2025-04-292024/25:JuU14 · p.6JuUJustice
Educational opportunities for inmates
Educational opportunities for people in prison
What's at stake: Education during a prison term directly affects an inmate's chances of finding work and coping after release, and an uneven range of courses between facilities means that where someone serves their sentence can determine what education they actually get access to.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government should take the initiative for more and more equal educational opportunities for people in prison - basic, upper-secondary, distance and vocational education at all facilities - or whether there is no reason for such a specific mandate right now.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion calling for the government to take the initiative for more educational opportunities for people in prison. The committee points to the fact that relapse-prevention work within the Prison and Probation Service is already a high priority and subject to ongoing development work, and against that background sees no reason to now direct a specific mandate to the government on this particular point.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 5 (V, MP)
The reservation (V, MP) wants the government to take the initiative for more educational opportunities for people in prison, including a review to ensure basic and upper-secondary education at all facilities, better opportunities for distance learning - for example folk high school or higher education - and more vocational courses. The reasoning is requests from both inmates and facilities for a broader range of courses, and that education at correctional facilities should generally be improved.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 5 by V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna, LLiberalerna
Ja 250–34Ja 224–60
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/18/0/6 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 86/1/0/19 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: high | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 55/0/0/13 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 61/0/0/11 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| SMikael Dahlqvist (S, Värmlands län) | No — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motion 2024/25:1929 by Gudrun Nordborg et al. (V) demand 26.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2024/25:1929 av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V) yrkande 26.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to 60 proposals in motions about the prison and probation system (kriminalvård). The motions were submitted during the general motion period 2024 and concern, among other things, structural obstacles for recidivism prevention work, educational opportunities for inmates, and prison facilities abroad. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the fact that work is already underway in the areas covered by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to establish an ombudsperson function to help detained persons with practical matters such as bill payment, government contacts, and meeting attendance. (V, MP) — Reservation 5
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires that penalties be designed so that they actually lead to lower crime rates, and that society build up contexts that break destructive life paths.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that penalties be designed so that they actually lead to lower crime rates, and that society build up contexts that break destructive life paths. Guaranteed primary and secondary education, distance learning, and more vocational education for inmates is a direct expression of this, as is the plan's commitment to good opportunities for learning throughout life. Folk high school's special role strengthens the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att påföljder utformas så att de faktiskt leder till lägre brottslighet och att samhället bygger upp sammanhang som bryter destruktiva levnadsbanor. Garanterad grund- och gymnasieutbildning, distansstudier och fler yrkesutbildningar för intagna är ett direkt uttryck för det, liksom av planens åtagande om goda möjligheter till lärande genom hela livet. Folkhögskolans särskilda roll stärker slutsatsen.
- penalties should reduce crimedecisive»Straff och andra påföljder för brott behöver vara noggrant« (party programme ↗)“Punishments and other penalties for crime need to be carefully”
- break destructive life paths»förmår bryta destruktiva levnadsbanor.« (party programme ↗)“can break destructive life paths.”
- lifelong learning»uppväxten och goda möjligheter till lärande genom hela livet.« (party programme ↗)“upbringing and good opportunities for learning throughout life.”
- folk high school and Komvux for all»Folkhögskolor och Komvux behövs i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Folk high schools and Komvux are needed throughout the country.”
The election manifesto wants to combat both crimes and their causes, and the party programme establishes that the best long-term crime prevention is a society with small gaps where everyone has the right to work.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to combat both crimes and their causes, and the party programme establishes that the best long-term crime prevention is a society with small gaps where everyone has the right to work. Guaranteeing inmates basic and secondary education and more vocational training is a recidivism prevention tool of precisely that kind. The party programme's demand to open doors to knowledge for all points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill bekämpa både brotten och brottens orsaker, och partiprogrammet slår fast att den långsiktigt bästa brottsbekämpningen är ett samhälle med små klyftor där alla har rätt till arbete. Att garantera intagna grund- och gymnasieutbildning samt fler yrkesutbildningar är ett återfallsförebyggande verktyg av just det slaget. Partiprogrammets krav på att öppna dörrarna till kunskap för alla pekar åt samma håll.
- combat causes of crimedecisive»Bekämpa både brotten och brottens orsaker.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Combat both crimes and their causes.”
