In Scandinavia during the past decade forensic psychiatry has been the subject of discussions, which have occasionally reached the height of vehement attacks. Changes in penal laws have expressed a declining interest in the cooperation of psychiatrists in the evaluation and treatment of offenders. Scandinavian forensic psychiatrists, lawyers and criminologists have analyzed and discussed the present situation and have found that there is still a need and justification for forensic psychiatry. Higher priority, however, should be given to psychiatric contributions at the stage after disposition, at the post-trial level. The diagnostic activities at the pre-trial level should be limited to what is necessary for further dispositions. The development of forensic (penal) psychiatry and the trends with the individual Scandinavian countries differ considerably.