sou · H1B321 · 2013-04-04 00:00:00 — If it is required in order for a foreign custodial sentence to be enforced in , the competent authority may itself issue regu- lations or request that the Swedish Prosecution Authority apply to District Court for a new sentence to be determined. This corresponds to the possibility for adaptation of the sentence currently enjoyed by the Government. As is currently the case, the basic premise is that the foreign sentence should not normally be adapted in any way. The Swedish Prison and may need to issue regulations when, for example, a sentence concerning a young offender in is to be enforced through institutional youth care. In exceptional cases there may also be reasons for adjusting the length of a foreign prison sentence. This may be the case for example where differences in parole rules mean that enforce- ment in would make a sentence substantially longer than in the issuing State, which may contravene Convention on Human Rights. There may be other exceptions where circum- stances in individual cases are such that it would be objectionable to transfer enforcement without adaptation. As at present, the pro- cedure for conversion of sentences should be used when con- sidering the forms of sentences for mentally disturbed offenders. Under the terms of the Act, the Enforcement Authority is to examine foreign criminal sentences of fines or forfeiture and decide whether they can be enforced in . This is a new aspect, as the provisions of the Convention on the International Validity of Criminal Judgments currently also apply to transfers under other international agreements. Procedural provisions in the Act on recog- nition and enforcement of fines within Union (2009:1427) and the Act on recognition and enforcement of for- feiture within Union (2009:423) have been used as a model for this procedure. Certain deviations were nonetheless deemed necessary. Proposal for a new Act on recognition and enforcement of custodial sentences in Union A new Act that implements the Framework Decision In the second section of the report, we propose that the Frame- work Decision on recognition and enforcement of custodial sentences be implemented by means of a new Act on recognition and enforce- ment of sentences involving deprivation of in Union. This Act is to be applied instead of the Act on international enforcement of sentences when transferring the enforcement of custodial sentences between and another . According to the Framework Decision, an obligatory cooperation area exists between the Member States. This means that the exe- cuting State is obligated to recognise and enforce a foreign judg- ment when the convicted person is a citizen and is residing in the executing State, or when the convicted person is a citizen and expelled to the executing State, unless a ground for refusal stated in the Framework Decision is applied. Furthermore, the Framework Decision entails another new aspect, compared with previous agree- ments, in that the consent of the sentenced person is not necessary for a transfer if he or she is a citizen and resident of the executing State. The proposed new Act is designed accordingly and therefore in practice offers greater opportunities for transferring the enforce- ment of Swedish judgments to another and, at the same time, greater obligations to accept enforcement of foreign judgments. We also propose that the obligatory cooperation area be expanded in one situation. This applies when the sentenced person is resident and has stayed legally for at least five years without interruption in the executing State. This expansion applies in relation to other Member States that have declared that permission is not necessary in equivalent situations. The Framework Decision means that competent authorities in the various Member States are to communicate directly with one another. There is therefore no need for communications to go via the . In accordance with 1 of the Frame- work Decision, a certificate is to be included with a judgment sent for recognition and enforcement. In principle, this certificate should contain all the information necessary to take a decision in the matter. The certificate is to be translated into the language of the executing State or into a language that State has declared accep- table. Recognition and enforcement of a Swedish custodial sentence in another of Union The proposed Act means that the Swedish Prison and , for imprisonment and institutional youth care, and , for committal to forensic mental care, may forward a Swedish judgment to another for recognition and enforcement if it can be assumed that transferring enforcement there would facilitate the sentenced per- sons social rehabilitation. In cases outside the obligatory coopera- tion area or the expanded obligatory cooperation area, the executing States permission is required for forwarding of this kind. In addition, the consent of the sentenced person is required if he or she is not a citizen and resident of the executing State, has been expelled there or has fled there. Furthermore, the judgment must have become final and non-appealable, the sentenced person must be in or in the executing State, and there must be at least six months of the sentence left to serve, or there are special grounds favour for transferring enforcement there anyway. Finally, a transfer must be deemed appropriate. This assessment includes considering the form that enforcement will take in the other State. When a Swedish judgment has been forwarded to the executing State, enforcement of the sentence referred to in the request may only begin in if the sentenced person is in detention. However, the sentence may be enforced in if the compe- tent authority has withdrawn the request for recognition and enforce- ment, or if the executing State has announced that the request has been denied or that enforcement cannot take place there. If the sentenced person is in , he or