ABSTRACT
In Sweden, supervision is a key component of the penal system, following extensive use of community sanctions and a system of mandatory early release after two-thirds of the sentence. As in most other countries, offenders under supervision are subject to various conditions. The legislation guiding the breach-process when conditions are violated is similar for post-release supervision and the supervision of probation with community service as a condition. The law stipulates general terms of compliance, leaving a relatively high degree of discretionary leeway for the decision makers when assessing, and reacting to, violations. The extent to which breach-processes are initiated, and how often they result in (partial) revocations of early-release or transformations of probation to imprisonment, is however somewhat unclear as these types of statistics are not compiled regularly. However, recent developments indicate a move towards an increased standardization of the breach process, at least in relation to the probation service’s role in the process.
