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Portrait of Ulrika Andersson. Photo.

Ulrika Andersson

Professor

Portrait of Ulrika Andersson. Photo.

“Real Sexual Harassment”: Attrition Among Police-Reported Sexual Molestation Crimes in Sweden

Author

  • Linnea Wegerstad
  • Ulrika Andersson

Summary, in Swedish

This article presents findings from a quantitative analysis of 215 case files regarding incidents of the crime of sexual molestation reported to the Swedish Police. We track the incidents through the criminal justice system and show a clearance rate of 9%. The clearance rate is higher when the attack is of a physical nature, the suspect is a stranger, and the incident occurs in a public place. While the statutory definition of sexual molestation is inclusive, this study shows that substantially there is a typical case of sexual harassment that is criminalized; a kind of “real sexual harassment” emerges.

Department/s

  • Department of Law
  • Criminal Law

Publishing year

2025

Language

Swedish

Publication/Series

Violence Against Women

Document type

Article

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Topic

  • Law

Keywords

  • Förundersökningar
  • Sexuellt våld
  • Kriminalisering
  • Attrition
  • Sexuellt ofredande
  • Straffrätt
  • Preliminary investigations
  • Sexual violence
  • Criminalization
  • Attrition
  • Sexual harassment
  • Criminal law
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Status

Published

Project

  • #Metoo-skalvet och dess efterdyningar: Om brottsoffers sökande efter rättvisa och den samhälleliga och rättsliga responsen
  • The #metoo momentum and its aftermath:digital justice seeking and societal and legal responses

Research group

  • Straffrätt

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1552-8448