Record waiting time in court for victims seeking justice

With case processing time having doubled since 2007, justice minister Peter Hummelgaard faced a barrage of criticism in Parliament

Victims must wait on average 617 days from crime is reported until the gavel falls (photo: Pixabay)

In light of the case-processing time doubling since 2007, the justice minister, Peter Hummelgaard, has faced a barrage of criticism in Parliament.

Today, victims of crime face having to wait close to two years to see justice in the courts of Denmark, according to BT newspaper.

BT revealed that the average case-processing time was 307 days during the fourth quarter of 2007 – a figure that had more than doubled to a record 617 days in the same quarter in 2022.

“This is a serious violation of the people’s sense of justice. It’s grotesque to wait this long for a crime to end up with a conviction,” Mikael Sjøberg, the head of judge association Den Danske Dommerforening, told BT.

READ ALSO: Supreme Court rules in favour of police being able to confiscate vehicles of reckless drivers

Delays across the board
The revelation led to Hummelgaard being questioned about the development in Parliament yesterday.

The case-processing duration has increased particularly at the courts, but also within the halls of the prosecutor’s office and the police.

The news comes despite political promises to reduce case-processing times. 




Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.


  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.