Problemen med proportionaliteten - en analys av proportionalitetsprincipen i Gängbrottsutredningen
(2022) JURM02 20221Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract
- This thesis examines how the principle of proportionality is used in a law proposal that suggests increased penalties. It aims to problematize if the principle of proportionality can ensure stable assessments of the relationship between crime and punishment in a way that satisfies the interest of fair punishment and that limits the punitive power of the state. It is therefore interested in examining the principle of proportionality as a metaphor, i.e., how it expresses a claim to ensure rational and righteous punishments.
The thesis examines the historical and theoretical background of the principle of proportionality, as well as the role of the principle in the Swedish sentencing system today. This account is contrasted with a review... (More) - This thesis examines how the principle of proportionality is used in a law proposal that suggests increased penalties. It aims to problematize if the principle of proportionality can ensure stable assessments of the relationship between crime and punishment in a way that satisfies the interest of fair punishment and that limits the punitive power of the state. It is therefore interested in examining the principle of proportionality as a metaphor, i.e., how it expresses a claim to ensure rational and righteous punishments.
The thesis examines the historical and theoretical background of the principle of proportionality, as well as the role of the principle in the Swedish sentencing system today. This account is contrasted with a review of one of the latest large works of legislative history in criminal law, SOU 2021:68, Skärpta straff för brott i kriminella nätverk (Increased penalties for crimes in criminal networks), referred to herein as Gängbrottsutredningen (The gang crime report). A critical discourse analysis is used to examine how the principle of proportionality figures in the report, how it is depicted, how it is utilized and what that says about what the principle can do.
The examination finds that the principle of proportionality is characterized by conceptual vulnerabilities. The principle relies on variable assessments and constructions of the seriousness of a crime, harm and culpability. This makes the principle discursively mouldable in accordance with the aims and interests of the legislator. Therefore, the ability of the principle to ensure fair punishments and to limit the punitive power of the state is dependent on the existence of societal conditions that can foster the will to limit the penalty levels. Such conditions are lacking in the current political, economic, and social climate, leaving the principle unanchored. Against such a background, claims that the principle could meet demands of justice and limit the punitive power of the state conceals the discursive power of a text, and how that power can be used to depict increased penalties as justified. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Denna utredning granskar hur proportionalitetsprincipen används i ett förarbete som föreslår straffskärpningar. Syftet är att problematisera huruvida proportionalitetsprincipen kan tillförsäkra enhetliga bedömningar av förhållandet mellan brott och straff på ett sätt som tillgodoser intresset av rättvisa bestraffningar och en begränsning av statens bestraffande makt. Utredningen granskar därför proportionalitetens metaforiska funktion, d.v.s. det anspråk på en rationell och rättfärdigad straffbestämning som principen ger uttryck för.
Utredningen granskar proportionalitetsprincipens historiska och teoretiska bakgrund, och principens roll i det svenska straffbestämningssystemet idag. Denna redogörelse kontrasteras med en granskning av ett... (More) - Denna utredning granskar hur proportionalitetsprincipen används i ett förarbete som föreslår straffskärpningar. Syftet är att problematisera huruvida proportionalitetsprincipen kan tillförsäkra enhetliga bedömningar av förhållandet mellan brott och straff på ett sätt som tillgodoser intresset av rättvisa bestraffningar och en begränsning av statens bestraffande makt. Utredningen granskar därför proportionalitetens metaforiska funktion, d.v.s. det anspråk på en rationell och rättfärdigad straffbestämning som principen ger uttryck för.
Utredningen granskar proportionalitetsprincipens historiska och teoretiska bakgrund, och principens roll i det svenska straffbestämningssystemet idag. Denna redogörelse kontrasteras med en granskning av ett av de senaste stora straffrättsliga förarbetena, SOU 2021:68, Skärpta straff för brott i kriminella nätverk, här benämnd Gängbrottsutredningen. Med hjälp av en kritisk diskursanalys granskas hur proportionalitetsprincipen figurerar i utredningen, hur den presenteras, hur den används, och vad det säger om vad proportionalitetsprincipen kan göra.
Denna granskning identifierar att proportionalitetsprincipen präglas av konceptuella sårbarheter. Principen bygger på föränderliga bedömningar och konstruktioner av allvar, skada och skuld. Detta gör principen diskursivt formbar i enlighet med lagstiftarens syften och intressen. Principens förmåga att tillförsäkra rättvisa straff och begränsa statens bestraffande makt, är därför beroende av att det finns samhälleliga förutsättningar som främjar en vilja att begränsa straffnivåerna. Denna utredning konstaterar att sådana samhälleliga förutsättningar brister i det samtida politiska, ekonomiska och sociala klimatet, vilket innebär att principen är oförankrad av den samhälleliga kontexten. Anspråk på att proportionalitetsprincipen kan tillförsäkra rättvisa straff som begränsar statens bestraffande makt blir mot en sådan bakgrund ett sätt att dölja en texts diskursiva makt, och hur den kan användas för att framställa straffskärpningar som rättfärdigade. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9079976
- author
- Nikka, Sigrid LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- The problems with proportionality - an analysis of the principle of proportionality in the Gang crime report
- course
- JURM02 20221
- year
- 2022
- type
- H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
- subject
- keywords
- straffrätt, proportionalitetsprincipen, straffskärpningar, straffnivåer, kritisk diskursanalys, straffbestämning, straffvärde criminal law, the principle of proportionality, increased penalties, penalty levels, critical discourse analysis, sentencing, penal value
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9079976
- date added to LUP
- 2022-06-09 12:36:44
- date last changed
- 2022-06-09 12:36:44
@misc{9079976,
abstract = {{This thesis examines how the principle of proportionality is used in a law proposal that suggests increased penalties. It aims to problematize if the principle of proportionality can ensure stable assessments of the relationship between crime and punishment in a way that satisfies the interest of fair punishment and that limits the punitive power of the state. It is therefore interested in examining the principle of proportionality as a metaphor, i.e., how it expresses a claim to ensure rational and righteous punishments.
The thesis examines the historical and theoretical background of the principle of proportionality, as well as the role of the principle in the Swedish sentencing system today. This account is contrasted with a review of one of the latest large works of legislative history in criminal law, SOU 2021:68, Skärpta straff för brott i kriminella nätverk (Increased penalties for crimes in criminal networks), referred to herein as Gängbrottsutredningen (The gang crime report). A critical discourse analysis is used to examine how the principle of proportionality figures in the report, how it is depicted, how it is utilized and what that says about what the principle can do.
The examination finds that the principle of proportionality is characterized by conceptual vulnerabilities. The principle relies on variable assessments and constructions of the seriousness of a crime, harm and culpability. This makes the principle discursively mouldable in accordance with the aims and interests of the legislator. Therefore, the ability of the principle to ensure fair punishments and to limit the punitive power of the state is dependent on the existence of societal conditions that can foster the will to limit the penalty levels. Such conditions are lacking in the current political, economic, and social climate, leaving the principle unanchored. Against such a background, claims that the principle could meet demands of justice and limit the punitive power of the state conceals the discursive power of a text, and how that power can be used to depict increased penalties as justified.}},
author = {{Nikka, Sigrid}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Problemen med proportionaliteten - en analys av proportionalitetsprincipen i Gängbrottsutredningen}},
year = {{2022}},
}