2023-03-152022/23:JuU11 · p.37JuUJustice
Statute of limitations
Statutes of limitation for sexual offences against children
What's at stake: The statute of limitations determines how long after a crime an offender can be prosecuted. For aggravated sexual offences against children, disclosure can come late, and new DNA technology makes it possible to solve old cases. The question is whether the law should keep pace by abolishing more limitation periods.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The motions called for the statute of limitations to be abolished for more aggravated sexual offences against children and for limitation periods for sexual offences to be reviewed generally, while the committee held that recently enacted legal changes and ongoing inquiries already address the issue.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions, pointing to extensive tightening of sexual offence legislation already in force, an ongoing inquiry into children's protection against sexual violations that is due to report, and the Council on Legislation's call to weigh the overall picture before further piecemeal adjustments. The committee therefore sees no reason at this time to initiate further sentence increases or changes to limitation rules.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 37 (C)
The reserving party (C) wants the proposals of the Statute of Limitations Inquiry to be processed swiftly and the statute of limitations abolished also for sexual exploitation of children and aggravated sexual abuse of children, and for limitation periods for sexual offences to be reviewed generally in light of new DNA technology making it possible to solve old crimes.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 37 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna
Ja 181–19Ja 168–32
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/92/15 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 13/0/0/5 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/19/0/5 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/11 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:863 by Ulrika Liljeberg et al. (C) demands 22 and 49, 2022/23:864 by Ulrika Liljeberg et al. (C) demand 34, 2022/23:1673 by Annie Lööf et al. (C) demand 99, 2022/23:2010 by Johanna Rantsi (M) demand 1 and 2022/23:2139 by Ardalan Shekarabi et al. (S) demand 27.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:863 av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C) yrkandena 22 och 49, 2022/23:864 av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C) yrkande 34, 2022/23:1673 av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C) yrkande 99, 2022/23:2010 av Johanna Rantsi (M) yrkande 1 och 2022/23:2139 av Ardalan Shekarabi m.fl. (S) yrkande 27.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 140 proposals in motions on criminal law issues submitted during the general motion period in 2022. Some of the motions address trespass crimes, controlling behavior or psychological abuse of children. Other motions address, for example, pimping, sexual crimes on the internet, incitement against ethnic groups, child pornography offenses, animal cruelty, harboring of offenders, multiple offenses, aggravating circumstances, recidivism, unauthorized settlement, flag desecration and breach of confidentiality.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants Sweden to use universal jurisdiction to a greater extent to investigate and prosecute war crimes, human rights violations and crimes against humanity. (C) — Reservation 37
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan demands that the entire chain of justice functions from report to prosecution and judgment and that sentences shall ensure that sex crimes and crimes against children are prioritized by law enforcement authorities, and that children's best interests come first.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that the entire chain of justice functions from report to prosecution and judgment and that sentences shall ensure that sex crimes and crimes against children are prioritized by law enforcement authorities, and that children's best interests come first. Abolished limitation for grave sex crimes against children ensures that crimes can be prosecuted when they can be proven. The plan does not mention limitation periods, but the direction is clear.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att hela rättskedjan fungerar från anmälan till åtal och domslut och att straffen ska göra att sexualbrott och brott mot barn prioriteras av rättsvårdande instanser, samt att barnens bästa kommer i första rummet. Avskaffad preskription för grova sexualbrott mot barn gör just att brotten kan lagföras när de kan bevisas. Planen nämner inte preskriptionstider, men riktningen är tydlig.
- sex crimes shall be prioritizeddecisive»För det behövs det fler poliser, ökad kunskap inom rättsväsendet om samtycke och om våld mot kvinnor och barn, och straff som gör att brotten prioriteras av rättsvårdande instanser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“For that we need more police, increased knowledge within the justice system about consent and violence against women and children, and sentences that make crimes prioritized by law enforcement authorities”
- functioning chain of justice»rättskedjan fungera från anmälan till åtal och domslut« (party programme ↗)“the chain of justice to function from report to prosecution and judgment”
- children's best interests first»Vänsterpartiets politik ska utformas så att barnens bästa kommer i första rummet« (party programme ↗)“Left Party policy shall be designed so that children's best interests come first”
- sentence increases may be needed»Vissa straff kan behöva höjas men mycket mer fokus måste riktas mot att förhindra rekryteringen av nya barn till gängkriminalitet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Certain sentences may need to be raised but much more focus must be directed toward preventing recruitment of new children into gang crime”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires action against sexual crimes and wants to continue the direction that has toughened sentences for violence and violations, while sentences generally should be toughened for serious crimes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires action against sexual crimes and wants to continue the direction that has toughened sentences for violence and violations, while sentences generally should be toughened for serious crimes. Children's right to upbringing free from violence is a central principle. Swiftly preparing abolished statute of limitations for more serious sexual crimes against children and reviewing limitation periods follow from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver krafttag mot sexualbrott och vill fortsätta den riktning som skärpt straffen för våld och kränkningar, samtidigt som straffen generellt ska skärpas för allvarliga brott. Barns rätt till en uppväxt fri från våld är en bärande princip. Att skyndsamt bereda avskaffad preskription för fler grova sexualbrott mot barn och se över preskriptionstiderna följer av dessa åtaganden.
