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Sweden Today

Swedish news in English

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Sweden Overhauls Juvenile Care, Dissolves Sis

Published: 2024-02-05

In a significant move to revamp Sweden's juvenile care system, the government, in agreement with the Sweden Democrats, has decided to dissolve the embattled Statens institutionsstyrelse (Sis) and replace it with a completely reformed organization.

Sis, responsible for the state's juvenile care, has faced severe criticism for instances of violence, sexual assaults, security breaches, and inadequate staff competence.

The overhaul comes amid increasing concerns about young criminals being housed alongside vulnerable youths, which has led to reported incidents within the facilities including escape attempts and criminal planning.

A special inquiry, led by Chief Prosecutor Lise Tamm, is set to propose a new operational structure and organization name by April 25, 2025. The reform aims to improve care quality and focus on non-violent youth, with enhanced staff background checks and oversight.

This restructuring aligns with the upcoming changes in the legal system, where from the summer of 2026, severely criminal juveniles will be placed in special youth prisons instead of Sis facilities.