she is to be trans- ferred to the executing State as soon as possible after the decision of the executing State has become final and non-appealable, or no later than within thirty days. The transfer may take place at a later date if there are special grounds. The Swedish Prison and is to ensure that the sentenced person is transported to the executing State. In certain cases, enforcement of a Swedish judgment is to be transferred to another as a consequence of a Euro- pean arrest warrant. The conditions of the Act do not apply in such cases; however, the other provisions of the Act do apply. Recognition and enforcement in of a foreign custodial sentence that has been issued in another of Union A foreign custodial sentence that is sent to for recognition and enforcement under the Framework Decision is to be addressed to and examined by the Swedish Prison and , for sentences that can be expected to be enforced by means of imprison- ment or institutional youth care, and , for sentences that can be expected to be enforced by means of forensic mental care. In cases where the sentenced person comes under the obligatory cooperation area, the foreign judgment is to be recognised and enforced in if other conditions are also fulfilled. In other cases, the competent authority may examine whether it can be assumed that transferring enforcement here would facilitate the sentenced persons social rehabilitation. A transfer of enforcement also requires the consent of the sentenced person if he or she is not a Swedish citizen and resident in , has been expelled here or has fled here. The foreign judgment must also have become final and non-appealable, the sentenced person must be in or in the issuing State and there must be at least six months of the sen- tence left to serve or special grounds for transferring enforcement anyway. The Act also presents nine points that constitute impediments to recognition and enforcement. These correspond to the grounds for refusal listed in Article 9 of the Framework Decision. If such a ground for refusal exists, a request for recognition and enforce- ment is to be denied. Under the Framework Decision, a refusal may also be made if the enforcement of a foreign judgment would contravene the or commitments under Convention on Human Rights, or the general principles of European Union law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. In some cases there may be humanitarian grounds for trans- ferring enforcement of a foreign judgment to even though a ground for refusal exists. The Act therefore contains an exemp- tion that makes it possible to recognise and enforce the foreign judgment if, in view of the sentenced persons opinion and general circumstances, there are special grounds for the enforcement to take place in . In cases where the foreign judgment refers to two or more offences and there are impediments concerning any of these, the Act also provides an opportunity to partially recognise and enforce the judgment. In cases where a Swedish court has decided, in a matter con- cerning a European arrest warrant, that a foreign judgment is to be enforced in , the competent authority is not to examine the conditions under the new Act. However, the Acts procedural rules are also to apply in these matters. The competent authority is to take its final decision no later than thirty days after having received a judgment and certificate. If special grounds exist, the decision may be announced later, i.e. if supplementary information is required. If the competent authority decides to recognise and enforce the foreign judgment, it is to be carried out through a declaration of enforceability. The declaration of enforceability is to make clear whether the sentence will be adjusted in any way or whether a court will examine whether to convert it. The basic premise is that no adjustment is to be made of the foreign sentence. In a similar as in the Act on inter- national enforcement of sentences, the competent authority can, if necessary for the enforcement to take place in , issue regu- lations or refer the matter for conversion of the sentence. In cases where the sentenced person is in the issuing State, the Swedish Prison and is to ensure that he or she is transported to . Under the Framework Decision, the issuing State is to cover the costs for the transport. Unless a new sentence is decided in , enforcement in is to take place in accordance with the applicable terms of an equivalent Swedish sentence. In certain cases, enforcement may be discontinued due to measures taken by the issuing State. It may be that the issuing State issues a withdrawal, grants the sentenced person a or amnesty, or takes some other decision that means that the sentence may no longer be enforced, or that the sentenced person absconds from enforcement and the right to en- force the sentence should therefore to the issuing State. Proposal for a new Act on recognition and enforcement of probation sentences in Union A new Act that implements the Framework Decision In the third section of the report, we propose that the Framework Decision on recognition and enforcement of probation sentences be implemented in a new Act on recognition and enforcement of sentences involving probation in Union. To all intents and purposes, cooperation on probation sentences is new, with the exception of the cooperation between the Nordic countries. In light of this, one starting point has been to limit the Acts initial scope of application. This is also motivated by the ongoing reform efforts concerning the Swedish sentencing system proposed by the Sentencing Inquiry. The new Act is to be applied to Swedish and foreign judgments and decisions involving sentences that are alternatives to custodial sentences and are not fines, or imprisonment after the sentenced person has been conditionally released. The Swedish sentences that could be transferred for enforcement in another are conditional