- equality prevents crime»Men den långsiktigt bästa brottsbekämpningen är att bygga ett samhälle där de sociala« (party programme ↗)“But the best long-term crime prevention is to build a society where the social”
- knowledge for all»Att öppna dörrarna till kunskap för alla är centralt för att bryta klassmönstren.« (party programme ↗)“Opening doors to knowledge for all is central to breaking class patterns.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that the criminal justice system shall be humane and aims that the convicted shall not relapse into crime, and it explicitly requires strengthened care services and education while the incarcerated person serves their sentence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the criminal justice system shall be humane and aims that the convicted shall not relapse into crime, and it explicitly requires strengthened care services and education while the incarcerated person serves their sentence. The plan also is based on everyone getting the chance to obtain a final certificate and lifelong learning. The counter-proposal's guarantee of primary and secondary education and more vocational and distance education for inmates follows directly from this.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att kriminalvården ska vara human och ha som mål att den dömde inte återfaller i brott, och den kräver uttryckligen förstärkta vårdinsatser och utbildning under tiden den frihetsberövade avtjänar sitt straff. Planen bygger också på att alla ska få chansen till slutbetyg och livslångt lärande. Motförslagets garanti om grund- och gymnasieutbildning samt fler yrkes- och distansutbildningar för intagna följer direkt av detta.
- education while incarcerateddecisive»höja maxtiden för sluten ungdomsvård och förstärka vårdinsatser och utbildning under tiden den unge är frihetsberövad, samt införa en utslussningsverksamhet när straffet är avtjänat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“raise the maximum time for closed youth care and strengthen care services and education while the young person is incarcerated, and introduce a re-entry program when the sentence is served.”
- humane criminal care against reoffending»human och ha som mål att den som dömts inte ska« (party programme ↗)“humane and aim that the condemned shall not”
- everyone shall obtain a final certificate»Därför ska alla få chansen att få slutbetyg från« (party programme ↗)“Therefore everyone shall have the chance to obtain a final certificate from”
- lifelong learning»Vi tror på folkbildningen och det livslånga lärandet.« (party programme ↗)“We believe in popular education and lifelong learning.”
The party programme says that criminal policy should stimulate those who have committed crime toward a new life situation without criminality, and education is identified as the individual's most powerful tool.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme says that criminal policy should stimulate those who have committed crime toward a new life situation without criminality, and education is identified as the individual's most powerful tool. Guaranteed primary and upper secondary education plus more vocational training in prison is precisely such a path back. The manifesto also wants to allocate more resources to the criminal justice system, which is required for a wider range of training.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet säger att kriminalpolitiken ska stimulera den som begått brott till en ny livssituation utan brottslighet, och utbildning pekas ut som individens starkaste verktyg. Garanterad grund- och gymnasieutbildning samt fler yrkesutbildningar på anstalt är just en sådan väg tillbaka. Manifestet vill dessutom tillföra kriminalvården mer resurser, vilket krävs för ett bredare utbildningsutbud.
- recidivism-preventing criminal policydecisive»Kriminalpolitiken ska därför både förebygga och avskräcka från brott, stödja brottsdrabbade och stimulera dem som har begått olagliga handlingar till en ny livssituation utan brottslighet.« (party programme ↗)“Criminal policy should therefore both prevent and deter crime, support crime victims and stimulate those who have committed unlawful acts toward a new life situation without criminality.”
- education as liberating tool»Utbildning är grundläggande i ett demokratiskt samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Education is fundamental in a democratic society.”
- lifelong learning for all»Alla som vill ska ha möjlighet att utbilda sig genom hela livet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone who wishes should have the opportunity to educate themselves throughout their lives.”
- resources for the criminal justice system»mer resurser till polis, åklagare, domstolar och kriminalvården« (2022 manifesto ↗)“more resources to police, prosecutors, courts and the criminal justice system”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme explicitly establishes that inmates in prisons shall be offered work, treatment and education during sentence time, which is precisely what the counter-proposal demands shall be guaranteed regardless of prison.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly establishes that inmates in prisons shall be offered work, treatment and education during sentence time, which is precisely what the counter-proposal demands shall be guaranteed regardless of prison. The plan also gives everyone who lacks complete primary or upper secondary education the right to at any time complete their knowledge. The goal with time in prison is according to the plan better conditions for a life in freedom, which bears the demand for a broader education offering.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår uttryckligen fast att intagna på fängelser ska erbjudas arbete, behandling och utbildning under strafftiden, vilket är precis vad motförslaget kräver ska garanteras oavsett anstalt. Planen ger dessutom var och en som saknar fullständig grundskole- eller gymnasieutbildning rätt att när som helst komplettera sina kunskaper. Målet med tiden i fängelse är enligt planen bättre förutsättningar för ett liv i frihet, vilket bär kravet på ett bredare utbildningsutbud.
