DEPRIVATION OF FREEDOM AND THE POLICE - AN EVALUATION OF THE TEMPORARY CUSTODY ACT

• NCJ Number: 50933
• Author(s): E KUEHLHORN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 163 pages
• Corporate Author: Brottsforebyggande Radet
• Sale Source: National Council for Crime Prevention
• Language: English
• Country: Sweden

Annotation

POLICE OFFICERS, PUBLIC ORDER, AND THE DEPRIVATION OF FREEDOM ARE EXAMINED IN RELATION TO THE PASSAGE OF THE TEMPORARY CUSTODY ACT (LTO) IN STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

Abstract

IN 1973, THE RIGHT OF POLICE OFFICERS TO DETAIN PERSONS WHO DISRUPT THE PUBLIC ORDER BECAME REGULATED BY THE LTO. SOON AFTER THE LAW CAME INTO EFFECT, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DETAINEES DECREASED BY 35 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. CRIMES IN ONE AREA OF STOCKHOLM INVOLVING NARCOTICS, DRUNKENNESS, DISRUPTION OF ORDER, AND VIOLENCE INCREASED IN 1973. AFTER 1 YEAR OF STRONG POLICE CRIME PREVENTION WORK RESULTING IN MANY LTO TEMPORARY CUSTODIES, PROBLEMS IN THE AREA WERE MINIMIZED. THOSE DETAINED IN 1974 REPRESENTED HALF OF 1 PERCENT OF THE STOCKHOLM POPULATION, THEY ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN 10 PERCENT OF SERIOUS CRIMINALITY AND DRUNKENNESS IN THE CITY DURING THE 1970'S. PERSONS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WERE GENERALLY HELD IN POLICE DETENTION FOR 2 TO 3 HOURS. LTO DETAINEES WERE, IN PRINCIPLE, SUBJECT TO NO LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OR REGISTRATION WITH EITHER THE POLICE OR GENERAL CRIMINAL REGISTERS. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE IN 1975 TO INCREASE SOCIAL INVESTIGATIONS IN STOCKHOLM, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE LTO. SOCIAL INVESTIGATIONS OF DETAINEES IN TARGET DISTRICTS INCREASED FROM 14 PERCENT TO 62 PERCENT. IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT RELATIVELY FEW INDIVIDUALS NEEDED IMMEDIATE SHORT-TERM AID, THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM ASSISTANCE, HOWEVER, WAS GREAT. DETAINEES HAD VERY LOW INCOMES. DURING THE YEAR AFTER DETENTION, NEARLY 40 PERCENT OF RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION OF THE LTO ARE PRESENTED WITH REGARD TO ACTIVE DISTURBANCES OF THE PEACE, POLICE CONFLICTS, AND GANG BEHAVIOR. OTHER ISSUES NOTED INCLUDED THE FOLLOWINGS (1) THE FACT THAT THE DISRUPTION OF ORDER NEED NOT LEAD TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION SINCE IT CAN BE RESOLVED BY BY POLICE INTERVENTION, (2) CAUSES OF ORDER CONFLICTS, AND (3) WAYS IN WHICH MEASURES TO RESOLVE ORDER CONFLICTS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTINENT TO THE LTO IS APPENDED, AND AN INDEX IS INCLUDED. SUPPORTING EVALUATION DATA ARE TABULATED. (DEP)