sentences, probation, youth service, and imprisonment after the sentenced person has been conditionally released. The foreign sentences to be included are to be determined on the basis of the definitions in Article 2.1 of the Framework Decision. One aim of the Framework Decision is to avoid situations where foreigners are sentenced to imprisonment simply because a probation sentence does not appear to be enforceable. For a court, in an individual case, to have the option of choosing a probation sentence rather than a shorter term of imprisonment, the Swedish Prison and and the competent authority in the other must consult one another as early as at the individual examination stage. In much the same way as the Framework Decision of recog- nition and enforcement of custodial sentences, this Framework Decision means that there is to be direct communication between the competent authorities, and that a certificate with all the rele- vant information is to be included with any judgment sent for recog- nition and enforcement. Recognition and enforcement of a Swedish probation sentence in another of Union Under the Act, the Swedish Prison and may forward a Swedish judgment to another for recog- nition and enforcement if the judgment has become final and non- appealable, the sentenced person is resident in the executing State and has returned or will return there, it can be assumed that trans- ferring enforcement there would facilitate the sentenced persons social rehabilitation and a transfer is suitable. If the sentenced per- son is not resident in the executing State, forwarding can still take place if the other gives its consent. In connection with recognition of the judgment by the executing State, competency to enforce the sentence and take subsequent decisions related to it is transferred to the executing State. Sub- sequent decisions taken in the executing State are to apply in . However, the executing State has the option of referring a matter concerning a measure to . This option depends on the explanation provided by the other . In such a case, regains competency to take decisions with respect to the judgment. The Swedish Prison and is to transfer a referred matter to the parole board. In certain cases, a situation may arise where the Swedish Prison and wants to restore competency to enforce a sentence and take subsequent decisions to . A withdrawal is possible until enforcement begins in the other state. After that, a withdrawal is possible if the sentenced person is charged with other offences in . Following a withdrawal, enforcement is to con- tinue in and a Swedish court has the opportunity to consider the judgment when determining the sentence in a new criminal case. Enforcement is also to continue if the executing State restores com- petency to enforce the sentence to . Recognition and enforcement in of a probation sentence that has been issued in another of Union A foreign probation sentence that is forwarded to for re- cognition and enforcement is to be addressed to and examined by the Swedish Prison and . Recognition and enforce- ment are to be carried out if the judgment has become final and non-appealable, the sentenced person is resident in and has or wishes to return here, and the probation measure specified in the judgment is covered by Article 4.1 of the Framework Decision. Even if the sentenced person is not resident in , a foreign judgment may be recognised and enforced if it can be assumed that transferring enforcement here would facilitate the sentenced persons social rehabilitation. The Act also presents eight points that constitute impediments to recognition and enforcement. These correspond to the grounds for refusal listed in Article 11 of the Framework Decision. If such a ground for refusal exists, a request for recognition and enforce- ment is to be denied. Under the Framework Decision, a refusal may also be made if the enforcement of a foreign judgment would contravene the or commitments under Convention on Human Rights, or the general principles of European Union law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. In exceptional cases, enforcement may take place in such cases despite the existence of a ground for refusal. The Act also contains an optional ground for refusal to the effect that the request may be denied if the sentence is less than six months in length. The Swedish Prison and is to take the final decision no later than sixty days after receiving the request. If special grounds exist, a decision may be announced later, i.e. if supple- mentary information is required. A decision to assume responsibility for enforcement is taken through a declaration of enforceability. The Framework Decision means that in its capacity as executing State, is obliged to accept and enforce the probation measures listed in Article 4.1 of the Framework Decision. The applicable probation measure and its length is to be made clear in the certi- ficate, and this information is to be attached to the declaration of enforceability. Regardless of the applicable probation measure, it is to be enforced by application of the provisions in Chapter 26, Sec- tions 12–18, Chapter 27, Sections 4 and 5, and Chapter 28, Section 5 a of the Swedish Penal Code. If the sentenced person seriously neglects his or her obligations or is charged with other offences, the Swedish Prison and is to restore competency to enforce the sentence to the issuing State. This applies even if the sentenced person absconds from or is no longer resident here. In such cases, enforcement in is consequently to cease. This is also the case if the issuing State has issued a withdrawal or a decision to the effect that the sentence may no longer be enforced. It is proposed that the three new Acts and proposed amendments to other legislation enter into force on 1 2014. The Framework Decisions mean greater opportunities to transfer enforcement of sentences, which is linked to the obligatory coope- ration areas, direct communication between competent authorities and time limits for taking decisions. It can therefore be expected that the number of cases concerning the transfer of sentences will increase. This particularly applies to the transfer of enforcement of Swedish judgments to another EU . We estimate that, all in all, the proposals will not entail increased costs for public authorities. Instead, there is much to indicate that, as a whole, the proposals may mean savings for . lag (2014:000) om internationell straffverkställighet Härigenom föreskrivs följande. 