- education for inmatesdecisive»Intagna på fängelser ska erbjudas arbete, behandling och utbildning under strafftiden.« (party programme ↗)“Inmates in prisons shall be offered work, treatment and education during sentence time.”
- right to complete education»Den som saknar fullständig grundskole- eller gymnasieutbildning ska ha rätt att när som helst komplettera sina kunskaper genom vuxenutbildning.« (party programme ↗)“The person who lacks complete primary or upper secondary education shall have the right to at any time complete their knowledge through adult education.”
- reintegration after sentence»Målet med tiden i fängelse är att den intagne efter avtjänat straff ska ha bättre förutsättningar att klara ett liv i frihet.« (party programme ↗)“The goal with time in prison is that the inmate after serving sentence shall have better conditions to manage a life in freedom.”
- exit programme»Ett nationellt avhopparprogram ska införas för att fler ska kunna lämna ett kriminellt liv bakom sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A national exit programme shall be introduced so more can leave a criminal life behind.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan explicitly establishes that society has a responsibility to support those punished with, among other things, education so that after serving their sentence they can re-enter society and not relapse into crime.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly establishes that society has a responsibility to support those punished with, among other things, education so that after serving their sentence they can re-enter society and not relapse into crime. The counter-proposal's demand for guaranteed primary and secondary education and more vocational training for prisoners is precisely this commitment put into practice. The plan also describes individual crime prevention as a diversity of measures from society's side.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår uttryckligen fast att samhället har ett ansvar att stödja den straffade med bland annat utbildning för att denne efter avtjänat straff ska kunna återinträda i samhället och inte återfalla i brottslighet. Motförslagets krav på garanterad grund- och gymnasieutbildning samt fler yrkesutbildningar för intagna är precis detta åtagande omsatt i praktiken. Planen beskriver också individualpreventionen som en mångfald av insatser från samhällets sida.
- education for the imprisoneddecisive»straffade med hjälp till drogfrihet, arbete, utbildning« (party programme ↗)“the punished with help to drug freedom, work, education”
- reintegration after punishment»och bostad för att denne efter avtjänat straff ska kunna återinträda i samhället och inte återfalla i brottslighet.« (party programme ↗)“and housing so that after serving their sentence they can re-enter society and not relapse into crime.”
- individual crime prevention»avhålla från nya brott, ska innefatta en mångfald av insatser från samhällets sida.« (party programme ↗)“refrain from new crimes, shall include a diversity of measures from society's side.”
- expanded criminal justice»Hela rättsväsendet behöver byggas ut. Fler poliser kräver fler åklagare, domstolar på fler platser i landet och en kraftigt utbyggd kriminalvård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The entire justice system needs to be expanded. More police require more prosecutors, courts in more places in the country and a substantially expanded correctional system.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan gives the prison service dual tasks: to carry out the sentences but also to give criminals an opportunity to get back into the community.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives the prison service dual tasks: to carry out the sentences but also to give criminals an opportunity to get back into the community. Education during the prison term is the clearest means for this, and the plan already commits that placed young people should be given better education and that exit programmes should be expanded. The demand for guaranteed primary and secondary education regardless of institution is therefore in line with the plan, even though the plan simultaneously prioritizes more prison places.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger kriminalvården dubbla uppgifter: att verkställa straffen men också att ge kriminella en möjlighet att ta sig tillbaka in i samhällsgemenskapen. Utbildning under anstaltstiden är det tydligaste medlet för det, och planen åtar sig redan att placerade ungdomar ska ges bättre utbildning och att avhopparprogram ska byggas ut. Kravet på garanterad grund- och gymnasieutbildning oavsett anstalt ligger därför i linje med planen, även om planen samtidigt prioriterar fler fängelseplatser.
- reintegration after sentencedecisive»kriminella en möjlighet att ta sig tillbaka in i samhällsgemenskapen.« (party programme ↗)“criminals an opportunity to get back into the community.”