- action against sexual crimesdecisive»Krafttag för att stoppa hedersrelaterat våld, sexualbrott och mäns våld mot kvinnor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Action to stop honour-related violence, sexual crimes and men's violence against women.”
- continued toughened sentences»Vi vill fort sätta den politiska riktning som skärpt straffen för våld och andra kränkningar i nära relationer,« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to continue the political direction that has toughened sentences for violence and other violations in close relationships”
- upbringing free from violence»Alla barn och ungdomar ska ha rätt till likvärdiga villkor« (party programme ↗)“All children and young people should have the right to equivalent conditions”
- toughened sentences for serious crimes»Skärpa straffen för att hålla de kriminella borta från gatorna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Toughen sentences to keep criminals off the streets.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan demands that children's legal protection be strengthened in cases of suspected violence or sexual abuse and that criminal policy place the crime victim and their victimization at the centre.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that children's legal protection be strengthened in cases of suspected violence or sexual abuse and that criminal policy place the crime victim and their victimization at the centre. Abolition of limitations for more serious sexual crimes against children and a review of limitation periods follow from these commitments, especially as new technology makes old crimes possible to solve. The plan does not address limitations as such.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att barnets rättstrygghet stärks vid misstankar om våld eller sexuella övergrepp och att rättspolitiken sätter brottsoffret och dennes utsatthet i centrum. Avskaffad preskription för fler grova sexualbrott mot barn och en översyn av preskriptionstiderna följer av dessa åtaganden, särskilt när ny teknik gör gamla brott möjliga att klara upp. Planen uttalar sig inte om preskription som sådan.
- children's legal protectiondecisive»Barnets rättstrygghet måste stärkas om det« (party programme ↗)“Children's legal protection must be strengthened if there is”
- the crime victim at the centre»brottsoffret och dennes utsatthet i centrum« (party programme ↗)“the crime victim and their victimization at the centre”
- support for children at risk»Vi vill särskilt satsa på stöd till barn i familjer där« (party programme ↗)“We particularly wish to invest in support for children in families where”
- children's safety comes first»skydda barn från att tvingas till umgänge med en våldsam förälder« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect children from being forced into contact with a violent parent”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan demands a sharp stance on sex crimes and that those who commit such crimes shall not escape, and the party programme states that children have an unconditional right to protection against violence and degradation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands a sharp stance on sex crimes and that those who commit such crimes shall not escape, and the party programme states that children have an unconditional right to protection against violence and degradation. Abolishing limitation periods for more serious sex crimes against children and a review of limitation periods are measures in this direction. The plan also demands that crime victims receive redress, which new DNA technology makes possible even in older cases.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver skärpt syn på sexualbrott och att den som begår sådana brott inte ska komma undan, och partiprogrammet slår fast att barn har rätt till ett villkorslöst skydd mot våld och förnedring. Avskaffad preskription för fler grova sexualbrott mot barn och en översyn av preskriptionstiderna är åtgärder i den riktningen. Planen kräver också att brottsoffer får upprättelse, vilket ny dna-teknik gör möjligt även i äldre fall.
- toughened sentences for sex crimesdecisive»Män som slår ska inte komma undan. Vi vill höja straffen för sexualbrott, grov fridskränkning och grov kvinnofridskränkning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Men who hit shall not escape. We want to raise sentences for sex crimes, serious assault and serious assault against women.”
- children's unconditional protection»villkorslöst skydd mot våld och förnedring inom och utom hemmet« (party programme ↗)“unconditional protection against violence and degradation within and outside the home”
- crime victims' redress»Brottsofferperspektivet måste stärkas. Den som utsatts för brott ska få upprättelse och bättre stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The victim perspective must be strengthened. Those who have suffered crime shall receive redress and better support.”
