SWEDEN

The Ministry of Justice, Minister of Justice Laila Freivalds

(Justitiedepartementet, Justitieminister Laila Freivalds)

103 33 Stockholm

Sweden

Phone: 46 8 405 10 00

Fax: 46 8 20 27 34

Sweden has a crime victim compensation program to provide financial compensation to victims of violent or personal crime.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Report to Police: Yes; no time limit.

Filing Period: Two years; exceptions are made.

CLAIMANTS

Victims of crime

Dependents of homicide victims

Foreign citizens

Citizens of Sweden victimized in a foreign country

.

PROCEDURES

Application forms are available at the local police stations, district courts, the local enforcement service offices, and insurance companies. Applications can also be ordered from the Criminal Victim Compensation and Support Authority.

The application must be sent to the Criminal Victim Compensation and Support Authority which is a central agency covering criminal injuries throughout the country.

The claimant is notified of the program's decision within a few days. It then takes another week or two to receive the award.

BENEFITS & AWARD LIMITS

The maximum awards in Kroners are:

Personal Injuries: limited to twenty times the basic amount or SEK 704 000.

Property Damage: half of the above sum.

Compensable Costs

Medical expenses

Mental health

Lost wages for disabled victims

Lost support for dependents of deceased victims

Funerals

Travel

Rehabilitation for disabled victims

Services to replace work in the home previously performed by the victim

Pain and suffering

Violation of personal integrity

Inconveniences resulting from the injury

EMERGENCY AWARDS

When the victim is in urgent need of medical care, therapy, or has been infected by the HIV-virus, an emergency award can be made.

FUNDING SOURCES

The program is funded by tax revenue.

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