2025-02-132024/25:JuU19 · p.1JuUJustice
Certain issues regarding the Prison Service's treatment activities
The Prison and Probation Service's treatment programmes and measures against reoffending
What's at stake: The Riksdag's Auditor has shown that only a small share of inmates who need a treatment programme actually receive one, largely due to shortages of staff and facilities. The outcome affects how many convicted people get help breaking a pattern of offending, which in turn matters for reoffending rates and public safety.
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, in light of the Riksdag's Auditor's review of the Prison and Probation Service's treatment work, the Riksdag should direct the government to set a concrete target for how many inmates start treatment programmes and to introduce relapse-preventive healthcare in prisons, or whether the work already under way should continue without such a directive.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions. It notes that the government has already given the Prison and Probation Service increased appropriations and assignments linked to expanding capacity and preventing reoffending, that new-build and renovation projects are now required to include expanded programme facilities, and that the government largely agrees with the Auditor's findings while work continues at several levels within the agency to reduce the risk of reoffending.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S)
The reservation (S) points out that an underdimensioned service with shortages of staff and facilities means too few inmates receive treatment, and that the shortage of places is expected to worsen. It wants the government to set a target of 90 percent of clients with sentences over one year starting a treatment programme, compared with about 68 percent today, and wants the government to advance the Public Safety Inquiry's (Trygghetsberedningen's) proposal for the Prison and Probation Service to provide relapse-preventive healthcare for inmates.
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 1 by S.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/87/0/19 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/14/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 54/0/0/14 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:272 by Gudrun Brunegård (KD) demand 2, 2024/25:1139 by Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M), 2024/25:1170 by Dan Hovskär (KD), 2024/25:3111 by Teresa Carvalho et al. (S) demand 22.1, 2024/25:3264 by Teresa Carvalho et al. (S) demands 1 and 2, and 2024/25:3268 by Rasmus Ling et al. (MP) demands 1 and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:272 av Gudrun Brunegård (KD) yrkande 2, 2024/25:1139 av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M), 2024/25:1170 av Dan Hovskär (KD), 2024/25:3111 av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S) yrkande 22.1, 2024/25:3264 av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S) yrkandena 1 och 2 samt 2024/25:3268 av Rasmus Ling m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1 och 2.
Riksdag decision: Parliament has dealt with a statement from the government concerning the Swedish National Audit Office's examination of the Prison Service's treatment activities. In the statement, the government presents its assessment of the conclusions and recommendations that the Swedish National Audit Office provided in the report Tools for Change – the Prison Service's treatment activities. The Swedish National Audit Office's examination shows that the Prison Service's treatment activities are not fully conducted in an efficient manner, which the government largely agrees with. According to the government, it is important that the Prison Service prioritizes treatment activities and the planning of execution for convicts with medium or high risk of reoffending. Parliament filed the statement away, that is to say, concluded the matter. Parliament also said no to several proposals in motions in the same area.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to increase resources for the prison service's treatment programs and set a goal for 90 percent of relevant clients to start treatment. (S) — Reservation 1
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's core commitment on crime prevention is that sentences must be designed so that they actually reduce crime and break destructive life paths, not worsen problems.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's core commitment on crime prevention is that sentences must be designed so that they actually reduce crime and break destructive life paths, not worsen problems. A set target for how many inmates must begin treatment programmes, and relapse-prevention health and medical care in prison, are precisely such measures. The election manifesto furthermore highlights effective rehabilitation programmes and that substance abuse treatment must be available.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande om brottsbekämpning är att påföljder ska utformas så att de faktiskt sänker brottsligheten och bryter destruktiva levnadsbanor, inte förvärrar problemen. Ett fastställt mål för hur många intagna som ska påbörja behandlingsprogram, och återfallsförebyggande hälso- och sjukvård i anstalt, är just sådana åtgärder. Valplattformen lyfter dessutom fram effektiva avhopparprogram och att missbruksvård ska finnas tillgänglig.
