Ethical Principles of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service Activity

Abstract

The article addresses to the analysis of the content of ethical norms that underlie the activities of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service. The content of the Code of Ethics of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service is analyzed and also its compliance with the model European Code of Ethics for prison personnel is established and the possibility of its involvement as a model for creating an updated version of the Code of Ethics and Service Conduct of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine is determined. The main task of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service is taking care of prisoners and enforcing sanctions, which, in addition to general values, set the most specific requirements for managers and personnel in both prisons and probation. These requirements are based on the moral values that most fully characterize the work of the Service. It is noted that the penitentiary administration`s actions help in reducing the risk of recidivism and thus increase the level of security in prisons and in the community. The necessary actions are based on fundamental values that apply to the entire Swedish government. The Swedish Prison and Probation Service is a government agency responsible for prisons, correctional facilities and probation. Their mission is to work with the police, prosecutors and courts to reduce crime and increase human security. The Swedish Prison and Probation Service is accountable to the government and is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice. In its daily activities, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service work to persuade its clients not to commit new crimes. Its personnel guarantee humane treatment of clients, as well as honesty towards them and their legal security. Any client serving a sentence must do so safely and must not be able to commit a crime while registered with the Swedish Prison and Probation Service. It has been established that one of the ways to increase safety in the community is to reduce the recurrence rate. To this end, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service conducts motivational interviews, implements treatment and employment programs, and provides clients with the opportunity to attend school. The management of the Service is convinced that convicts and probation clients should be better prepared so that they can live without crimes and drugs when they are released from a closed institution (prison) or from the probation service. Key words: client, personality, professionalism, knowledge, moral values, legal certainty, predictability.