Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1948-01-01
Prisons Without Bars
by Uunnar Rudstedt warden of prison Stockholm
in The American Swedish Monthly.

placed in special schools super
vised or managed by the child
and youth welfare bureau of the
Department of Public Welfare
Youthful offenders, handled by the
prison administration, are those
between Is and 81. About $50 of
the 1000 prisoners are detained
for trial or sentence. A number
of these are being held for men
tai examination There are only
about 80 women prisoners all told.
The foregoing figures are given
to show that Sweden's criminal
element is easy to supervise and
handle, from an American point
of view. There has been no crime
wave for many years, and public
opinion and the press wholeheart-
eddy supported the recently insti-
tuted reforms in the direction of
increased humaneness. A new law
was passed which went into effect
July 1, 1916, the fundamental
principle of which is that the pris-
oner shall constantly be treated
with respect for his dignity as a
human being. 1t is firmly believed
that loss of liberty is the essen
tial element in all prison sentences
and that in the majority of cases,
there is no need for any addi-
tional severity in the punishment
than that which grows out of the
need of separating the prisoner
from the world outside. All minor
details of the institutions man
agement are left to the discretion
of the superintendent instead Of
being, as formerly, regulated by
law.
The progressive reform of Swe-
denis penal system during the last
twenty years has resulted in the
separation and confinement of diff
ferent types of offenders in spec
ial institutions. A penal institu-
ton does not primarily serve a
given geographic area; it is US
ually designed to receive a special
class of prisoners. There has also
been a general effort in Sweden
to increase the influence of the
physician in the execution of penal
treatment. In addition to the men-
tai hospitals outside the control
of the prison administration, the
latter has an institution in charge
of a physician. There are also a
number of psychiatric clinics con-
nected with the prisons. and in
these clinics the physician is the
one who determines treatment.
The courts now require mental
examination of defendants IN an
increasing number of cases. The
examination is made before the
courts decision is rendered and
often requires a period of two
months. 1t is very thorough, and
the social environment of the Of
thesocial environment of the Of
fender. Guided by the results. the
court decides whether the defend
ant is to receive an indeterminate
period of treatment in charge OF
the prison administration, be SEN
fenced to simple Imprisonment or
hard labor, turned over to a men,
tai hospital, or given suspended
sentence with conditions attach
ing regarding work, domiciie'
training, etc, resembling Ameri-
can probation.
The new Act of 1916 also al
lows Burroughs" enabling the
prisoner to visit his home at regu-
lar intervals or take care of other
private matters.
Burroughs are ordinarily grant
ed four times a year to almost
every prisoner who has served
about half his sentence, has shown
no direct evidence of social DAN
qer and has been well-behaved
and industrious in the institution
It is a good means of strengthen
ing the individuals self-confi-
dence, preparing him for ultimate
freedom and securing discipline
within the institution.
In Sweden all prisoners are pald