How Children Will Be Housed at Kumla Correctional Facility

Sweden's Kumla correctional facility, a high-security institution, is preparing to house inmates aged 15 to 17 convicted of serious violent offenses, marking a significant shift from previous youth care systems. Starting July 1, the prison will accommodate these young individuals, a change driven by recent parliamentary decisions to replace closed youth care with imprisonment for those aged 15-17 who commit crimes such as murder. The facility will feature 16 newly renovated living quarters across two separate units, ensuring each young detainee has a private room equipped with a shower and toilet – a level of privacy not always afforded to adult inmates. The units include exercise rooms and outdoor courtyards, though smoking areas have been removed. Staff at Kumla are receiving specialized training to navigate the complexities of managing young detainees, emphasizing the need to consider the "child's best interests" as mandated by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. "We must constantly consider what is best for the children in this environment," stated Johan Fritioff, deputy correctional director. "The children are deprived of liberty, under the same legislation as everyone else, but they are minors." This approach involves potential flexibility on certain rules, such as allowing phone calls home if deemed beneficial for the child's well-being, even if it slightly deviates from standard regulations. The facility ensures no contact between the young inmates and adult detainees, with dedicated staff present at all times.

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We must constantly consider what is best for the children in this environment. The children are deprived of liberty, under the same legislation as everyone else, but they are minors. We need to be well-informed so that this goes hand in hand with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.