Aggregate sentencing reduction

 Every country's legal system is different. I have no idea what it's like in Germany, Japan, the US, or places like that.

In Sweden, until the end of July 2026, we have had a system regarding sentencing for crimes known as the "volume discount" (or "aggregate sentencing reduction").

Many others and I have been aware of this and disliked it, but we haven't really known exactly what it involves.

So let me give an example.

The court calculates the severity of each individual offence.

The most serious offence carries the full penalty.

The other offences are then added with a reduction: often half the penalty value for the second most serious offence, one-third for the third, and so on.

Let's look at it again: ( years are just for calculation)

Offence 1 (most serious): 2 years

Offence 2: 1 year

Offence 3: 6 months

With the current sentencing reduction for multiple offences

The court applies the *aspiration principle*—this is not a precise mathematical formula defined in the law, but rather a guideline; in practice, however, it usually works out like this:

Offence 1: 2 years = 24 months (full duration)

Offence 2: 1 year, but only half is added = 6 months

Offence 3: 6 months, but only one-third is added = 2 months

Combined sentence: 24 + 6 + 2 = 32 months = 2 years and 8 months

You have thus received a 10-month reduction.

So, to put it a bit loosely, you could say that the more crimes you commit, the bigger the discount you get—like buying cookies at the store.

As one commentator wrote: Commit three rapes and get one free.

Critics argue that this effectively means certain crimes are punished more leniently and that victims are denied redress.

The incumbent right-wing government has now abolished this system, and many people are very grateful, but those on the political left want to keep it.

 But why is that!?

Proportionality and humane criminal justice:

The Left’s position: Punishment should be proportionate to the offence but should not be inhumanely long. Aggregating ten one-year sentences into a ten-year prison term is viewed as disproportionate, particularly if the crimes were committed within the same short period. For the same reason, almost all European countries have some form of sentence reduction for multiple offences.

The Right’s position: It is the current system that is disproportionate toward victims—crimes five, six, and seven go almost entirely unpunished.

Rehabilitation vs. Incarceration:

The Left’s position: Very long sentences hinder reintegration into society, increase the risk of reoffending, and entail extremely high costs for the Prison and Probation Service. Shorter but certain sentences—combined with treatment and work—are more effective at reducing crime.

The Right’s position: Public safety must come first. Those who commit multiple serious crimes should be removed from society for a long time.

That  discount system is gone now.

People may have different opinions or perspectives, but I know what I think.