Stockholm city has decided to intensively monitor children as young as six years old to counter future criminality. The initiative costs 55 million kronor over three years and targets families with social issues. The method aims to reverse negative patterns early.
In a decision by Stockholm's social committee this week, the city has chosen to extend the intensive monitoring method to children from six years old. Previously, teenagers could be monitored through the MST open care treatment if deemed at risk of entering criminality. This involves close contact with the family to break negative development. Stockholm becomes the first in Sweden to apply the method to such young children.
The method targets children in families with issues and aims to reduce the need for compulsory placements. "The whole idea is to prevent problems before they grow bigger. Many who later end up in criminality have grown up in families with widespread social problems. If we can turn the family's development early, before the children fall into destructive patterns, then we should do it," says Alexander Ojanne (S), social councilor in Stockholm, to DN.
The initiative is estimated to cost 55 million kronor spread over three years. It focuses on families assessed as failing in parenting. "If we succeed in keeping a few individual children from ending up in criminality, it will pay off in the long run. The alternative is much more expensive, both humanly and economically," adds Ojanne. "It is an expensive program but it will pay off in the long run," he also says to DN.
Through early interventions, the city hopes to reduce the societal costs of criminality in the long term.
