NCJ Number
139011
Date Published
1992
Length
38 pages
Annotation
The demographic and offense characteristics of 42 of the 52 youths under age 18 incarcerated in Sweden in 1989 were examined to determine the reason for the unusually large number of juvenile imprisonment that year.
Abstract
The youths were all ages 16 and 17. About 90 percent had been subject to earlier waiving of prosecution and diversion to social service agencies. Sixteen were foreign nationals, and 11 others had been foreign nationals before becoming Swedish citizens. About 90 percent had a previous history of school problems, mostly truancy. More than one- third abused drugs during the 2 months before imprisonment, based on a minor psychiatric assessment. More than half were sentenced to 1-2 months imprisonment, and 14 received sentences of 3-6 months. Twenty-seven were convicted of property offenses, and 16 for personal offenses. Half were placed in open neighborhood prisons. Findings indicate that the courts had reason for imposing incarcerative sentences, because social welfare measures had failed to stop their delinquency. However, the current prison system is not suitable for youths aged 15-17, although the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Sweden has ratified, calls for specialized institutions for juveniles and separation of juvenile inmates from adult inmates. Figures, tables, and publications lists