- sentences that reduce reoffendingdecisive»utformade för att faktiskt leda till lägre brottslighet och inte förvärra« (party programme ↗)“designed to actually lead to lower crime and not worsen”
- preventive criminal policy»Vägen till ett samhälle med låg brottslighet går genom en genomtänkt« (party programme ↗)“The path to a society with low crime goes through a well-thought-out”
- substance abuse treatment as a right»Människor som fastnat i missbruk ska ha tillgång till den vård« (party programme ↗)“People caught in substance abuse must have access to the care”
- support to leave crime»ett effektivt avhopparprogram« (2022 manifesto ↗)“an effective rehabilitation programme”
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's critical commitment is that for every krona spent on more police, at least one krona shall be spent on preventive work and that the recidivism rate shall be cut.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's critical commitment is that for every krona spent on more police, at least one krona shall be spent on preventive work and that the recidivism rate shall be cut. A set target for how many prisoners start treatment programmes, together with recidivism-prevention health and medical care, are precisely such measures against the causes of crime. The Prison and Probation Service's programme activities are not explicitly mentioned, but the direction in the plan supports the counter-proposal's demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att för varje krona till fler poliser ska minst en krona läggas på det förebyggande arbetet och att återväxten in i kriminaliteten ska kapas. Ett fastställt mål för hur många intagna som påbörjar behandlingsprogram, tillsammans med återfallsförebyggande hälso- och sjukvård, är just sådana insatser mot brottslighetens orsaker. Kriminalvårdens programverksamhet nämns inte uttryckligen, men riktningen i planen stöder motförslagets krav.
- equal amount to preventiondecisive»För varje krona som läggs på fler poliser, ska minst en krona läggas på det förebyggande arbetet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“For every krona spent on more police, at least one krona shall be spent on preventive work.”
- cut recidivism»Samhällets fulla kraft ska mobiliseras för att trycka tillbaka de kriminella, kapa återväxten in i kriminaliteten och öka tryggheten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Society's full force shall be mobilized to push back the criminals, cut the recidivism rate and increase security.”
- combat the causes of 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”
- stop recruitment of new offenders»Ingen ung ska bli kriminell. Nyrekryteringen måste stoppas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“No young person shall become criminal. The recruitment of new offenders must be stopped.”
The plan says that criminal justice shall be humane and aim for the convicted not to relapse into crime, and the election manifesto explicitly wants to strengthen care services and education while someone is deprived of liberty.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says that criminal justice shall be humane and aim for the convicted not to relapse into crime, and the election manifesto explicitly wants to strengthen care services and education while someone is deprived of liberty. The party programme also wants to shift focus from punishment to care and that effective treatment is offered at an early stage. A set target for how many long-term sentenced prisoners shall begin treatment programmes, and relapse-preventing health and medical care for inmates, is precisely this commitment implemented in practice.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger att kriminalvården ska vara human och ha som mål att den dömde inte återfaller i kriminalitet, och valmanifestet vill uttryckligen förstärka vårdinsatser och utbildning under tiden någon är frihetsberövad. Partiprogrammet vill dessutom flytta fokus från straff till vård och att verksam behandling erbjuds i ett tidigt skede. Ett fastställt mål för hur många långtidsdömda som ska påbörja behandlingsprogram, och återfallsförebyggande hälso- och sjukvård för intagna, är precis detta åtagande omsatt i praktik.
- humane criminal justice against relapsedecisive»human och ha som mål att den som dömts inte ska« (party programme ↗)“humane and aim that those convicted shall not”
- care during deprivation of liberty»förstärka vårdinsatser och utbildning under tiden den unge är frihetsberövad« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen care services and education while the young person is deprived of liberty”
- care instead of punishment»Den enskildas missbruk är en sjukdom och vi vill se« (party programme ↗)“The individual's substance abuse is a disease and we want to see”
- early effective treatment»av det ska i ett tidigt skede erbjudas verksam« (party programme ↗)“of which early effective treatment shall be offered”
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 election manifesto requires more resources for criminal care and better measures that prevent recruitment, and the party programme states that criminal policy should encourage those who have committed crimes to a new situation without criminality.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires more resources for criminal care and better measures that prevent recruitment, and the party programme states that criminal policy should encourage those who have committed crimes to a new situation without criminality. A set goal for how many with longer sentences who start treatment programmes, and recidivism-preventing healthcare for prisoners, are measures in just that direction. However, the plan says nothing about not preempting ongoing work.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver mer resurser till kriminalvården och bättre insatser som förebygger nyrekrytering, och partiprogrammet slår fast att kriminalpolitiken ska stimulera dem som begått brott till en ny livssituation utan brottslighet. Ett fastställt mål för hur många med längre strafftid som påbörjar behandlingsprogram, och återfallsförebyggande hälso- och sjukvård för intagna, är åtgärder i just den riktningen. Planen säger däremot inget om att pågående arbete inte bör föregripas.
