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Chronotopes of Criminal Law : On Time, Place and Sexual Molestation

Andersson, Ulrika LU and Wegerstad, Linnea LU (2026) p.21-30
Abstract
In this chapter we argue for taking time and place into account in analyses of law and legal practice and for law to embrace a chronotopic approach. We demonstrate the relevance of this approach through a chronotopic analysis of the crime of sexual molestation under Chapter 6 Section 10 in the Swedish Criminal Code (1962:700). We present results from a quantitative study of 215 police-reported incidents of sexual molestation in Sweden and their path through the criminal justice system. We show that in comparison with rape, sexual molestation is more often reported on the same day as the incident and more often occurs in a public place. Further, we juxtapose our findings with Niemi’s analysis of the criminalisation of sexual harassment in... (More)
In this chapter we argue for taking time and place into account in analyses of law and legal practice and for law to embrace a chronotopic approach. We demonstrate the relevance of this approach through a chronotopic analysis of the crime of sexual molestation under Chapter 6 Section 10 in the Swedish Criminal Code (1962:700). We present results from a quantitative study of 215 police-reported incidents of sexual molestation in Sweden and their path through the criminal justice system. We show that in comparison with rape, sexual molestation is more often reported on the same day as the incident and more often occurs in a public place. Further, we juxtapose our findings with Niemi’s analysis of the criminalisation of sexual harassment in Finland (2019). We also compare all reported cases with the subset of cleared cases (cases leading to a decision to prosecute or to a summary sanction order) and show that among cleared cases, the reported incident more often occurs in public and is more often reported on the same day. In conclusion, the chronotope of a public place and swift reporting has a bearing on the offence of sexual molestation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Chronotope, Sexual harassment, Criminal law, Time, Space, Straffrätt
host publication
Neutral Law? : Essays in Honour of Johanna Niemi - Essays in Honour of Johanna Niemi
editor
Alaattinoğlu, Daniela ; Nousiainen, Kevät and Verdu Sanmartin, Amalia
pages
10 pages
publisher
Helda Open Books
ISBN
978-951-51-8340-8
978-951-51-8339-2
DOI
10.31885/9789515183392
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1ab87436-597e-48c3-9f91-30d09570029e
date added to LUP
2026-01-23 14:10:38
date last changed
2026-02-16 15:31:40
@inbook{1ab87436-597e-48c3-9f91-30d09570029e,
  abstract     = {{In this chapter we argue for taking time and place into account in analyses of law and legal practice and for law to embrace a chronotopic approach. We demonstrate the relevance of this approach through a chronotopic analysis of the crime of sexual molestation under Chapter 6 Section 10 in the Swedish Criminal Code (1962:700). We present results from a quantitative study of 215 police-reported incidents of sexual molestation in Sweden and their path through the criminal justice system. We show that in comparison with rape, sexual molestation is more often reported on the same day as the incident and more often occurs in a public place. Further, we juxtapose our findings with Niemi’s analysis of the criminalisation of sexual harassment in Finland (2019). We also compare all reported cases with the subset of cleared cases (cases leading to a decision to prosecute or to a summary sanction order) and show that among cleared cases, the reported incident more often occurs in public and is more often reported on the same day. In conclusion, the chronotope of a public place and swift reporting has a bearing on the offence of sexual molestation.}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Ulrika and Wegerstad, Linnea}},
  booktitle    = {{Neutral Law? : Essays in Honour of Johanna Niemi}},
  editor       = {{Alaattinoğlu, Daniela and Nousiainen, Kevät and Verdu Sanmartin, Amalia}},
  isbn         = {{978-951-51-8340-8}},
  keywords     = {{Chronotope; Sexual harassment; Criminal law; Time; Space; Straffrätt}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{21--30}},
  publisher    = {{Helda Open Books}},
  title        = {{Chronotopes of Criminal Law : On Time, Place and Sexual Molestation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.31885/9789515183392}},
  doi          = {{10.31885/9789515183392}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}