Sweden shortens crime victims’ route to compensation

Crime victims in Sweden can now take a shorter route to state compensation after a court awards damages.

For charges filed from 1 September, a victim can apply directly to the Crime Victim Authority once the damages judgment is final, the Enforcement Authority says. If approved, the state pays the compensation instead of requiring the victim to pursue the offender first.

The filing date matters. Cases based on charges filed before 1 September continue under the previous process, where the Enforcement Authority first tries to collect the damages.

The new route follows a Riksdag decision designed to make payment simpler and faster. The amended Crime Damage Act took effect on Tuesday.

State compensation may not cover every part of a court award. A victim can still ask the Enforcement Authority to collect any unpaid remainder from the offender, or choose enforcement for the full amount instead. The Crime Victim Authority has published an application guide.

A person ordered to pay damages should normally pay the victim directly. If the victim’s account details are unknown while the judgment can still be appealed, the money can be deposited with the Enforcement Authority.

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