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Swedish Government Proposes Extended DNA Retention for Convicted Criminals

PoliticsPolitics
Key Points
  • The Swedish government wants to extend DNA retention periods for convicted criminals beyond the current 10-year limit.
  • Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer stated extended retention would help solve future crimes if offenders reoffend.
  • An investigation has been appointed to determine which crimes should be covered and will report by September next year.

The Swedish government has announced plans to extend the retention period for DNA samples from convicted criminals, according to multiple media reports. Currently, DNA information from individuals convicted of serious crimes is deleted from police registers ten years after their sentence is served, provided they have not committed new offenses. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (M) stated that the government wants to prolong this period for certain serious crimes and has appointed an investigation to examine which offenses should be covered and how long DNA data should be retained.

The investigation is scheduled to be completed by September next year. Separately, the Riksdagen reportedly voted on indefinite security detention measures, though details of that vote remain limited in available sources.

the government wants to prolong this period for certain serious crimes and has appointed an investigation to examine which offenses should be covered and how long DNA data should be retained

Gunnar Strömmer, Justice Minister

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