Att gola eller inte gola? Om effekterna av ett kronvittnessystem i Sverige.

Sammanfattning

The culture of silence in criminal networks creates problems for crime investigations around Sweden. In the absence of witnesses and evidence, many crimes are left unsolved, which is now being changed by streamlining the process and allowing suspects to provide information about each other in exchange for a reduced sentence. A system with crown witnesses has long been discussed in Sweden, but it is only now that the advantages are considered to outweigh the disadvantages. Recently, concerns about criminal networks and organized crime, based on silence, have led politicians to discuss how best to counteract them. The tone of the debate has usually been harsh, and that much needs to be done to crack down the criminal networks. The Swedish government has therefore put forward several measures to combat organized crime in Sweden and break the culture of silence. An investigation of a crown witness system was launched in 2019, and this time it was concluded that a form of leniency for investigative involvement in another's crime should be introduced to break the culture of silence. Despite not being a pure crown witness system, we have never been as close to one as we are today. The paper focuses on the possible effects of such a system and asks whether the desired effects are possible. Cultures of silence are difficult to break, as studies presented in the paper show. It takes more than just leniency for someone to have the courage to disclose information about someone else's crime. The paper finally concludes, based on the research presented, that such a system as proposed will not have the effects hoped for if at the same time a system of legal certainty is to be maintained.