NCJ Number
166957
Date Published
1995
Length
29 pages
Annotation
Sweden's new sentencing law does not represent a significant change in the distribution of sanctions but does embrace preventive aims, appropriate sanctions, and measured punishment.
Abstract
Work on reforming the sentencing system in Sweden began in the mid-1970's. An initial report advocated less emphasis on incarceration, repression, and indeterminate sentencing and more emphasis on the use of fines and other alternative sanctions. In the early 1980's, work began on comprehensive sentencing reform and revisions to penalty scales for crimes identified in the Criminal Code. In 1988, legislation was introduced to add two new chapters to the Criminal Code: (1) measurement of punishment and remission of sanctions; and (2) choice of sanctions. Penalty scales were formulated based on the idea of penal value, a concept related to harm and offense seriousness. Sentencing reform in Sweden is generally based on uniformity in sentencing, equity mitigation in choosing between imprisonment and alternatives to imprisonment, and aggravating and mitigating circumstances affecting the sentencing process. Data on sentencing patterns in Sweden are provided. 25 footnotes and 4 tables