NCJ Number
69413
Date Published
1979
Length
190 pages
Annotation
THE SWEDISH INSTITUTION OF OMBUDSMAN IS DESCRIBED AS A PROTECTION AGENCY AGAINST GOVERNMENT ABUSE AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH ITS MEANING IS ACTUALLY BROADER, THE TERM OMBUDSMAN HERE REFERS TO A PERSON ELECTED BY PARLIAMENT TO SUPERVISE THE ACTIVITIES OF STATE AND MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES AND TO ENSURE THAT OFFICIAL AGENCIES FULFIL THEIR LEGAL DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS. THE OMBUDSMAN ALSO GUARDS THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS BY INVESTIGATING CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. AFTER TRACING THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTITUTION FROM ITS CREATION IN 1809, THE STUDY DESCRIBES THE PRESENT SWEDISH STRUCTURE IN WHICH EACH OF THE FOUR DESIGNATED JUSTICE OMBUDSMEN IS ASSIGNED SPECIFIC AREAS OF SUPERVISION. THE JURISDICTION OF THE OMBUDSMEN COVERS A WIDE VARIETY OF AREAS INCLUDING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, THE JUDICIAL PROCESS AND OFFENDER TREATMENT, ARMED FORCES, HEALTH CARE, FOREIGN ADMINISTRATION, RELIGION, ENVIRONMENT, TAXATION, SOCIAL WELFARE, AND TREATMENT OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL. THE PROCEDURES THE OMBUDSMEN FOLLOW IN INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS AND EXERCISING SUPERVISION INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO INITIATE PROSECUTION OR DISPLINARY ACTION AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICIALS FOUND AT FAULT. THE FINAL CHAPTER UNDERLINES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSTITUTION BY SHOWING ITS INFLUENCE ON COMPARABLE AGENCIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. RELEVANT PROVISIONS IN SWEDISH LAWS AND STATUTES, STATISTICAL DATA OF COMPLAINTS AND CASES HANDLED BY OMBUDSMEN, A DIAGRAM DEPICTING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE OFFICE, AND APPROXIMATELY 40 REFERENCES ARE APPENDED.