dømte

Dømte is a Norwegian term used to refer to people who have been found guilty of a crime by a court of law. It derives from the verb dømme, meaning to judge or convict. As an attributive or nominal phrase, it is commonly used in media and official language: de dømte (the convicted), den dømte (the convicted person), dømte personer (convicted persons). The simple past tense form dømte is distinct from dømt, the past participle used in compound tenses.

In usage, the term identifies a status rather than a specific offense; it accompanies descriptions of penalties such as imprisonment, fines, or probation. It appears in sentencing reports, court summaries, and statistics on crime and justice. In some contexts, the phrase can carry normative or stigmatizing connotations if used without care.

Legal and administrative implications: a person who is dømte may have a criminal record, which in many jurisdictions is subject to rules on disclosure, rehabilitation, and, after a certain period, expungement or sealing. The handling of such records varies by country and jurisdiction and is subject to privacy and human rights considerations.

Cross-linguistic notes: related forms in Danish (dømte) and Swedish (domda/dömda) reflect shared Germanic roots; English equivalents include "the convicted" or "convicted person." See also criminal record, acquittal, rehabilitation, expungement.