A special rule gives courts the opportunity to impose double penalties if the crimes are judged to have links to gang crime. The rule is aimed at the gangs in particular and a prerequisite is that the crime has a background in provoking a conflict between different groups. It is limited to certain more serious crimes. Another requirement is that firearms or explosives be used in the crime.
No penalty discount for young peopleDenmark does not have a penalty discount for young offenders. This means full-scale punishment for anyone over the age of 18 at sentencing. In Sweden, those under the age of 21 had received a deduction from their sentence due to their age.
The penalty scale for murderIn Denmark , the penalty for murder is between 5-16 years in prison. Life can be sentenced but it rarely happens, time is therefore normal. And those convicted of murder generally sit for a shorter time than the equivalent in Sweden. If the gang clause is applied, the penalty can be doubled.
In Sweden , which has a stricter penalty scale for murder, the penalty is 10-18 years or life. However, the starting point in practice is 14 years. However, life imprisonment may only be imposed if the accused is over 21 years of age. However, a new murder clause from 1 January this year is intended to impose more life sentences in Sweden.
Source: Dennis Martinsson, PhD in criminal law at Stockholm University