)
- 10/2 10:47 Reefer Madness (110% LAGOM)
- 07/2 12:55 Queen of Diamonds (The Diplomatic Dispatch)
Highlights
|
|
Swedish word of the day
fin
adjective
Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.
Latest news from The Local in Germany
- 14/02 Merkel pledges more EU sanctions against Syria »
- 14/02 Six little pigs find new mum - a bulldog »
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
Latest news from The Local in Switzerland
- 14/02 Swiss stick with Swedish jets to replace fleet »
- 14/02 Geneva rents: World's 7th most expensive city »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
Latest news from The Local in France
- 14/02 Record year for French wine and spirits exports »
- 14/02 Police turn to France, Facebook in Norway gunman probe »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
Latest news from The Local in Norway
- 14/02 Norway killer and Dutch MP in fictional meeting »
- 14/02 Facebook and France in focus in Breivik probe »
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
Blog
New book about Sweden – get to know the country
Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.
Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop
In cooperation with DoToday
Register
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
Jobs in Sweden, in English
522 jobs available
250 new jobs this week
45 new jobs today
- Financial Controller
- Business Controller
- Technical Sales Service Specialist (m/f)
- Software Engineer - Online
- Data Warehouse Developer for DONG Energy IT
- Build Master
- Line Manager
- Software Engineer - Gameplay/Audio
- Univar recruits Accounting Manager/Financial Controller to be based in Malmö
- Purchasing Program Manager
Noticeboard
- 13/02 Looking for a long term appartment
- 13/02 Babysitter
- 13/02 flat or room available
- 13/02 Party Photographer
- 13/02 Apartment Near Arlanda
- 13/02 Apartment Needed Immediately
Discuss
- 19:40 SFI - personal number loop...
- 19:19 E-Mail replies from Swedish Businesses
- 19:17 Upper abdominal pain
- 18:20 Need to replace windows
- 18:05 Women drivers & safety
- 17:52 Where do you live?
- 17:39 Big Fat Gypsy weddings
- 16:58 Volunteering in Sweden
- 16:01 What is death?
- 15:43 Tax deductible for rented property
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
(as most say its a nice all expenses paid home).
I say violent prisoners should be self funding in terms of work offset to upkeep costs.
If you are nice to them, they will be nice back to you.
crazy
Beynch is still the most predictable commenter on the internet, though.
The notion of treating people nicely so they will respond in kind is not that crazy. In most cases, it actually works to change the long-term attitudes of criminals and societal misfits. (I have no time to look up all the research data right now).
The countries with death penalties, the harshest sentences on criminals, are also as a rule the ones with societies with the most criminals and the most violent crimes. Just look at USA (1+% of population incarcerated), Russia & China. Countries plentiful with penitentiaries wherein criminals are housed in the most inhumane incarceration environments exist only to breed more crime and nurture career criminals. Make the prison environment more human, more firendly, and it is less likely to create a breakdown in social norms where new societies emerge (gangs).
There will be many who will disagree, but discussion of crime and punishment has been going on forever. We do not live in an ideal world, and kindness is not always returned, and does not always serve to be reformative. There will always be those who will fall through the cracks and abuse kindness. But in the end, we have to ask: have harsher sentences/treatments in the USA successfully reduced crime? What is the relapse vs. reform rate for criminality in Sweden, where prisoners are treated more kindly?
I don't have the stats now, but I'd venture to say Sweden is miles ahead in reforming criminals than the US of A.
Z-man. You seem like a thoughtful and well read fellow. As I am sure you are aware, the debate over the purpose of incarceration has lasted well over 800 years in western culture. Is the purpose of prison to punish? Or, is the purpose of prison to rehabilitate? In fact neither approach has worked very well. The recidivism rate for criminals, especially violent criminals, is extraordinarily high.
I do believe that a high percentage of non-violent crime is situation dependent and these people can be rehabilitated. I do not believe that a child molester can be rehabilitated. I do not believe a serial rapist can be rehabilitated. I do not believe a murdered can be rehabilitated. Let me rephrase - the recurrence rate is too high for violent criminals. Let me ask you this question: if you knew in advance that 50% of serial rapists will rape again after prison - but you could not predict which ones would rape again - would you be willing to release any of them from jail? I would not. The criminal does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. On the other hand, a law-abiding member of society deserves to be protected from criminals.
I really think that we are doing great and more than 99.99% of countries around the world envy us. Well, there's nothing perfect but our laws and rules are quite good.
M-Larson: I think Sweden is doing better than many countries (def not the 99%) because the class difference is not so big yet. The more this will increase the higher crime is going to get, and then your laws will be so naif and outdated that it will be hard to catch up.
It is time to Sweden to face that they are not living in the 70's anymore.
on a related note, most people in the U.S., perhaps out of ignorance and perhaps because we really believe it feel sorry for socialized countries. Claiming that 99.99 percent of the countries in the word envy Sweden is silly: there aren't that many countries and this one doesn't envy Sweden the high taxes, the burgeoning crime rate, the recent immigration issues and the long dark winters. Sure, we have problems here, but most Americans would live no where else. Many latin Americans feel that way too, which is why they all move here too.
Don't get me wrong: I think Sweden has a lot to offer and is a good example to the world in many respects, but the crimnal code isn't one of them. I remember not too long ago a crazy guy who had killed someone and done his 7 years was loose and shot some police (in Stockholm I think), killing at least one. That probably would not have happened here, because we try to keep our criminals off the streets and away from the good citizens, at least once they are identified as bad eggs.
To the rest of you; I agree Sweden's criminal code needs to reflect the changes happening in it's society, as long as they dont follow the US model which just seems to focus on punishment and not on figuring out;
A) What is causing this violence & doing something to change that.
And B) Reforming or deporting these violent offenders.
One of the things that occurs in Sweden, besides the unfathomably short jail terms dished out by the system, is the the even more unfathomable law that prevents the public knowing who it is amongst them that is a convicted child rapist, for example. The reason given is " It could hinder the child rapists ability to reintegrate into society"
This goes for most crimes here in Sweden by the way.
I love living in Sweden but sometimes the mentality here is just plain naive. I am all for trying to help out and turning someones life around and getting them to be a productive member of society, but we have to realize that there are some people out there that are just plain wired wrong. It may not even be their fault that they are wired wrong, but that doesn't mean they should be allowed to baby sit the kids.
Agree on the child molesters, but in regards to rape - the definition of rape in Sweden is extremely fuzzy. That is why it is no 1 country in rape complaints in Europe, but low on rape convictions.
A girl who was as drunk as the guy when they had sex can put him in jail for quite a while and drag him through courts even if she initiated the entire thing. There were also suggestions that everyone accused of rape should "prove consent", which makes every one-night stand - a minefield. Perhaps it is fine by you as a woman, until it will strike your drunk brother or teenage son, who did not call some vengeful bimbo the day after.
http://www.thelocal.se/19376/20090511/
Of course even if he is found not guilty (like most of the cases) his reputation is ruined forever. So I would suggest defining rape and then increasing the times in prison.