NCJ Number
65409
Journal
NORDISK TIDSSKRIFT FOR KRIMINALVIDENSKAB Volume: 66 Issue: 3-4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 211-246
Date Published
1978
Length
36 pages
Annotation
OMBUDSMAN ACTIVITIES IN THE PRISONS OF SWEDEN, FINLAND, DENMARK, AND NORWAY ARE DESCRIBED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING OMBUDSMAN SERVICES IN SCANDINAVIA ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
THE HISTORY OF THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE IN EACH COUNTRY IS TRACED, AND THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BRANCH OF THE OFFICE CHARGED WITH OVERSEEING PRISON ADMINISTRATION ARE DESCRIBED. DETAILS OF PRISON REFORMS ACHIEVED BY THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE ARE PRESENTED, AND THE NUMBER, TYPES, AND DISPOSITION OF INMATE COMPLAINTS ARE REVIEWED. COMPARISONS ARE DRAWN AMONG THE FOUR COUNTRIES WITH RESPECT TO THE STRUCTURE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF OMBUDSMAN PROGRAMS. SINCE SCANDINAVIAN OMBUDSMEN RARELY, IF EVER, VISIT PRISONS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL SCANDINAVIAN OMBUDSMEN ASSIGN DEPUTIES TO VISIT PRISONS REGULARLY, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. UNDER SUCH A SYSTEM, MINOR COMPLAINTS COULD BE HANDLED ON THE SPOT; FACTS COULD BE GATHERED FOR INVESTIGATIONS OF MORE SERIOUS MATTERS; THE PRINCIPAL OMBUDSMAN WOULD HAVE MORE TIME FOR DELIBERATION; AND INMATES WOULD HAVE EASIER, MORE UNIFORM ACCESS TO THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE. IN SUPPORT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HANDLED BY SCANDINAVIAN OMBUDSMEN IS COMPARED WITH THE NUMBER HANDLED BY OMBUDSMEN IN MINNESOTA AND IOWA, WHERE FREQUENT PRISON VISITS ARE MADE. THE ARTICLE CLOSES WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OMBUDSMEN TO PRISON REFORM. FOOTNOTES AND SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ON CASELOADS ARE INCLUDED.