Lifelong Detention

On 8 February 2004, the Swiss people and the cantons voted in favour of the popular initiative “Lifelong detention for extremely dangerous, non-treatable violent and sexual offenders”. This means the addition of a new article in the Federal Constitution specifying that extremely dangerous, non-treatable violent and sexual offenders are to remain in lifelong detention and may not be released on parole. The release of an offender may only be considered if new scientific evidence shows that the person can be treated and will pose no further risk to the public in future.

Work on the legal statute of implementation of the new article into the Federal Constitution is currently underway. The amendment of the penal code must be compatible with the wording of the new constitutional regulation and in keeping with the European Convention on Human Rights.