Justice minister wants higher penalties for rapists

Currently, the average sentence for rape in Denmark is two years

Lucie Rychla

Aug 13, 2015

The newly-appointed justice minister, Søren Pind, wants to increase the penalties for violent crimes and rape, Berlingske reports.

“It is rare that someone gets a higher sentence than two years for committing a rape, and when we look at the factors that sometimes surround rape, it is far too little,” Pind told Berlingske.

“I believe it is important we do something about it for the general sense of justice.”

Only two years for rape
The current maximum penalty for rape in Denmark is eight years and in very severe cases up to 12 years in prison.

However, figures from the Ministry of Justice show that in 2012 the average sentences were 719 days in prison.

A report in January revealed that the average sentence given to a child rapist was just three years, a quarter of the mandatory 12.

Waiting for evaluation report
Similarly, punishments for aggravated assaults can get defendants behind the bars for up to six years, but the typical sentences are between three to six months.

Pind will decide on his next steps after he gets an evaluation report from his department, which is expected to be ready within six months.

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