NCJ Number
49298
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE SWEDISH JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, IN WHICH MOST PERSONS UNDER 18 ARE DEALT WITH BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE BOARDS, IS DISCUSSED. PROPOSED CHANGES IN MEASURES AND JURISDICTIONS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
SWEDEN DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING AGE GROUPS WITH HANDLING YOUNG OFFENDERS: UNDER 15, BETWEEN 15 AND 18, AND OVER 18. ALL PERSONS UNDER 15, AND MOST PERSONS BETWEEN 15 AND 18, ARE DEALT WITH EXCLUSIVELY BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE BOARDS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CHILD WELFARE ACT OF 1960. EACH OF THESE JURISDICTIONS IS DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH THE MEASURES AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD FOR EACH AGE GROUP. THE SOCIAL WELFARE BOARD MAY PROVIDE OR ISSUE: (1) AID, INCLUDING ADVICE AND SUPPORT; (2) ADMONITION AND WARNING; (3) DIRECTIVES CONCERNING THE YOUNG PERSON'S LIVING CONDITIONS; AND (4) PROBATION. WHILE PERSONS OVER THE AGES OF 15 AND 18 CAN OR SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY THE COURTS, THE SOCIAL WELFARE BOARD OFTEN HANDLES MOST CASES WHERE THE OFFENDER IS UNDER 20, ALTHOUGH A COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING A CHANGE THAT WOULD ESTABLISH 18 AS THE MAXIMUM AGE FOR JUVENILE JURISDICTION. ALONG WITH THE 1960 REVISION OF THE CHILD WELFARE ACT, A STRONG MOVE WAS MADE TOWARD DEVELOPING RULES FOR MORE PRONOUNCED PUBLICITY AND STRONGER LEGAL SAFEGUARDS IN JUVENILE CASES. A SPECIAL SUBMISSION AND APPELLATE SYSTEM WAS EVENTUALLY ESTABLISHED, ALONG WITH STRONG SUGGESTIONS TO SURRENDER ALL CASES OF ADMINISTRATIVE DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY TO COUNTY TRIBUNALS. RADICAL CHANGES ARE ALSO BEING CONTEMPLATED, INCLUDING: EXTENSIVE USE OF AID, ADVICE, AND SUPPORT ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS; ABOLITION OF THE SYSTEM OF ADMONITIONS, WARNINGS, AND DIRECTIVES REGARDING A PERSON'S LIVING CONDITIONS; REJECTION OF COMPULSORY SUPERVISION RULES; AND THE LIMITATION OF THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF JUVENILES TO 3 MONTHS. THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT SCREENING AUTHORITY FOR JUVENILE CASES IS ALSO BEING INVESTIGATED. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)