Henleggelse

Henleggelse is a legal term used to describe the formal decision by a prosecuting authority or investigating body to discontinue a criminal investigation or to drop charges. It means that the case will not proceed to trial, and no conviction can be obtained based on the investigation conducted up to that point. A henleggelse is a procedural outcome, not a verdict of innocence or guilt.

Common grounds for henleggelse include insufficient evidence to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, a lack of public interest in pursuing prosecution, expiration of statutes of limitations, or other legal barriers such as the suspect’s death or immunity. Decisions may also be made when the circumstances do not meet the legal criteria for criminal liability, or when resources and priorities of the prosecuting authority favor not pursuing the case further.

The decision is typically issued in writing by the public prosecutor or investigating authority and may specify the grounds for the closure. In many jurisdictions, a henleggelse is not an acquittal and does not foreclose the possibility of reopening the investigation if new evidence emerges. It may also be subject to review or appeal to a higher prosecutorial authority or, in some cases, to the courts, depending on national rules.