Criminal Laws of Denmark
- Denmark has a number of specific criminal laws.denmark flag button image by Andrey Zyk from Fotolia.com
Denmark has a number of laws that are enforced to protect the public and put in jail those who have been found guilty of criminal activity. Many of these laws are similar to those in other Western countries, though some are enforced more stringently or more loosely than in other countries, depending on the degree of severity of a particular offense as determined by Danish law. - Guns are illegal in Denmark and the laws against them are stringent, putting anyone who carries a gun and is not legally allowed to do so in jail. Only police officers and soldiers are legally allowed to carry guns, which effectively prevents would-be criminals from the ability to rob or harm anyone by using a gun. As such, knives and lead pipes have become the weapon of choice and are now considered deadly weapons in Denmark. In January 2008 more then 13 people were knifed in Denmark, resulting in two deaths. Stricter laws have been enforced in recent years regarding assault with a deadly weapon, putting those convicted in prison for longer sentences, which vary based on the severity of the crime.
- Denmark has very strict laws when it comes to money laundering, as this serves as the source of funding for many criminal and terrorist organizations. Stopping the financial transactions of criminals is one way to stop their criminal activity. If Danish authorities convict someone of money laundering or funneling money to a terrorist organization, the individual found guilty can receive up to 10 years imprisonment. Financial institutions can also be punished if they do not report suspicious money laundering activity, as they are considered to be aiding the financing operation. This includes all advisors or intermediaries to a financial institution or someone who works independently in finance for a number of different clients.
- Denmark has relatively strict drug laws, which are similar to those in the United States, though they are much more lenient toward those who simply possess or are addicted to drugs. For possession or addiction, those who are caught and convicted are often sent to a detoxification center or receive very light prison sentences. However, this depends on what type of drugs are being used or are possessed at the time of the arrest. Drugs such as marijuana or mushrooms are considered soft drugs in Denmark and are not considered dangerous. However, drugs such as cocaine, ecstacy and heroin are considered harder drugs and carry stricter criminal penalties. Long prison sentences are given to those who are caught in possession of a large amount of any of these drugs, as these individuals are considered to harbor the intention to sell them, which is strictly forbidden in Denmark.
