NCJ Number
60292
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATION OF CORRECTIONAL CARE IN SWEDEN IS DESCRIBED; INSTITUTIONAL AND NONINSTITUTIONAL CARE AND THE SYSTEM OF SANCTIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
A PROGRAM OF ACTION BASED ON THE 1973 GUIDELINES OF CORRECTIONAL CARE REFORM EFFORTS IN SWEDEN HAS RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF NEW FORMS OF ACTIVITY IN INSTITUTIONAL AND NONINSTITUTIONAL CARE. THESE ACTIVITIES WERE PREMISED ON THE IDEAS OF A MINIMUM OF INTERVENTION, COORDINATION OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE WITH NONINSTITUTIONAL CARE, APPLICATION OF THE 'LOCAL' PRINCIPLE WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND USE OF SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. SINCE 1974, NONINSTITUTIONAL CARE HAS DOUBLED ITS PERSONNEL, AND PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL FACILITIES ARE UNDERWAY. THE NATIONAL PRISON AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION IS THE CENTRAL AUTHORITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF CORRECTIONAL CARE; IT IS PRESIDED OVER BY A BOARD CHAIRED BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE ADMINISTRATION. THE SYSTEM IS ORGANIZED INTO 13 CORRECTIONAL CARE REGIONS, AND A NUMBER OF NONINSTITUTIONAL CARE DISTRICTS: IN JULY 1977, THERE WERE 46 SUCH DISTRICTS, EACH HEADED BY A SENIOR PROBATION OFFICER. ALSO AS OF JULY 1977, THERE WERE 19 INDEPENDENT REMAND PRISONS WITH A TOTAL OF 1,081 PLACES. LOCAL INSTITUTIONS NUMBER 52; MOST ARE QUITE SMALL, WITH OPENINGS FOR BETWEEN 20 AND 60 OFFENDERS. THE PRISONER IS PLACED AS CLOSE TO HOME AS POSSIBLE TO FACILITATE CONTACT WITH RELATIVES, WORKMATES, AND SUPERVISORS (LOCAL PRINCIPLE). THE 20 NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE INTENDED FOR USE FOR PERSONS SENTENCED TO MORE THAN ONE YEAR. THE FOUNDATION OF SWEDISH CORRECTIONAL POLICY IS THAT SANCTIONS INVOLVING LOSS OF LIBERTY SHOULD BE AVOIDED WHENEVER POSSIBLE. NONINSTITUTIONAL CARE IS BELIEVED TO BE MORE HUMANE, LESS EXPENSIVE, AND MORE EFFECTIVE. FINES ARE FREQUENTLY IMPOSED AS A FAVORED FORM OF SANCTION. IMPRISONMENT IS IMPOSED FOR A SPECIFIC TERM; A PRISONER MAY BE RELEASED ON PAROLE AFTER SERVING TWO-THIRDS OF THE TERM, OR, IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HALF OF THE TERM. PROBATION CAN BE ORDERED FOR OFFENSES PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT. THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY IN SWEDEN IS 15 YEARS. AS A RULE, OFFENDERS AGED 15 TO 17 ARE COMMITTED UNDER THE CHILD WELFARE ACT RATHER THAN BEING SENTENCED UNDER CRIMINAL LAW. (LWM)