Going forward, certain individuals sentenced to imprisonment for up to 18 months may be allowed to serve their sentence at home with an electronic ankle tag. This is proposed by the so-called safety inquiry, where representatives from all parliamentary parties have participated. Today, the limit is six months.
The investigation is welcomed by the Director-General of the Prison and Probation Service, Martin Holmgren.
Various types of crimes
The question of extended possibility for electronic surveillance with an ankle tag is something that we ourselves have proposed in other contexts. I think it's wise to go in that direction, he says.
Which criminals with prison sentences of over one year would be suitable for electronic ankle tags?
In principle, it can be a variety of different types of crimes, but the safety inquiry has stated that the character of the crime should be particularly considered, he says and continues:
It's something we'll have to look at and return with in our response to the referral.
According to the proposal, the possibility should not exist when it comes to sexual offenses or serious violent crimes.
Martin Holmgren describes electronic ankle tags as an "important and intrusive penalty".
It's a tool that many times can meet both the need for public protection and the victim's interest by providing good supervision even if one is not imprisoned, he says.
Good with clear responsibility
The investigation also proposes that the Prison and Probation Service be given an explicit task to provide care to inmates if it can have an effect on the risk of reoffending.
According to Martin Holmgren, it's good if it's clarified where the responsibility should lie for the care of inmates with substance abuse and severe psychiatric conditions.
Today, the Prison and Probation Service has no explicit task to provide healthcare, according to Holmgren.
It can create increased clarity if we get such a task, and also financing around it, he says, adding that the agency needs to analyze the proposal more closely.
