Early Individual Prevention of Chronic Offenders: The Use of Criminological Theories in the Governance of Swedish Police and Social Services

Abstract

A national Swedish project was followed in 12 municipalities aimed at youth aged 15-20 years. Neither police nor social services systematically used the indicators based on criminological research and proposed by national authorities. The police and social services thought they had more contemporary and holistic intuitive knowledge than any systematic indicators could provide. Despite implementation difficulties, the project was described as a success at the political level and widely dispersed. The specific and systematic image of early indicators provided momentum at the policy level. The local authorities welcomed the opportunity to reach a group considered difficult to manage.

The unequal crime drop: Changes over time in the distribution of crime among individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds

“…What is unclear is to what extent this Swedish trend towards increased control has been biased in its focus. There are, however, indications that both the police and other agencies are directing greater attention to working in the most socioeconomically marginalized residential areas, for example, in the form of ‘Social Intervention Teams’ (Kassman et al, 2015). The effects of this may be self-fuelling, concentrating crime increasingly on the poorest sectors of society.…”