Sweden's Struggle to Evaluate Crime Prevention Efforts Revealed in New Report
A recent report reveals that Sweden lacks robust evaluation mechanisms for crime prevention strategies, as gang violence rises.
Key Points
- • Sweden criticized for lack of capacity to evaluate crime prevention measures.
- • Only 82 out of over 2,000 studies reviewed met scientific validity standards.
- • Effective methods like focused deterrence can reduce gun violence by 27%.
- • The government urged to establish a comprehensive evaluation framework.
A recent report has highlighted significant deficiencies in Sweden's ability to assess its crime prevention strategies, particularly in light of escalating gang violence in the country. The report, authored by criminology Professor Amir Rostami and his team, indicates that Sweden is metaphorically steering a ship blindfolded when it comes to evaluating the effectiveness of its initiatives. This lack of evaluation capacity has prompted the Swedish government to enlist the Swedish Research Council to investigate effective measures against criminal gangs.
The research analyzed over 2,000 studies on crime prevention, concluding that only 82 met rigorous scientific standards, with a majority of these being sourced from the United States. It identified several effective crime prevention methods, such as focused deterrence, which can reduce gun violence by 27%, and psychosocial interventions that may cut recidivism rates by up to 28%. Furthermore, school-based initiatives aimed at youths can diminish the likelihood of gang membership by as much as 30%.
Despite these promising findings, the overall evaluation capacity within Sweden remains alarmingly low. Of the 200 evaluations concerning crime prevention in Sweden, most were rated poorly for scientific validity. Rostami criticized the government for a lack of a comprehensive evaluation framework, which is essential as the proposed justice system budget reaches 100 billion kronor by 2027. He emphasized the urgent need for a national knowledge center or agency dedicated to enhancing the evaluation of crime prevention strategies, reflecting a growing consensus on the necessity for improvement in this critical area.