- deterrent criminal policy»Kriminalpolitiken ska därför både förebygga och avskräcka från brott, stödja brottsdrabbade« (party programme ↗)“Criminal policy should therefore both prevent and deter crime, support victims of crime”
The plan explicitly states that there shall be no statute of limitations for sexual crimes against children and that sexual crime legislation shall be based on the victim's right to sexual integrity.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that there shall be no statute of limitations for sexual crimes against children and that sexual crime legislation shall be based on the victim's right to sexual integrity. It furthermore demands increased sentences for rape and increased action against sexual violence. The counter-proposal's demand for abolished statute of limitations for more serious sexual crimes against children and a review of limitation periods is thus the plan's own line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår uttryckligen fast att det inte ska finnas någon preskriptionstid för sexualbrott mot barn och att sexualbrottslagstiftningen ska utgå från brottsoffrets rätt till sexuell integritet. Den kräver dessutom skärpta straff för våldtäkt och ökad handlingskraft mot sexuellt våld. Motförslagets krav på avskaffad preskription för fler grova sexualbrott mot barn och en översyn av preskriptionstiderna är därmed planens egen linje.
- no statute of limitations for child sexual abusedecisive»För sexualbrott mot barn ska det inte finnas« (party programme ↗)“For sexual crimes against children there shall not be”
- victim's integrity»Sexualbrottslagstiftningen måste utgå från brottsoffrets rätt till sexuell integritet.« (party programme ↗)“Sexual crime legislation must be based on the victim's right to sexual integrity.”
- increased sentences for rape»Vi vill avskaffa dagens mängdrabatt på brott, slopa den närmast automatiska frigivningen från fängelsestraff och skärpa straffen för bland annat vapenbrott, våldtäkt och utpressning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to abolish today's volume discount on crimes, eliminate the near automatic release from imprisonment and increase sentences for, among other things, weapons crimes, rape and extortion.”
- action against sexual violence»Vi vill se en ökad handlingskraft mot sexuellt våld och våld mot kvinnor genom bland annat högre straff för sexualbrott och ett bättre skydd och stöd för offren.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see increased action against sexual violence and violence against women through, among other things, higher sentences for sexual crimes and better protection and support for victims.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto demands sharply increased penalties for sexual crimes, including life imprisonment for aggravated rape of children, and the party programme that all crimes shall be efficiently and without exception prosecuted and that society shall stand on the side of the crime victim.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands sharply increased penalties for sexual crimes, including life imprisonment for aggravated rape of children, and the party programme that all crimes shall be efficiently and without exception prosecuted and that society shall stand on the side of the crime victim. The best interests of the child shall come foremost. To abolish the statute of limitations for more serious sexual crimes against children and review the statutes of limitations follow from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver kraftigt skärpta straff för sexualbrott, inklusive livstids fängelse för grov våldtäkt mot barn, och partiprogrammet att alla brott effektivt och utan undantag beivras och att samhället ställer sig på brottsoffrets sida. Barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet. Att avskaffa preskriptionstiden för fler grova sexualbrott mot barn och se över preskriptionstiderna följer av dessa åtaganden.
- sharply increased penalties for sexual crimesdecisive»Skärp straffen för sexualbrott kraftigt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sharply increase penalties for sexual crimes.”
- all crimes shall be prosecuted»Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras« (party programme ↗)“All crimes shall be efficiently and without exception prosecuted”
- society on the crime victim's side»Samhället ska ställa sig på brottsoffrets sida.« (party programme ↗)“Society shall stand on the side of the crime victim.”
- the child's best interests foremost»FN:s barnkonvention stadgar att barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet.« (party programme ↗)“The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that the best interests of the child shall come foremost.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's decisive commitment is that sentences for violent and sexual crimes shall be greatly increased, that rapists shall not receive a discount and that a new criminal code shall shift focus from perpetrator to crime victim.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is that sentences for violent and sexual crimes shall be greatly increased, that rapists shall not receive a discount and that a new criminal code shall shift focus from perpetrator to crime victim. The plan is also prepared to keep socially dangerous sex offenders deprived of liberty as long as they are dangerous. To swiftly change and abolish statutes of limitations for serious sexual crimes against children therefore aligns with the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att straffen för vålds- och sexualbrott ska skärpas kraftigt, att våldtäktsmän inte ska få rabatt och att en ny brottsbalk ska flytta fokus från gärningsmannen till brottsoffret. Planen är också beredd att hålla samhällsfarliga sexualbrottslingar frihetsberövade så länge de är farliga. Att skyndsamt ändra och avskaffa preskriptionstider för grova sexualbrott mot barn ligger därför i planens linje.