- more resources for criminal caredecisive»Samhället ska inte vika sig för gängen. För att besegra dem krävs bättre insatser som förebygger nyrekrytering, mer resurser till polis, åklagare, domstolar och kriminalvården och strängare straff.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Society shall not give in to gangs. To defeat them requires better measures that prevent recruitment, more resources for police, prosecutors, courts and criminal care and harsher sentences.”
- recidivism-preventing criminal policy»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 encourage those who have committed illegal acts towards a new situation without criminality.”
- strengthened justice chain»Vi behöver rusta Sveriges totalförsvar, stärka hela rättskedjan, satsa på förebyggande insatser och en likvärdig skola.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We need to strengthen Sweden's total defence, strengthen the entire justice chain, invest in preventive measures and an equitable school.”
- care for mental ill health»Stödet för personer med psykisk ohälsa måste förbättras, inte minst för unga.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Support for people with mental ill health must be improved, especially for young people.”
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 requires the prison service to offer inmates work, treatment and education during the sentence, with the aim that the inmate can manage a life of freedom afterwards, and the election manifesto wants to expand prisons and the number of prison officers.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires the prison service to offer inmates work, treatment and education during the sentence, with the aim that the inmate can manage a life of freedom afterwards, and the election manifesto wants to expand prisons and the number of prison officers. The counter-proposal's demand that more people with long sentences actually begin treatment programmes and that relapse-preventing healthcare for inmates is introduced aligns with this. The plan does not, however, state any percentage, so the conclusion is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet ålägger kriminalvården att erbjuda intagna arbete, behandling och utbildning under strafftiden, med målet att den intagne ska klara ett liv i frihet efteråt, och valmanifestet vill bygga ut fängelser och antalet kriminalvårdare. Motförslagets krav att fler med lång strafftid faktiskt påbörjar behandlingsprogram och att återfallsförebyggande hälso- och sjukvård införs för intagna ligger i linje med detta. Planen anger dock ingen procentsats, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- treatment during the sentencedecisive»Intagna på fängelser ska erbjudas arbete, behandling och utbildning under strafftiden.« (party programme ↗)“Inmates in prisons shall be offered work, treatment and education during the sentence.”
- relapse-preventing prison service»att den intagne efter avtjänat straff ska ha bättre förutsättningar att klara ett liv i frihet.« (party programme ↗)“that the inmate after serving the sentence shall have better prospects of managing a life of freedom.”
- expanded prison capacity»Samtidigt behöver vi fler domare och fler åklagare, och fler häkten och fängelser med fler kriminalvårdare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time we need more judges and more prosecutors, and more remand prisons and prisons with more prison officers.”
- prison service that breaks the criminal path»förutsättningar att bryta med en kriminell livsstil.« (party programme ↗)“prospects of breaking away from a criminal lifestyle.”
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 election manifesto demands a significantly expanded prison and criminal care as part of an expanded justice system, and the party programme makes individual prevention with a variety of measures and readjustment after serving a sentence a core task.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands a significantly expanded prison and criminal care as part of an expanded justice system, and the party programme makes individual prevention with a variety of measures and readjustment after serving a sentence a core task. A goal that more long-term sentenced prisoners should start treatment programmes and relapse prevention health and medical care for inmates is in line with these commitments. However, the plan does not specify a percentage.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver en kraftigt utbyggd kriminalvård som del av ett utbyggt rättsväsende, och partiprogrammet gör individualprevention med en mångfald av insatser och återanpassning efter avtjänat straff till en kärnuppgift. Ett mål om att fler långtidsdömda ska påbörja behandlingsprogram och återfallsförebyggande hälso- och sjukvård för intagna ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen anger dock ingen procentsats.