- education for placed»Se till att placerade ungdomar ges bättre utbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure that placed young people are given better education”
- exit and crime prevention»Inrätta ett nationellt kunskapscentrum för brottsprevention och ett nationellt avhopparprogram för gängkriminella« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish a national knowledge centre for crime prevention and a national exit programme for gang criminals”
- more prison places»Öka antalet fängelseplatser och se över möjligheten att hyra fängelseplatser utomlands« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the number of prison places and review the possibility of renting prison places abroad”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that criminal policy shall be shaped based on the victim's best interests and not the perpetrator's, and that punishment shall not only be seen as a rehabilitative measure but through incapacitation prevent new crimes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that criminal policy shall be shaped based on the victim's best interests and not the perpetrator's, and that punishment shall not only be seen as a rehabilitative measure but through incapacitation prevent new crimes. A guaranteed right to primary, secondary and distance education for inmates is an expansion of the perpetrator-focused track that the plan explicitly deprioritizes. The plan instead wants to break the attractiveness of a criminal lifestyle.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att kriminalpolitiken ska utformas utifrån brottsoffrets bästa och inte gärningsmannen, och att straffet inte bara ska ses som en rehabiliterande åtgärd utan genom inkapacitering hindra nya brott. En garanterad rätt till grund-, gymnasie- och distansutbildning för intagna är en utbyggnad av det gärningsmannainriktade spåret som planen uttryckligen nedprioriterar. Planen vill i stället bryta attraktiviteten i en kriminell livsstil.
- victim before perpetratordecisive»Utformningen av politiken måste ske utifrån brottsoffrets bästa, inte gärningsmannen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The design of policy must be based on the victim's best interests, not the perpetrator's.”
- incapacitation before rehabilitation»Straff ska inte bara ses som en rehabiliterande åtgärd, utan genom att stå i proportion till gärningen ge upprättelse åt brottsoffer och genom inkapacitering hindra att farliga kriminella kan begå nya brott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Punishment shall not only be seen as a rehabilitative measure, but by being proportionate to the offense provide restitution to victims and through incapacitation prevent dangerous criminals from committing new crimes.”
- victims' interests first»Brottsoffers och potentiella brottsoffers intressen måste i alla lägen sättas framför brottslingars intressen.« (party programme ↗)“The interests of victims and potential victims must in all cases be placed before criminals' interests.”
- criminal lifestyle shall become unattractive»Bryta attraktiveten av en kriminell livsstil« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Break the attractiveness of a criminal lifestyle”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:JuU14)
- Committee report full text (HC01JuU14)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1154 — Etablering av ett nytt fängelse i Åmål av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1171 — Etablering av en ny tillfällig kriminalvårdsanstalt i Falköping av Dan Hovskär (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1687 — Häkte i Eskilstuna av Hans Ekström m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1823 — Uppdatering av reglemente inom kriminalvården av Emma Ahlström Köster (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1884 — Platsbristen inom kriminalvården - byggande av ny kriminalvårdsanstalt i Åmål av Johan Hultberg och Ann-Sofie Alm (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1904 — Åtgärder mot organiserad brottslighet av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1929 — Rättsväsendet av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:2115 — Utbyggnad av fängelser i Gävleborg av Lars Beckman (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2175 — Nationell struktur för avhopparverksamhet av Eva Lindh m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:2264 — Utöka verksamheten vid anstalten i Gävle av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2327 — Ökning av takten i utbyggnaden av kriminalvården i Trelleborg, Kalmar, Värnamo och Norrköping av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:266 — Utbyggnad av kriminalvårdsanstalt i Kristianstad av Per-Arne Håkansson och Ewa Pihl Krabbe (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:2706 — Fler bör avvisas för att avtjäna fängelsestraff i hemlandet av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2024/25:272 — Kriminalvårdens metoder och behandlingar för att minska återfall i brott av Gudrun Brunegård (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:2892 — Kriminalvårdsfrågor av Richard Jomshof m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:292 — Retreater för att minska återfall i brott av Ingemar Kihlström (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:3111 — Utgiftsområde 4 Rättsväsendet av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3118 — Avlägsnandet av gym för styrketräning från fängelser av Eric Westroth (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:3141 — Vikten av god kompetensförsörjning på anstalter i Sverige av Oskar Svärd och Viktor Wärnick (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:3164 — Rättspolitik av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament