Grønland begins process to assume control of criminal justice system

Greenland’s government has launched a process to take over responsibility for its criminal justice system, including courts, police and prisons, the Department of Children, Youth, Justice and Gender Equality announced on Wednesday.

The initiative follows broad political backing within Greenland’s parliament, according to the government statement. An expert group has been appointed to support the transfer and will also assess whether to set binding limits on the types of measures that courts can impose for specific offenses.

Under the current criminal law in Greenland, penalties are not defined in terms of prison sentences. Instead, courts determine measures aimed at preventing reoffending, a system that differs from Denmark’s penal code, which specifies fixed sentences for crimes such as murder ranging from five years to life imprisonment.

Mariane Paviasen Jensen, Greenland’s minister for justice, said in the statement that aligning criminal law with Greenlandic customs and values is essential to public trust in the justice system.

The move would also transfer financing responsibility to Greenland’s self-rule government if the transfer is completed. Negotiations with Danish authorities on a formal transfer agreement will begin in parallel with the expert group’s work.