The Danish government has unveiled a comprehensive penal reform aimed at increasing penalties for violent crimes and improving prison conditions. The reform seeks to address public concerns regarding lenient sentencing and aims to create a more effective and just criminal justice system.

The government will double the penalties for crimes such as gross violence and extremely gross violence. Penalties for aggravated rape, gang rape, and violence against children or partners will also be increased by 50 percent.

The reform addresses the issue of insufficient prison capacity by creating 2,000 new prison places, in addition to the 1,000 already announced. This includes the construction of two new prisons, one of which will be a women’s prison located in West Denmark, and the other a closed prison with 400 places.

In addition to increasing penalties and expanding prison capacity, the penal reform also emphasizes prevention and rehabilitation efforts. One billion kroner will be allocated to prevent recurring crime, and 300 new prison employees will focus on preventive measures. The reform also explores alternative forms of punishment, such as penal labor and increased use of electronic tagging.

The government also plans to modernize prisons to create better conditions and working environments for employees, opening up recruitment to foreign labor. However, concerns have been raised about the feasibility of implementing the ambitious plans, given the existing shortage of prison places and officers. The first deportable criminals can only be sent off in 2027, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Justice.