The purpose of the Council is to further criminological research within the member countries and advise the Scandinavian governments and the Council on issues related to criminology. The Council awards research and travel grants, arranges seminars, and publishes a journal in English.

The Council also publishes reports from its seminars, a newsletter three times per year in Scandinavian languages (paper and on-line availability) and an annual report.

Organisation

The Council consists of 15 members, three from each country, nominated by the national Ministries of Justice.
Two members from each country are acknowledged criminologists, while the third represents the Ministry of Justice. The Chair of the Council rotates every three years between the Nordic countries. The daily administration is carried out by a secretariat located in the country of the chairperson.

The Secretariat is situated in Norway for the period of 2007-2009.