New Swedish forensic psychiatric facilities: visions and outcomes.
Journal article, 2013
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to map significant features of the physical design of nine
recently planned facilities for forensic psychiatric care in Sweden. The present paper is focused on
differences in the physical design, static security adaptations, visions and goals for the projects,
economy and steering processes.
Design/methodology/approach – In June 2008, records concerning major forensic psychiatric
construction projects, planned or carried out between 1970 and 2008, were requested from all 21
regions in Sweden. The documents were collected, organized, critically examined, and analyzed in
their contexts. Extensive data have also been retrieved from the internet.
Findings – In spite of the common national legislation governing forensic psychiatric care, the
projects show great diversity in the physical design and, after 2006, increasing emphasis on static
security. The collected material indicates different visions and goals and little coordination between
them. It also suggests that the decisions rarely have been preceded by scientific studies or, as it
appears, systematic needs assessments. There were also considerable variations in the interpretation
of the legislation stipulating public access to official documentation and the time-frame allowed for
such requests.
Research limitations/implications – Limitations of the project especially relate to the
incompleteness of the documents received.
Originality/value – This mainly descriptive paper provides an overview of contemporary Swedish
forensic psychiatric construction projects, planned for or realized after 2000. This paper points out
structural and physical differences between these projects. The systematised documents are made
available for research purposes within different disciplines.
Social care facilities
Health care design
Psychiatry
Forensic science
Sweden
Care environment
Forensic psychiatry
Architecture
Public documents