It is a wholly independent organisation; not dependent on the courts or the police, and although it is organized under the Ministry of Justice it operates independently and any ministerial interference in cases is unconstitutional.

The Swedish prosecution service underwent a major reform in 1965.

Following the reform, the Swedish police, the courts and the prosecution service became clearly defined, separate entities.

In 1996, there was another major overhaul of the organization, merging smaller local authorities into six regional public prosecutors, all under an attorney general.

[1] In 2019, the Swedish Prosecution Authority reopened an investigation into rape allegations against Julian Assange, first made in 2010, and filed a request for his arrest.