Criminal reform: Higher penalties and more options for electronic tags
Official title (in Danish): Lov om ændring af straffeloven, retsplejeloven, lov om fuldbyrdelse af straf m.v. og forskellige andre love (Gennemførelse af dele af »Aftale om strafreform og kriminalforsorgens økonomi 2026-2030« m.v.)
In short
Reading time: 2 min- What changes:
- The act increases penalties for several types of violence, harassment and other crime.
- It also expands the option to serve a sentence with an electronic tag and raises the victim contribution.
- Who: Persons convicted of the above offences, convicted persons who may serve a sentence with an electronic tag, and persons in public service who receive expanded protection.
- When: The Act entered into force on 15 February 2026. Some parts will enter into force on 1 January 2027.
Written by AI from verbatim quotes from the source and checked by code and AI. Dates, tables and the fact box are calculated by fixed rules. Unofficial translation. Always read the original.
The victim contribution is doubled from DKK 500 to DKK 1,000. According to the agreement behind the act, the extra money must be used for new initiatives that benefit victims.
The penalty for aggravated violence and particularly aggravated violence is increased by 100 per cent. This also applies to female genital mutilation. The penalty for simple violence is increased by 50 per cent in these cases: random assault, group violence, violence against partners and children in close relationships, and repeated cases of simple violence.
The penalty for rape involving violence or threats of violence is increased by 50 per cent. This also applies to gang rape. The penalty for distributing sexual material of persons under 18 is increased by 100 per cent, and the penalty for merely possessing it is also increased. The same applies to digital sexual offences against adults.
The penalty for violence and threats against persons in public service or public office is increased by 50 per cent. At the same time, more groups are covered by this protection. The penalty for harassment of persons in public service is also increased by 50 per cent, and more forms of harassment become punishable. In harassment cases, an order to delete material can be issued.
The penalty for reckless driving is increased by 33 per cent. A new rule on traffic killing is introduced. The fine for environmental crime is increased by 100 per cent. In the most serious cases of environmental crime, the penalty can be imprisonment.
More convicted persons will be able to serve their sentence at home with an electronic tag (the "front door" scheme). More prisoners may also be moved from prison to home with an electronic tag (the "back door" scheme) or to a transition prison.
Sources and original
Read the official text (in Danish) →
The case at the Danish Parliament (ft.dk)
Source: Retsinformation.dk
Translated from Danish · The Danish version and the original source apply.
Summary by the Danish Parliament (in Danish)
Regeringen (Socialdemokratiet, Venstre og Moderaterne) samt Danmarksdemokraterne, Socialistisk Folkeparti, Liberal Alliance, Det Konservative Folkeparti, Dansk Folkeparti, Radikale Venstre og Alternativet indgik den 25. juni 2025 en aftale om strafreform og kriminalforsorgens økonomi 2026-2030. Lovforslaget indeholder de dele af aftalen om strafreform og kriminalforsorgens økonomi 2026-2030, som kræver lovændringer, herunder strafskærpelser for personfarlig kriminalitet m.v., tiltag til at nedbringe omfanget af varetægtsfængsling, ændring af mulighederne for prøveløsladelse, udvidelse af mulighed for straffuldbyrdelse og udstationering i eget hjem ved brug af fodlænke m.v., ny ordning for opkrævning af straffesagsomkostninger og forhøjelse af offerbidraget. Derudover indeholder lovforslaget to elementer, der ikke har baggrund i aftalen om strafreform og kriminalforsorgens økonomi 2026-2030. Det ene element indebærer en præcisering af, at tilsynsmyndighederne kan give påbud om, at ulovligt ødelagt natur skal reetableres. Det andet element indebærer en styrkelse af beskyttelsen af vilde og fredede dyrearter (fauna) i Danmark ved at øge anvendelsen af muligheden for at frakende jagttegn ved faunakriminalitet. Det foreslås, at loven træder i kraft den 1. februar 2025.
Source: Folketinget (ft.dk). Reproduced unchanged.
Timeline
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- Introduced · 27 November 2025Status in the Danish Parliament: Fremsat
- Passed · 5 February 2026Status in the Danish Parliament: 3.beh./Vedtaget
- Stadfæstet · 11 February 2026Status in the Danish Parliament: Stadfæstet
- Partly entered into force · 15 February 2026Status in the Danish Parliament: Stadfæstet
- The rest enters into force · 1 January 2027In 58 days