Denmark is set to increase the minimum imprisonment term for life-sentenced prisoners from 12 to 20 years, as part of a new political agreement reached by a broad majority in the Danish Parliament. The move aims to ensure that life sentences are effectively the harshest punishment in the country, addressing concerns that gang members serving time with double penalties could become eligible for parole sooner than those with life sentences.

Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard stated that the change seeks to prevent dangerous criminals from being released prematurely, emphasizing the desire for those sentenced to life to remain incarcerated for the remainder of their lives.

The initiative responds to public concern that the current system allows life-sentenced prisoners to be paroled after only 12 years, with some re-offending after release. Justice Spokesperson Mai Mercado highlighted the importance of aligning the parole eligibility for life-sentenced prisoners with the severity of their crimes, asserting that the reform will restore life imprisonment as the country’s most stringent punishment.

Currently, gang members convicted of serious crimes, like drug offenses, can receive doubled prison sentences, such as 20 years, and become eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of their sentence, just over 13 years. The Conservative Party played a key role in advocating for the change during negotiations.