The Judicial System
The judicial system strives to improve the safety and security of the individual. The aim is to reduce criminality and improve safety and security.
The Swedish Ministry of Justice is responsible for the institutions within the judicial system i.e.:
- the Police Service
- the Swedish Prosecution Authority
- the National Board of Forensic Medicine
- the Swedish National Economic Crimes Bureau
- the Prison and Probation Service
- the judiciary
- the National Council for Crime Prevention
- the Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority
The Ministry of Justice
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the institutions within the judicial system and for legislation in the field of civil, constitutional, procedural and criminal law. For information regarding government policies, decisions, bills and reports please consult the Swedish government offices’ home page.
Institutions within the judicial system:
The National Council for Crime Prevention
The National Council for Crime Prevention gathers and spreads information regarding criminality and crime prevention measures. The National Council for Crime Prevention also does research and promotes local crime prevention work. Further information regarding e.g. crime statistics and crime preventive measures can be found on the home page of the National Council for Crime Prevention.
The Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority
If an offender cannot pay damages or is unknown, and if there is no insurance to cover damages, the crime victim may be entitled to criminal injuries compensation. The Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority assesses and administers these compensations but is also responsible for the Crime Victim Fund and acts as a centre of competence for crime victim issues.
The Judiciary
The judiciary comprises more than a hundred different public authorities and committees: the Supreme Court, the courts of appeal, the district courts, the Supreme Administrative Court, the administrative courts of appeal, the regional rent and tenancies tribunals, the National Legal Aid Authority and the National Courts Administration. The main function of the judiciary is to rule in civil and criminal litigations, litigations between individuals and public authorities, rent and tenancies disputes, as well as to process legal aid cases. The courts judge and sentence according to the laws adopted by the Swedish Parliament.
The Swedish National Economic Crimes Bureau
The Economic Crimes Bureau specializes in combating economic crime. Its task is to prevent, detect, impede, investigate and initiate legal proceedings against economic crime. Activities are directed at serious economic crime and so called everyday crime. The Economic Crimes Bureau has a coordinating role and acts as driving force in the combat against economic crime.
The Prison and Probation Service
The Prison and Probation Service comprises non-institutional treatment of criminals, remand prisons and prisons. The Probation Service (non-institutional treatment) is responsible for non-custodial sentences, such as for instance probation. The Service also uses intensive supervision with electronic monitoring (tagging) and conducts personal case studies in criminal matters. The remand prisons are responsible for suspected offenders and the prisons for those individuals already sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
The Swedish Police Service
The Police Service prevents crime, supervises public order and security, conducts surveillance and investigates crime. More information regarding police working methods can be found on this web page. A number of reports, documents, forms, news, and press releases, in addition to contact details of all Police Services in Sweden are also available.
The National Board of Forensic Medicine
The National Board of Forensic Medicine, with 380 employees, is the central administrative authority responsible for forensic psychiatry, forensic medicine, forensic chemistry and forensic genetics. The National Board of Forensic Medicine is divided into ten departments spread all over the country.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority
Prosecutors lead crime investigations, decide on the institution of legal proceedings and appear in court. The Swedish Prosecution Authority consists of 43 Public Prosecution Offices, the Office of the Prosecutor-General and four national Development Centres. More information regarding the work of prosecutors, the Prosecutor-General’s work in the Supreme Court, press releases etc. can be found on the web page of the Swedish Prosecution Authority.
The Swedish Enforcement Agency, the Swedish Coast Guard, the National Tax Board and Swedish Customs
The Swedish Enforcement Agency, the Swedish Coast Guard, the National Tax Board and Swedish Customs are examples of other law enforcement agencies.