Complaints and investigations into alleged misconduct at Skänninge prison. Also statements about the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s duties

Summary of the decision: In summer 2023, three inmates raised serious complaints against certain employees of Skänninge prison. The complaints concerned staff subjecting inmates to excessive violence and threats and making racist and other derogatory statements. The complaints have been dealt with in the cases covered by this decision.

Even after the Prison and Probation Service had responded to the complaints, the Parliamentary Ombudsman received further information about similar alleged misconduct in parts of Skänninge Prison’s operations. This led to the Parliamentary Ombudsman Katarina Påhlsson deciding on 18 January 2024 in a particular case to open a preliminary investigation into misconduct and abuse at the prison. The examination of the above-mentioned complaints was therefore postponed. On 16 September 2024, the Parliamentary Ombudsman decided to close the investigation on the basis that no criminal offence could be proven.

With regard to the complaints dealt with in this decision, the Parliamentary Ombudsman emphasises that it would be fully unacceptable if the Prison and Probation Service acted in the way the complainants described. She notes, however, that the Prison and Probation Service rejected the information and the authorities have carried out different investigative measures and that the relevant officials will have had the opportunity to give their perspective. As it is one person’s word against another’s, she concludes that what has been presented cannot serve as the basis for criticism.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman stresses that she has made advanced plans to carry out an inspection of the prison, but in light of the measures taken, among other things, this is not relevant at the present time. As the Parliamentary Ombudsman is investigating several other cases concerning the prison, she does have, however, reason to return to the different conditions there in the near future.

In the decision, the duties of the Parliamentary Ombudsman are described as constituting an extraordinary oversight body. The Parliamentary Ombudsman describes, among other things, how her supervision is primarily exercised and notes that it is extremely unusual for the Parliamentary Ombudsmen to open a preliminary investigation.