Serious violence – a challenge and reason for reforms?

Abstract

This text discusses the more recent changes in Swedish criminal law with a focus on the more serious crime and some of the measures lately taken to counter that kind of criminality. A brief walk through the earlier reasoning on punishment and consequences is followed by a glimpse of the reasoning by the Swedish legislator on the rationale of increasing the penalty levels and remodeling the crimes themselves. In the conclusion we find some answers to whether we are dealing with symbolic measures without support in research or an adaptation to society changes and public view on increasing crime.