Kriminalvården Director Martin Holmgren to Step Down in March 2026

Martin Holmgren, the director general of Kriminalvården, has announced his decision to resign from the position effective March 31, 2026, despite initially being set to serve until that date. Holmgren, who has led the agency since March 2020, described his tenure as both the most challenging and rewarding of his career, stating, "Att leda Kriminalvården har varit det roligaste och samtidigt det svåraste uppdraget under hela min karriär. Utmanande, men oerhört belönande."
Under his leadership, Kriminalvården significantly expanded, adding more than 5,000 places in detention centers and prisons and increasing the staff by about 10,000 employees. The recruitment process for his successor is already underway as the agency transitions into a new leadership structure.
Holmgren's departure marks a pivotal moment for Kriminalvården, which has seen substantial changes during his time at the helm, focusing on enhancing the capacity of Sweden's correctional facilities to meet growing demands in the legal system.