NCJ Number
53636
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Volume: 322 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 265-269
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE COMPUTATION OF DAY-FINES AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE DAY-FINE SYSTEM IN SWEDEN ARE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. THE SYSTEM USES VARIABLE FINES BASED ON INCOME TO MAKE THE PUNISHMENT EQUAL FOR RICH AND POOR.
Abstract
THIS PAPER IS WRITTEN FOR PERSONS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE DAY-FINE SYSTEM AND CONTAINS MANY EXAMPLES. AFTER NOTING THAT DAY-FINES WERE TRIED AND FOUND UNSUCCESSFUL IN OTHER SCANDANAVIAN COUNTRIES, THE DETAILS OF THE SUCCESSFUL SWEDISH SYSTEM ARE EXPLAINED. UNDER THIS SYSTEM THE NUMBER OF DAYS THE FINE IS TO BE PAID REPRESENTS THE MEASURE OF PUNISHMENT AND THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID EACH DAY IS BASED ON THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE ACCUSED. THE ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF DAY-FINES, THAT IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DAYS, RANGES FROM 1 TO 20 WHILE THE AMOUNTS RANGE FROM 2 TO 500 KRONOR. IF A PERSON IS SENTENCED FOR SEVERAL OFFENSES AT THE SAME TIME, THE JOINT PUNISHMENT MAY NOT EXCEED 180 DAY FINES. THE HIGHEST SUM WHICH CAN BE IMPOSED FOR A SINGLE SENTENCE IS 500 KRONOR FOR 120 DAYS OR 60,000 KRONER. FOR STUDENTS AND OLD AGE PENSIONERS THE USUAL FINE IS 3 KRONOR. METHODS USED TO COMPUTE INCOME ARE DISCUSSED. THE LARGEST DEBATE IS WHETHER THE OFFENDER'S INCOME SHOULD BE COMPUTED BEFORE OR AFTER TAXES. IN SWEDEN, WHICH HAS 40 PERCENT TO 50 PERCENT INCOME TAX RATES, THIS IS SIGNIFICANT. DEPENDENTS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF THE FINE. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT FOR MANY OFFENSES ECONOMIC PUNISHMENTS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SHORT-TERM IMPRISONMENT. THE USE OF DAY-FINES IS EXPANDING, ESPECIALLY FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING OFFENSES. (GLR)