A bill is awaiting the first round of discussions in Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, which authorizes surveillance of pedophiles after they have served their sentences. Minister of the Interior Ögmundur Jónasson submitted the bill in November.

“I’m hoping that the bill can become law within a few weeks. We have made this matter absolute priority,” Ögmundur told Fréttablaðið.

According to the bill, convicted pedophiles can be monitored electronically, among other methods, and their dwellings and medical treatment can be determined if deemed likely that they will commit further crimes.

Ögmundur said the surveillance must be determined by a judge before the convicts complete their sentences. “It will never be the decision of the police or prison authorities.”

A known pedophile who has confessed to having sexually abused children for 50 years has now been taken into custody after RÚV’s news magazine Kastjós’s coverage of the experiences of many of his victims this week.

The violations committed against them have become invalid before the law but yesterday three individuals had filed charges of sexual abuse against the man which may be recent enough for him to be convicted. The police expected more charges to be filed.

Yesterday’s Kastljós can be watched online on ruv.is (in Icelandic).

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ESA