Background & Purpose
Previously, young offenders aged 15–17 were primarily sentenced to closed youth care at special institutions run by the National Board of Institutional Care. The government has decided to move this responsibility to the prison system to ensure better control and support.
Proposals & Debate
The proposal involves removing 'sluten ungdomsvård' from the legal system. Instead, young offenders will serve their sentences in prison, specifically in units designed for their age group. The goal is to provide a more structured transition back to society through conditional release and mandatory supervision.
The Decision
The parliament approved the change, meaning that from 1 July 2026, prison will be the standard penalty for young people who commit crimes serious enough to warrant a loss of freedom.
Does this affect you?
- Young offenders aged 15–17: They will now serve sentences in prison facilities instead of youth care institutions and will be subject to mandatory supervision after release.
- Swedish Prison and Probation Service: They take over the full responsibility for housing and supervising young offenders who were previously handled by youth institutions.
In Practice
- Closed youth care is removed as a sentencing option.
- Young offenders will serve their sentences in prison, in units adapted for their needs.
- The system of conditional release will apply, meaning offenders are supervised after leaving prison.
- The length of the sentence will be adjusted; for example, four years of youth care will correspond to six years in prison.