Country

Sweden

Detention issue

Juvenile prisoners

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Act on Imprisonment (Fängelselag), Act on Detention (Häkteslag)An inmate in a detention centre or a prison, who is under the age of 18 years may not be placed together with prisoners aged 18 or over, unless this can be considered to be in his or her best interests. These acts regulate rules for persons under 18 years old in the individual plans and risk assessments concerning implementation of the punishment and the placement, which should be made for each prisoner. The age can be a factor to consider when working with the plans and assessments. When an inmate in a detention centre is under 18 years old, measures should be taken to avoid that the person is left completely alone, as much that is possible with regard to the circumstances of each case.
Prison and Probation Services, Prison and Probation Services' regulations and general advice about prisons (Kriminalvårdens föreskrifter och allmänna råd om fängelse)The definition of who should be considered as a young person in the Prison and Probation Services is a person who was registered by the Prison and Probation Services before the age of 21. Such a person is considered a “young person” during the entire execution of the sentence or until the person turns 24 years old.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2019During the inspection of the remand prison in Göteborg, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s employees talked to young persons under 18 years of age. Inter alia, they stated that they had not received information concerning how to contact the nurse and that it had taken several days before they were given the opportunity to take a shower. Recommendation: Following the inspection, the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman emphasised the importance of all prison staff who have contact with young people held on remand having or receiving the necessary training to treat them in the best possible way. The premise must be that the treatment of individual young person is adapted to their degree of maturity. Part of the work can be to communicate pedagogically, on several occasions both in writing and orally, the rights the young person has whilst in remand prison. Staff should also make sure that the young person has understood the information to ensure that young people can understand their rights. Report details