NCJ Number
60819
Journal
Bewaehrungshilfe Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 324-333
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
REFORMS IN SWEDISH CRIMINAL POLICY, ESPECIALLY IN PROBATION SERVICES, DURING THE LATE SIXTIES AND EARLY SEVENTIES ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
IN THE SIXTIES, AS INTEREST SHIFTED TO THERAPEUTIC POSSIBILITIES FOR DEALING WITH CRIMINALS AND DISTRUST OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION GREW, THE NEED FOR REFORMS IN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM BECAME APPARENT. A 1971 COMMISSION RECOMMENDED REHABILITATION MEASURES SUCH AS LIMITED-TERM IMPRISONMENT AND SUPPORT OF PROBATION ORGANIZATIONS. AS A RESULT OF THE COMMISSION'S REPORT, ALL PRISONS WERE DIVIDED INTO EITHER LOCAL OR FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS, PRISONERS WERE PLACED NEAR THEIR HOME TOWNS, VISITING POLICIES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS WERE REVISED, RELEASE PROGRAMS WERE EXPANDED, PROBATION OFFICERS' CASE LOADS WERE LIMITED TO 35, AND THE TERM OF PROBATION WAS REDUCED TO 2 YEARS. TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROBATION OFFICERS' INFORMATION GATHERING AND DAILY PRISON VISITS, NEW TRAINING PROGRAMS WERE DEVELOPED. THE REFORMS HAVE IMPROVED IN-PRISON TRAINING PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PRISON-SOCIETY RELATIONSHIP. HOWEVER, THE GOALS OF THE REFORMS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED BY GROWTH OF DRUG SMUGGLING AND DRUG USE IN PRISONS, AS WELL AS BY EXCESSIVE DEMANDS AND PRESSURE ON PROBATION OFFICERS. A MORE RECENT REPORT BY A SPECIAL INSTITUTE FOR CRIMINAL POLICY REJECTS THE NOTIONS OF TREATMENT IN PRISON AND PRISON TERMS OF UNSTIPULATED LENGTH. WHILE THE INSTITUTE SUPPORTS A STRICTLY FORMAL PROBATION CONTROL SYSTEM, A GOVERNMENT COMMISSION PROPOSES A NATURAL CONTACT SYSTEM WITH NEIGHBORS AND EMPLOYERS. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CANNOT BE VIEWED SEPARATELY FROM SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND THAT THE DUALISM BETWEEN CRIMINAL CONTROL AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE CAN RAPIDLY PRODUCE A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THEORY AND PRACTICE IN THE WORK OF PROBATION OFFICERS. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)