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Deinstitutionalization and Its Impact on Swedish Corrections

NCJ Number
101068
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1985) Pages: 71-83
Author(s)
J J Rouse
Date Published
1985
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The dominant approach in Swedish corrections is to deinstitutionalize as many offenders as possible.
Abstract
This started in the 1960's when Sweden decided that rehabilitation, and secondarily deterrence, would be the overriding goals of its correctional program. This has remained true despite the statistical evidence indicating that the goal of rehabilitation has not been achieved to any significant extent. The dominant belief in Sweden is that prison is harmful and counterproductive when the overall aim is to reintegrate the offender into society. (Publisher abstract)