Review of Swedish criminal code may lead to triple the cell space

Sweden’s ongoing revision of its criminal code, which aims to address rising crime rates and focus more on victims, could lead to more prison space, tripling the number of cells, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer announced on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Swedish government will set up an inquiry to review the Swedish criminal code, which, while created in 1964, has not undergone a major reform since the late 1980s.

“This is an intended effect of the reform. More serious criminals should be in prison and stay there longer,” said Strömmer at a press conference on Wednesday.

The proposal for a new criminal code, drawn up by outgoing Attorney General Petra Lundh, will take a new approach to crime and punishment.

“Reality justifies a shift in perspective towards the victim of crime and the public’s need for protection”, Strömmer said.

Sweden’s current aim to avoid imprisonment wherever possible will also be abolished, so the government plans to increase sentences to compensate victims and “incapacitate” serious offenders by locking them up for longer.

Last spring, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service submitted a report to the Swedish government on how many new prison places would be needed under the new right-wing government and its far-right ally in parliament.

There are currently about 4,500 permanent prison places in Sweden. According to the current expansion plan, there will be 7,500 by 2032, but new estimates suggest that up to 12,400 places may be needed.

This autumn, he Prison and Probation Service will present a new, more ambitious expansion plan.

According to Strömmer, this will include more prisons, new buildings in existing prison areas, more prisoners sharing cells and possibly Sweden renting prison places abroad.

Sweden’s justice minister is convinced that the expansion can be done to maintain the basic principles of Swedish correctional services.

However, the government’s tougher stance on criminality can only end badly for some.

“Unfortunately, history and every country in the world teaches us that if you invest in building prisons and increasing the police force, you get corruption, increased friction and poverty”, said Magnus Hörnqvist, professor of criminology at Stockholm University on P4 Stockholm radio station.

He says the Swedish government is on a ‘crusade’ against parts of the Swedish population.

“Intuitively, it may seem reasonable to increase the penalties for those who commit serious offences”, he said, adding that it rarely ends well and can escalate the problems further.

Responding to those who believe that tougher sentences do not reduce crime, Strömmer said during the press conference: “A person who is locked up cannot commit new crimes.”

(Charles Szumski | EURACTIV.com)