NCJ Number
73235
Date Published
1980
Length
37 pages
Annotation
The research activity, rationale for law reform, and final recommendations of the Swedish Committee on Imprisonment are given regarding a minimum sentence. The Committee advocates a lowering of the minimum sentence length from 1 month to 14 days as of January 1980.
Abstract
This reduction in the minimum sentence should have two distinct advantages. While the Committee does not foresee an increase in use of the prison sentences resulting from the shorter minimum sentence, it anticipates a lowering of all sentence lengths as the minimum sinks (along with a reduction in the negative side effects accompanying institutionalization) and a shrinking of costs associated with incarceration. A total of 70 vacancies should be realized in open institutions yearly, a savings of 425 million crowns. The committee took its suggestion to several official and academic bodies for comment, and few adverse comments were made, aside from doubts expressed about the preventive effects of such a law reform and its effect on probation. A review of minimum sentence laws for the other Scandanavian countries found that Denmark has a minimum sentence of 1 month, Finland, a minimum time of 14 days (and the Finnish penal committee has suggested a reduction to 6 days), and Norway has a minimum time of 21 days. Statistics on use of the 1-month minimum sentence are provided for 1978.