- significantly expanded prison caredecisive»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 significantly expanded prison and criminal care.”
- individual preventive measures»ska innefatta en mångfald av insatser från samhällets sida« (party programme ↗)“should include a variety of measures from society”
- relapse-prevention readjustment»efter avtjänat straff ska kunna återinträda i samhället och inte återfalla i brottslighet« (party programme ↗)“after serving a sentence should be able to re-enter society and not relapse into crime”
- drug-free institutions»Alla anstalter ska vara drogfria.« (party programme ↗)“All institutions should be drug-free.”
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 is built on more criminals serving time but also on preventing recidivism through substance abuse treatment and exit programmes, and the party programme gives the correctional system an explicit mandate to bring criminals back to community.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan is built on more criminals serving time but also on preventing recidivism through substance abuse treatment and exit programmes, and the party programme gives the correctional system an explicit mandate to bring criminals back to community. A goal that more long-term sentenced persons actually begin treatment and that recidivism-preventing care is introduced is in line with this. The plan also recognizes the shortage of places and wants to expand capacity.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger på att fler kriminella ska sitta inne men också på att återfall ska förebyggas genom missbruksvård och avhopparprogram, och partiprogrammet ger kriminalvården ett uttalat uppdrag att föra kriminella tillbaka till samhällsgemenskapen. Ett mål om att fler långtidsdömda faktiskt påbörjar behandling och att återfallsförebyggande vård införs ligger i linje med detta. Planen erkänner också platsbristen och vill utöka kapaciteten.
- strengthened substance abuse treatmentdecisive»över 50 reformer för att stärka socialtjänst, skola och missbruksvård« (2022 manifesto ↗)“over 50 reforms to strengthen social services, education and substance abuse treatment”
- expanded correctional capacity»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”
- recidivism-preventing measures»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”
- the correctional system's dual mandate»Kriminalvårdens uppgift är att verkställa de straff som utdöms« (party programme ↗)“The correctional system's task is to execute the sentences imposed”
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 requires expanded access to prison places and significant investment in prisons, which addresses the counter-proposal's core concern about under-resourced operations and threatened shortage of places.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires expanded access to prison places and significant investment in prisons, which addresses the counter-proposal's core concern about under-resourced operations and threatened shortage of places. The requirement for clear results for every public initiative also speaks for measurable targets as proposed. The plan's emphasis, however, lies on incapacitation rather than treatment, which is why the support is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver utökad tillgång på anstaltsplatser och kraftiga satsningar på anstalter, vilket träffar motförslagets kärna om underdimensionerad verksamhet och hotande platsbrist. Kravet på tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning talar också för mätbara mål som det föreslagna. Planens tyngdpunkt ligger dock på inkapacitering snarare än behandling, varför stödet är härlett.
- more prison placesdecisive»Utöka tillgången på anstaltsplatser i och utanför Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expand access to prison places in and outside Sweden”
- investment in prisons»Sverigedemokraterna vill kraftigt skärpa straffen och genomföra kraftiga satsningar på polis, åklagare och anstalter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to significantly tighten sentences and implement significant investment in police, prosecutors and prisons.”
- performance requirements for initiatives»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for every public initiative”
- upgraded legal system»Säkerställa satsningar för ett kraftigt upprustat rättsväsende« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Secure investment for a significantly upgraded legal 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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:JuU19)
- Committee report full text (HC01JuU19)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1139 — Utvärdering av farmakologisk behandling för personer som har begått sexualbrott av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1170 — Återinförande av tolvstegsprogrammet inom kriminalvården av Dan Hovskär (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:272 — Kriminalvårdens metoder och behandlingar för att minska återfall i brott av Gudrun Brunegård (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:3111 — Utgiftsområde 4 Rättsväsendet av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3264 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:29 Riksrevisionens rapport om Kriminalvårdens behandlingsverksamhet av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3268 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:29 Riksrevisionens rapport om Kriminalvårdens behandlingsverksamhet av Rasmus Ling m.fl. (MP)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2024/25:29 — Riksrevisionens rapport om Kriminalvårdens behandlingsverksamhet
Source: The Swedish Parliament