Sweden's Correctional Services Set for Major Budget and Capacity Expansion

The Swedish Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården) is poised for a significant budget increase and an ambitious plan to expand prison capacities significantly by 2034. Starting in 2027, Kriminalvården’s budget will escalate by 2.8 billion kronor, followed by an increase of 6.6 billion kronor in 2028. In total, the budget is projected to reach approximately 24.2 billion kronor in 2026, 28.6 billion in 2027, and 31.5 billion in 2028, compared to 14.6 billion in 2023.

Key to this expansion is the plan to increase prison and detention capacity from 9,000 to 27,000 places over the next decade, aligning with government initiatives to implement stricter penalties and regulations. More than 100 million kronor will be allocated to rent additional prison spaces in Estonia as part of this capacity expansion plan.

However, Kriminalvården has cautioned that there are uncertainties regarding the required number of new facilities and the timeline for their completion. These budget increases coincides with legislative measures, including stricter release regulations and the introduction of security sentences for high-risk offenders, which are expected to drive up the inmate population significantly. The overall justice system budget is expected to rise from 69 billion kronor in 2023 to 108 billion kronor by 2028, reflecting a priority shift towards bolstering security and correctional facility capacities.