Sweden Invests 57 Billion SEK in Prison Expansion Amid Rising Crime

In a monumental shift within Sweden's criminal justice infrastructure, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården) has announced a groundbreaking investment of 57 billion SEK to significantly expand prison capacity. This initiative aims to increase the number of prison places from approximately 11,000 to 29,000 by 2034, reflecting the urgent need to address a doubling of the inmate population driven by surging crime rates and tougher criminal policies.

Malin Lövström, property director of Kriminalvården, is spearheading this expansive project, with major construction efforts already underway at facilities such as Österåker and Mariestad, alongside plans for new prisons in Trelleborg and Norrköping. The expansion will also leverage modular building solutions to adapt swiftly to societal changes, while minimizing environmental footprints.

On the private sector front, Skandrenting is set to invest between 2.5 and 3 billion kronor in three major projects for Kriminalvården and Polismyndigheten, underscoring the significant role of private investment in this expansion. Currently managing Salbergaanstalten, Sweden's second-largest prison, Skandrenting is actively expanding its capacity as well as exploring the development of new facilities and the conversion of existing properties for lower-security use. CEO Johannes Nyberg outlined the substantial costs associated with high-security placements, estimating 10-12 million kronor per new place while stressing the stability of Kriminalvården as a reliable tenant with long-term leases.