1 kap. Allmänna bestämmelser Lagens innehåll och tillämpningsområde 1 § Denna lag innehåller bestämmelser om internationellt samarbete om straffverkställighet. -verkställighet av en svensk brottmålsdom om frihetsberövande påföljd utomlands (2 kap.), -verkställighet i av en utländsk brottmålsdom om fri- hetsberövande påföljd (3 kap.), -verkställighet av en svensk brottmålsdom om böter och för- verkande utomlands (4 kap.), -verkställighet i av en utländsk brottmålsdom om böter och förverkande (5 kap.), -övriga bestämmelser (6 kap.), och -särskilda bestämmelser om förfarandet vid tillämpning av brott- målsdomskonventionen (7 kap.). 2 § Denna lag är tillämplig i den utsträckning det följer av en inter- nationell överenskommelse rörande straffverkställighet som är bind- ande för . Om det finns särskilda skäl får den behöriga myndigheten be- sluta att lagen ska tillämpas för visst fall, utan att det föreligger en sådan överenskommelse. 3 § Denna lag gäller inte i fråga om verkställighet eller annan åtgärd som regleras genom lagen (1963:193) om samarbete med , , och angående verkställighet av straff m.m. eller genom lagen (2014:000) om erkännande och verkställighet av frihetsberövande påföljder inom Europeiska unionen I lagen (2009:1427) om erkännande och verkställighet av bötes- straff inom Europeiska unionen finns bestämmelser om verkställig- het av bötesstraff i vissa fall. I lagen (2011:423) om erkännande och verkställighet av beslut om förverkande inom Europeiska unionen finns bestämmelser om verkställighet av beslut om förverkande i vissa fall. Definition av en svensk brottmålsdom 4 § Med en svensk brottmålsdom avses i denna lag en av svensk domstol meddelad dom eller beslut, som innebär 2.överlämnande till rättspsykiatrisk vård, Med en svensk brottmålsdom avses i denna lag även godkänt strafföreläggande eller godkänt föreläggande av ordningsbot. Definition av en utländsk brottmålsdom 5 § Med en utländsk brottmålsdom avses i denna lag en dom eller ett beslut om frihetsberövande påföljd, böter eller förverkande som meddelats av domstol i en annan stat efter ett straffrättsligt förfar- ande. Vidare avses beslut om böter eller förverkande som meddelats av annan myndighet än domstol i en annan stat efter ett straffrättsligt förfarande eller efter ett förfarande som i en internationell över- enskommelse som är bindande för likställs med ett straff- rättsligt förfarande. Definition av en utländsk utevarodom vid tillämpning av brottmålsdomskonventionen 6 § Med en utländsk utevarodom avses i denna lag vid tillämpning av brottmålsdomskonventionen ett avgörande enligt 5 § som med- delats utan att den dömde eller den mot vilken beslut om förverk- ande riktats har varit personligen närvarande vid förhandling i saken inför domstol. 7 § Följande behöriga myndigheter prövar om en svensk brottmåls- dom ska verkställas utomlands och om en utländsk brottmålsdom ska verkställas i . 1.Kriminalvården, vid fängelse och sluten ungdomsvård eller när påföljden kan antas komma att verkställas som fängelse eller sluten ungdomsvård, 2.Socialstyrelsen, vid överlämnande till rättspsykiatrisk vård eller när påföljden kan antas komma att verkställas som rättspsykiatrisk vård, och 3.Kronofogdemyndigheten vid böter och förverkande. Föreskrifter om verkställigheten av denna lag och tillkännagivanden 8 § Regeringen eller den myndighet regeringen bestämmer med- delar föreskrifter om verkställigheten av denna lag och tillkännager de internationella överenskommelser som avses i denna lag. 2 kap. Verkställighet av en svensk brottmålsdom om frihetsberövande påföljd utomlands 1 § En svensk brottmålsdom får verkställas i en annan stat om 1. den dömde är medborgare eller är bosatt i den andra staten, och 2. det kan antas att den dömdes sociala återanpassning under- lättas av att verkställigheten överförs dit. Annat anknytningskrav än vad som framgår enligt första stycket 1 gäller om det följer av en internationell överenskommelse som är bindande för . Den verkställande statens medgivande 2 § En svensk brottmålsdom får verkställas i en annan stat endast om behörig myndighet i den verkställande staten har lämnat sitt medgivande till att verkställigheten överförs dit. Medgivande enligt första stycket krävs inte om det följer av en internationell överenskommelse som är bindande för . Den dömdes samtycke och inställning 3 § En svensk brottmålsdom får verkställas i en annan stat endast om den dömde har samtyckt till att verkställigheten överförs dit. Samtycke enligt första stycket krävs inte om det följer av en internationell överenskommelse som är bindande för . 4 § Den dömde ska tillfrågas om han eller hon samtycker till att verkställa påföljden i den andra staten och i övrigt om sin inställ- ning till ett överförande. Den dömde ska upplysas om innebörden av att samtycke lämnas. En återkallelse av ett samtycke enligt första stycket ska beaktas om den görs innan den behöriga myndighetens slutliga beslut i fråga om överförande har vunnit laga kraft. 5 § En svensk brottmålsdom får verkställas i en annan stat endast om 1.domen har vunnit laga kraft, 2.den dömde befinner sig i eller i den andra staten, och 3.det återstår av påföljden att avtjäna eller särskilda skäl talar för att verkställigheten ändå överförs dit. 6 § En svensk brottmålsdom får verkställas i en annan stat endast om det kan anses lämpligt att verkställigheten överförs dit.