Swedish Justice Minister to Present Major Penalty Increases

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer is expected to present extensive penalty increases today, according to reports. Nearly 50 penalty scales are reportedly set to be toughened. The government is moving forward with its major criminal law reform and is expected to submit legislative proposals this afternoon. The aim of the overhaul, which Strömmer has called "the largest in modern times," is reportedly to shift the focus from the perpetrator to the crime victim and society's need for protection. The goal is for the penalty system to be perceived as more just. Part of the reform is expected to include that repeated serious rapes could lead to life imprisonment, something Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson highlighted in yesterday's party leader debate. Kristersson said that repeated serious rapes should be able to result in life imprisonment even when life imprisonment is not in the penalty scale for the individual crime.