Criticism of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, Skogome Prison, for returning a request for the review of a decision. Also certain statements concerning the authority’s work to address undue influence

Summary of the decision: An inmate had applied for telephone permission but the application was rejected. When he submitted a request for the decision to be reviewed, he wrote three words in capital letters. The request was received, date stamped and signed. Two days later, a prison officer came to him with the request and convinced him to withdraw it, among other things because the use of capital letters might be perceived as an attempt to influence the decision-maker.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman states that the request was an official document received by the authority, and that there were no legal grounds for returning it. The prison is criticised for its processing.

While the Parliamentary Ombudsman commends the prison and the Swedish Prison and Probation Service in general for making considerable effort to address the issue of undue influence given the harsher climate within the authority, she underlines that reporting must be done with due consideration and understanding for the situation of inmates. The Parliamentary Ombudsman states that she may have reason to return to the matter.