Criminal
The Straffeloven, lay judges and a unified prosecution service
Criminal law rests on the Penal Code (Straffeloven). Serious cases are tried with lay judges alongside professionals, and prosecutions are run by the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Key rules
- Lay judges sit with professional judges in more serious criminal trials.
- The prosecution service is headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (Rigsadvokaten).
- Detained suspects must be brought before a judge within 24 hours.
Governing law
- Penal Code (Straffeloven)
- Administration of Justice Act (Retsplejeloven)
Penalties and consequences
- Fines and imprisonment; Denmark has no life-without-parole and a comparatively low maximum term
In practice
Denmark emphasises short custodial sentences and resocialisation, so headline maximum terms are lower than in many neighbouring systems.