Häktade

Häktade refers to individuals who have been arrested and are held in pre-trial detention in Sweden. This legal status is imposed by a court upon a suspect who is reasonably suspected of having committed a crime for which the minimum penalty is imprisonment for at least one year. The primary reasons for ordering detention are if there is a risk of the suspect absconding, tampering with evidence, or continuing to commit criminal offenses.

The process begins with an arrest by the police, followed by an interrogation. If the prosecutor believes there are grounds for detention, they will request it from a district court within a specified timeframe, typically three days. The court then holds a hearing where the prosecutor presents their case and the suspect, often with legal counsel, can present their defense. The court's decision to detain a suspect is based on the assessment of the "skälig misstanke" (reasonable suspicion) and the aforementioned risks.

Detention is not a sentence; it is a temporary measure to ensure the proper progression of the investigation and the judicial process. Individuals who are häktade are held in remand prisons. The duration of detention can vary and is subject to periodic review by the court. If a suspect is later found not guilty or the charges are dropped, they are released. The period spent in detention is taken into account if the individual is later convicted and sentenced to imprisonment. The legal framework surrounding häktade is designed to balance the needs of the investigation with the fundamental rights of the individual.