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CRIMINAL JUSTICE-SWEDISH-STYLE-A HUMANE SEARCH FOR ANSWERS

NCJ Number
42999
Journal
OFFENDER REHABILITATION Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 291-298
Author(s)
H H SIEGEL
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE SWEDISH CRIMINAL SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE IN THE WORLD. THE HUMANE AND DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO OFFENDER REFORMATION AND REINTEGRATION IN SWEDEN IS HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
SINCE THE 1965 CRIMINAL CODE WAS ESTABLISHED, THE SWEDISH CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM HAS ENJOYED MANY PROGRESSIVE REFORMS. THE LOW COST ($1.10 PER DAY) OF MAINTAINING A PRISONER ON PROBATION HAS ENCOURAGED A MORE HUMANE PHILOSOPHY OF 'OPEN PUNISHMENT.' THE EMPHASIS HAS IN FACT SHIFTED FROM PUNISHMENT TO REHABILITATION. PRISONS ARE SMALL IN SIZE, HAVE NO BARS, AND PROVIDE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. PRISONERS ARE REFERRED TO AS 'CLIENTS,' WHICH BREEDS A GENERALLY RELAXED ATMOSPHERE. CLIENTS CHOOSE BETWEEN WORK OR EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON A FACULTATIVE BASIS, FOR WHICH THEY ARE REMUNERATED. VARIOUS EXPERIMENTS IN THE SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED: WORK PROGRAMS WHERE ACTUAL WAGES, COMPETITIVE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ARE PAID TO TRAIN THE CLIENT IN MONEY MANAGEMENT; 'FAMILY LOCKUPS,' WHERE SELECTED PRISONERS HAVE HAD PERMISSION TO LIVE WITH THEIR WIVES IN SPECIAL HOUSES NEAR THE FACILITY; AND THE 'THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY' IN ONE INSTITUTION, WHERE INMATES ARE INVOLVED IN SETTING RULES AND POLICY AND ASSISTING IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THEIR OWN CONFINEMENT AND PUNISHMENT. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INMATE ADVISORY COUNCILS IS VIEWED AS A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD PRISON DEMOCRACY: SIX ELECTED DELEGATES REPRESENT THE INMATES IN DISCUSSIONS WITH SIX STAFF DELEGATES AND THE INSTITUTION'S DIRECTOR. VISITING CONDITIONS AND FURLOUGHS ARE LIBERAL, PRIVATE VISITS IN THE CLIENT'S OWN ROOM ARE PERMITTED ONCE PER WEEK, AND REGULAR FURLOUGHS ARE USUALLY GIVEN EVERY 60 DAYS. SWEDISH COURT PROCEDURES, DESCRIBED AS SWIFT AND EFFICIENT, MAY EXPLAIN THE MORE RELAXED ATTITUDE IN THE PRISONS AFTER A DEFENDANT IS COMMITTED. THE CRIMINAL CODE PRESCRIBES A VARIETY OF SENTENCES, OF WHICH PROBATION IS THE MOST COMMON. SECURITY IN SWEDISH PRISONS APPEARS MINIMAL: INMATES HAVE KEYS TO THEIR CELLS AND PRISON STAFF CARRY NO WEAPONS. IN CASE OF RIOTS OR ESCAPES, THE ARMED NATIONAL POLICE FORCE CAN BE SUMMONED TO THE INSTITUTION IN MINUTES. DESPITE THE INNOVATIVE STEPS IN PRISON REFORM, THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM IS STILL 70 PERCENT, AND CRIME IS ON THE RISE. HOWEVER, IT MAY BE STILL TOO EARLY TO JUDGE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NEW CRIMINAL CODE