Misstänkta

Misstänkta is a Swedish term used to describe persons who are believed by authorities to have committed a crime but have not yet been charged or convicted. The form is the plural of the adjective misstänkt in its past participle form and is commonly used as a noun phrase, for example de misstänkta i fallet.

In the Swedish criminal justice system, a person can be described as misstänkt during a preliminary investigation (förundersökning). The status may lead to a formal accusation (åtalad) if evidence strengthens, or to dismissal if the evidence is insufficient. The term reflects a stage of the process rather than a verdict of guilt.

In journalism and media, misstänkta signals that individuals are under suspicion but not proven guilty. Using terms like misstänkt or misstänkta helps convey uncertainty and avoids asserting criminality before a legal decision. Journalistic practice emphasizes that being named a misstänkt does not equal being guilty.

Related terms include misstänkt (singular, adjective describing one person), misstänka (to suspect), och åtal (charge) or dom (judgment). Etymologically, the word derives from the verb misstänka, meaning to suspect, with the participle form misstänkt becoming a common basis for the noun phrase.

Examples: planetärslut, istället: "De misstänkta i fallet kallades till förhör." "Antalet misstänkta ökar."