This chapter is about the laws in Sweden and about how the police, prosecutors and courts work.
The fundamental laws
A fundamental law is extra difficult to change. There are 4 fundamental laws in Sweden. They are regeringsformen (the Instrument of Government), tryckfrihetsförordningen (the Freedom of the Press Act), yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen (the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression) and successionsordningen (the Act of Succession).
According to regeringsformen, all public power comes from the people. Riksdagen (the Swedish parliament) decides the laws, and regeringen (the Government) governs the country. Regeringsformen also protects citizens' basic freedoms and rights. Public power must be used so that everyone's equal worth, freedom and dignity are respected.
More fundamental laws
Tryckfrihetsförordningen means that everyone may freely publish books and newspapers. Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen protects the freedom to say what you think, for example on radio and TV. Anyone who lives in Sweden may also join associations, start new associations and demonstrate.
But freedom of expression has limits. It is a crime to defame someone, that is, to spread information that could make others look down on them. Hets mot folkgrupp (incitement against a population group, meaning threats or contempt aimed at a group) and hate crimes are also forbidden. Secrets about national defence may not be spread either, since this could harm Sweden's security.
The last fundamental law is successionsordningen. It determines who will become the next king or queen.
The right of public access
The right to move freely in nature is called allemansrätten (the right of public access). It is very old and is protected in regeringsformen. The right also applies on land that someone else owns. You may pick berries, mushrooms and flowers, and you may walk, cycle, paddle, camp and light fires.
But nature must not be damaged, and the landowner must not be disturbed. Do not walk across a farmer's fields or into other people's gardens, and do not leave litter. Some rare plants are protected by law, and you may not pick them.
The justice system
Rättsväsendet (the justice system) is a name for the agencies that work with law and justice. The police work to prevent and investigate crime. A prosecutor at Åklagarmyndigheten (the Swedish Prosecution Authority) decides whether a suspect will be tried in court.
A court examines the evidence and can then hand down a sentence. This could be, for example, prison or a fine (money you must pay). The court can also acquit, meaning the person is not convicted.
Brottsoffermyndigheten (the Swedish Crime Victim Authority) supports people affected by crime. Kriminalvården (the Swedish Prison and Probation Service) runs the prisons. It also makes sure that anyone convicted serves, that is, carries out, their sentence.
Legal certainty and the courts
The law must apply equally to everyone, and everyone must get a fair trial: this is rättssäkerhet (legal certainty). The evidence must be examined carefully before anyone is convicted. The courts are independent, and neither regeringen nor riksdagen may decide how they should rule. If you think a verdict is wrong, you can appeal to a higher court.
Everyone is considered innocent until a court has convicted them of a crime. The courts also resolve disputes, for example when parents disagree about custody, that is, responsibility for the children. Such cases are called civil cases.
The courts exist at 3 levels. Both criminal cases and civil cases are heard first in a district court. Cases that are appealed go on to a court of appeal. At the top is Högsta domstolen (HD, the Supreme Court), which only takes up certain important cases.
The police and criminal investigations
Swedish citizens get their passport and their national ID card from the police. If someone wants to organise a demonstration, it is the police who give permission.
A criminal investigation has several steps. First, the person affected by the crime makes a police report. Then the police hold questioning sessions, that is, ask questions about what happened. During the preliminary investigation, the police look for evidence and listen to witnesses.
The police can arrest, that is, detain, a person they strongly suspect. The decision on further detention is then taken by a prosecutor. This detention means the person is held in custody for at most 72 hours. If more evidence emerges, a court can decide on remand. Remand means the person is held in custody for a longer time.
Trial and punishment
When the investigation is complete, the prosecutor decides whether the case will go to court. It is the prosecutor who must prove that the defendant, that is, the person accused, is guilty. The defendant may get help from a lawyer, who can challenge the prosecutor and present other evidence. After hearing both sides, the judge decides whether the defendant will be convicted or acquitted.
Lay judges take part in rulings in the district court. A lay judge represents the public and provides insight, that is, lets ordinary people see how the court works. Lay judges are chosen by kommunfullmäktige, based on proposals from the political parties.
As a rule, you can be convicted of a crime from age 15, and this threshold is called straffmyndighetsålder (the age of criminal responsibility). Since 10 September 2026, a 14 year old can be convicted if the minimum sentence is at least 4 years in prison. If a younger child commits a crime, the social services decide what should be done. Anyone convicted of a crime is entered in belastningsregistret (the criminal record register). The register can later be an obstacle when applying for a job, a driving licence or citizenship.