The scope, nature, and recent trends in Sweden's crime are examined, followed by a discussion of principles underlying Sweden's criminal policy. The various problems that may arise in connection with criminal policy efforts are also considered. Several terms, including 'traditional' versus 'modern' crime, 'organized,' and 'economic' crime are defined, and attention is given to the distinction between known and hidden crime, the social costs of crime, and other problems which frequently arise in current debate. The term criminal policy applies to all measures undertaken to limit criminal behavior and refers to social policy reforms concerning the labor market, schools, housing and town planning, or family life as well as the activities of the police, the courts of justice, or the prison and probation systems. Discussion is limited to public measures against criminality and to those which focus primarily on crime 'per se' and not social problems in general, that is, penal regulations and the system which ensures compliance with those regulations.