Since 2018, when prisoners began sharing cells on a large scale, 85 cases of suspected assault, molestation and sexual harassment between prisoners in prisons and detention centers have been documented. At least eleven of these have occurred between cellmates, but the Swedish Ombudsman (JO) believes the undercount is large.
The newspaper Arbetet has spoken to staff and former prisoners, and reviewed police reports, incident reports from the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, and Ombudsman reports from inmates.
Those responsible for the prison service are aware of the problems, but lack procedures for how cases should be handled and mapped.
"There is no specific strategy against sexual violence. We work to address all types of violence committed within our walls," Maria Lindström, deputy head of security at the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, tells the newspaper.
Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M), who has previously downplayed the dangers of cell sharing, says in a comment on the review:
The information that has emerged about suspected abuse is very serious. I assume that the Prison and Probation Service also takes it very seriously and follows up on all cases.
