Going for a google translate here since I cant translate legal terms my self:

Detention is one of the so-called criminal sanctions introduced in the Norwegian legal system in 2001. Preventive detention is regarded as a punishment and replaced the usual terms of imprisonment for persons who have committed serious crimes and the risk of relapse is perceived as large. Offenders who are by court deemed sane, can be sentenced to custody if there is a high risk that the offender might repeat the crime or considered a danger to society. People who are insane when the crime is comitted can not be sentenced to detention, but may instead be imposed compulsory mental health care or enforced care.

Sanction detention is authorized by the "Regulations on the implementation of sanctions custody" § 2, which states:

Implementation of custody to protect society's need for security against the new serious crime from the person sentenced to detention. Within safe limits, the convict will be given the opportunity to change their behavior and adapt to a life of freedom.

Preventive detention can only be imposed if the person has committed or attempted to commit a crime that has violated society's fundamental rights, other people's lives, health or freedom. Examples of such crimes can be murder, violence, sexual crimes and intentional fires. In addition, there must be a real danger that they will get to repeat the action he or she is convicted.

In detention the court shall fix a time frame that normally should not exceed 15 years, and can not exceed 21 years. Following the request of prosecutors, the court nevertheless by court extend the specified limit by up to 5 years. Case for an extension brought before court within three months before the expiry of detention. It should also be made for a minimum period of detention of not more than 10 years. Preventive detention is currently the only instrument the Norwegian courts have at their disposal to impose offenders a real life sentence, as there is no upper limit for such a judicial duration.


Hope this was ok, I tried to fix some of the weird stuff google translate came up with.