Tidsdömda

Tidsdömda is a Swedish term used to describe individuals who have been convicted and sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment by a court. The word distinguishes those serving a fixed-length sentence from those serving life imprisonment, which has no predetermined end date. The term appears in legal language as well as in media coverage of criminal cases.

In Sweden, penalties include tidsbestämt fängelse (time-bound imprisonment) and livstids fängelse (life imprisonment). A court determines the length of a tidsdömd sentence based on the seriousness of the crime, the circumstances, and the offender’s prior record. The maximum fixed-term penalty is generally 18 years; life imprisonment is reserved for the most serious offenses, such as murder or other grave crimes. Some offenses may carry shorter terms or other dispositions, while some cases may result in alternative outcomes.

If a person is sentenced to a fixed term, they normally serve the term in prison. Release before the end of the term can be granted through conditional release (villkorlig frigivning) under supervision if the authorities assess that the offender does not pose a danger to society. After release, ongoing supervision or probation may apply. The concept of tidsdömda is commonly used in legal discussions and reporting to distinguish between fixed-term sentences and life sentences within the Swedish penal system.