- toughened sexual crime sentencesdecisive»Skärpa straffen för vålds- och sexualbrott« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Toughen sentences for violent and sexual crimes”
- no discount for rape»Våldtäktsmän ska inte få rabatt. Med Moderaternas straffskärpningar kommer samma brott i stället att leda till minst 12 år i fängelse.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Rapists shall not receive a discount. With the Moderates' sentence increases, the same crime will instead lead to at least 12 years in prison”
- crime victim perspective in law»Införa en ny brottsbalk för att skifta fokus från gärningsmannen till brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a new criminal code to shift focus from perpetrator to crime victim”
- prolonged deprivation of liberty»Införa en ny typ av förvaringsstraff så att serievåldtäktsmän och andra samhällsfarliga brottslingar kan sitta frihetsberövade så länge de är farliga för allmänheten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a new type of preventive detention so that serial rapists and other socially dangerous criminals can be held deprived of liberty as long as they are dangerous to the public”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires significantly toughened penalties for sexual crimes and that procedural obstacles to increased prosecution are removed, with the victim's interests as the starting point.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires significantly toughened penalties for sexual crimes and that procedural obstacles to increased prosecution are removed, with the victim's interests as the starting point. Abolishing the statute of limitations for more serious sexual crimes against children and reviewing the limitation periods in light of new DNA technology is precisely a removal of an obstacle to prosecution. The plan also speaks against the committee's reasoning that already-implemented toughening makes further initiatives unnecessary.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver kraftigt skärpta straff för sexualbrott och att processuella hinder för ökad lagföring undanröjs, med brottsoffrets bästa som utgångspunkt. Att avskaffa preskriptionstiden för fler grova sexualbrott mot barn och se över preskriptionstiderna mot bakgrund av ny dna-teknik är just ett undanröjande av ett hinder för lagföring. Planen talar också mot utskottets skäl att redan genomförda skärpningar gör ytterligare initiativ onödiga.
- toughened penalties for sexual crimesdecisive»Kraftigt skärpa straffen för sexualbrott och utvisa utländska våldtäktsmän på livstid« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Significantly toughen penalties for sexual crimes and deport foreign rapists for life”
- remove obstacles to prosecution»Processuella hinder för att möjliggöra en ökad lagföring måste också undanröjas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Procedural obstacles to enabling increased prosecution must also be removed.”
- victim at the center»Utformningen av politiken måste ske utifrån brottsoffrets bästa, inte gärningsmannen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Policy must be designed from the victim's perspective, not the perpetrator's.”
- all crimes should be investigated»Utgångspunkten bör vara att alla brott, även sådana som inte skapar rubriker, ska utredas och att polisen ska finnas nära i hela Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The starting point should be that all crimes, even those that do not make headlines, should be investigated and that police should be present throughout Sweden.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:JuU11)
- Committee report full text (HA01JuU11)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1001 — Grundlag av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1003 — Sverigevänlig konsumentpolitik av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1004 — Sverigedemokratisk insolvensrätt av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1013 — Post och it i hela landet av Jimmy Ståhl m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1079 — Om straffrabatt och villkorlig frigivning för de som återgår till brott av Camilla Brunsberg (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1086 — Översyn av förtalslagstiftningen av Ida Drougge (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1105 — All blåljuspersonal ska ha tjänstemannastatus av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1106 — Skärpt sexualbrottslag av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1111 — Eftersupning av Hans Eklind (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1117 — Förstärkning av barns rättsskydd mot olika former av sexuellt utnyttjande av Gudrun Brunegård (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1171 — Progressiva böter vid fortkörning av Monica Haider (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1203 — Mängdrabatt av Mattias Ottosson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1232 — En funktionsrättspolitik för trygghet och delaktighet av Maj Karlsson m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:124 — En översyn av lagen om hets mot folkgrupp av Ola Möller (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1315 — Kriminalisering av kontrollerande beteenden och psykisk misshandel av Aylin Fazelian (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1441 — Fastställande av dagsböter av Serkan Köse m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:149 — Kriminalisering av sexköp utomlands av Lawen Redar (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1673 — Jämställdhet för hållbar utveckling av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1681 — Sexsomni av Helena Vilhelmsson och Anne-Li Sjölund (båda C)
- Motion 2022/23:1708 — Sexualbrott av Josefin Malmqvist (M)
Source: The Swedish Parliament