Brottsregister

Brottsregister is a term used in the Nordic and Scandinavian context to describe a government-maintained registry of criminal history. It functions as an official record of individuals’ involvement in criminal offenses, including details such as the offense type, dates, court decisions, and sanctions. The register may also include information about dispositions such as acquittals, suspensions, or rehabilitation measures, and, in some systems, information about dismissals or pardons. Some registers distinguish between arrests and convictions; others focus on final judgments.

Typically, brottsregisters are used to support law enforcement, criminal investigations, judicial proceedings, and administrative processes requiring background checks. Employers, licensing authorities, and immigration bodies may request access to relevant parts of a person’s record, subject to legal consent and privacy protections. Access is usually restricted to authorized bodies and, in many jurisdictions, the data subject has the right to obtain a copy of their own record and to request corrections of inaccuracies.

The handling of the data is governed by privacy and data-protection laws that regulate collection, storage, use, retention, and the right to rectify or delete information. Retention periods vary and some information may be sealed or restricted after a period of time or following rehabilitation.

Critics highlight concerns about privacy, potential stigmatization, and the accuracy of records. Proponents argue that reliable records improve security and informed decision-making. The exact structure, contents, and access rules of brottsregisters differ by country and legal tradition.