NCJ Number
88569
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1983) Pages: 43-48
Date Published
1983
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Criminal justice practices in Scandinavia are examined in view of Scandinavian culture and government. The author identifies factors that make it difficult to transplant the Scandinavian approach to criminal justice systems in other countries.
Abstract
The Scandinavian system is in some ways liberal and experimental (short prison terms, furloughs, conjugal visits, etc.) but in other ways restrictive and crime-control oriented (computer registry of citizens and their activities, pretrial detention in isolation, police doubling as prosecutors in lower courts, etc.). Being a collectivist society, homogeneous in race, socioeconomic status, religion, and culture, with assurance of care from cradle to grave, Scandinavia is highly accepting of bureaucratic measures and authority because of their benefits. Such general acceptance includes the more repressive crime-control measures. Societies that are neither collectivist nor homogeneous may not be able to afford the luxury of experimentation and other risky approaches. A total of 38 reference notes are included.