Controlling Care: Examining variations in the use of restrictive measures – perspectives from a study of Swedish secure care institutions

• In Event: Contested concepts of 'care' in contemporary juvenile justice

Abstract

In Sweden, children and youths can be placed in secure institutions either through social services or sentenced to closed youth care. These institutions have, in addition to confining the youth, extensive powers to further control them. This study analyzes the development of two such powers—seclusion and care in solitude—over time. These are restrictive measures, particularly seclusion, that may result in traumatic experiences for the youth and can also be perceived as a troublesome aspect of the work for the staff. Interviews with both staff and young people indicate that such events can have a negative impact on the relationship between the youth and the staff, a relationship that is central to the support and treatment the young people are to receive at the institution. It is therefore important to investigate variations in the use of these powers and what the variations may be due to in order to enable a reduced use of these powers.

This paper is based on a comprehensive study of all secure care institutions in Sweden, focusing on all decisions regarding seclusion or solitary care during the years 2008-2022. It examines variations over time between institutions and identifies factors (e.g., age, gender, citizenship, reasons for care, type of placement) that may indicate a higher or lower risk of being secluded or cared for in solitude. The paper also analyzes whether the association between these factors and the interventions remains stable or varies over time. Finally, it addresses whether the interventions are similar or different in these matters.

Authors

• Tove Pettersson, Stockholm University

• Sofia Enell, Department of Social work, Linnaeus university

• Maria Andersson Vogel, Department of Criminology, Stockholm university