In October 2015, 142 inmates served life sentences in Sweden, all excluding one was convicted of murder. One was convicted of genocide. Seven of those who served life sentences were women.
Longest-staying inmates
In 2006, convicted murderer Leif Peters died in psychiatric care after 39 years of confinement. As of 2011, Leif Axmyr, who, in 1982, killed his former girlfriend Ulla-Britt Jacobsson and her new fiancée Tommy Larsson, has spent nearly three decades in prison. He has the longest record of confinement which is still ongoing and within the duration of his confinement has filed a total of 11 appeals, with one overturning his imprisonment in favor of a determinate sentence of 46 years, but this appeal was overturned and was later appealed to the Supreme Court of Sweden, which was denied. In 2016, he was finally released after having his sentence converted to 51 years imprisonment, meaning he could leave on probation after 34 years inside. His effective sentence was thus the longest for many years, although there have been psychiatric inmates imprisoned effectively for longer periods than Axmyr.
Commutation
Increased criticism from prison authorities, prisoners and victims led to a revision of practices and in 2006, a new law was passed which gave prisoners the right to apply to have the sentence commuted to a determined sentence at the Örebro District Court. A prisoner has to serve at least 10 years in prison before applying and the set sentence cannot be under 18 years, the longest determined sentence allowed under Swedish law. When granting a determinate sentence, the court takes into account the crime, the prisoner's behavior in prison, public safety and the chance of rehabilitation. However, some prisoners may never be released, being considered too dangerous. Of those who have been given set sentences under the new law, the sentences have ranged between 25 and 31 years. In 2007, the Swedish Supreme Court ruled that ten years in prison should overrule life imprisonment as the "general option" for premeditated murder. In 2009. Options to sentence people to more than 10 years but less than life became available Under the new law anyone convicted of murder will be sentenced to 10-18 years or life in special circumstances, On average when there is no special circumstances a sentence of 14 years may be imposed. In mitigating circumstances 10-13 years. in aggravating circumstances 15-18 years or in some cases life. In 2020 a new law where there is increased risk of a person convicted of murder gets a life sentence. Before only 30% of murder cases with aggravating circumstances gave life imprisonment but now that number will increase to 50%
