In July 2023, the new crime prevention law comes into force. According to this, each municipality must develop a situational picture of crime and, based on this, decide on the need for measures and decide on an action plan. The municipalities must also take responsibility for the coordination of local crime prevention work and establish a coordination function.
As children and young people are an indicator of future society, which they are also expected to both manage and contribute to, it is crucial to understand and pay attention to their situation. It is at this stage that the opportunity is greatest to influence a societal problem that today costs billions. The crime prevention work is based on carrying out causal analyzes of different contexts, in order to understand which of these lead to crime. But in order to allocate resources to the right efforts, it is important that all crime prevention work is based on what reality actually looks like. This knowledge-based way of working is about knowing what, why and how crime problems arise as well as analyzing which conceivable factors can lead to a crime taking place. How then do we collect and analyze that information in a systematic and truthful way?
Ommej is a digital service that enables a move from a reactive treatment of mental illness and deviant behavior in children and young people, to an early and proactive approach. Ommej creates a truthful mapping of the child's existence, from the child's perspective, which gives social actors more effective decision-making bases and increased quality of efforts. In this way, an investment in Ommej means systematic work for a better social and economic result over time. This system increases the public sector's capacity to turn political goals into reality, where the target group gets better outcomes while societal costs are reduced.
Ommej identifies risk and protection factors within all levels, some are presented below;
- Individual level – Gender, NPF, defiance, anger, overactivity, impulsivity, difficulty concentrating, compassion, guilt and regret. Problem solving, achievements, commitment, faith in the future, feelings of revenge, compulsion, catastrophic thoughts/losing control, fear of dying, aggression, physical health, relationship with friends, own drug use, contact with police, crime, being controlled, controlling, woman/partner - vision . cleared.
- If there is a risk, these are followed by frequency linked to all of the above.
- If there is a risk, these are followed by asking if the child/youth experiences anxiety and/or wishes for help connected to all of the above.
- Family level – environment, parenting strategy, supervision/monitoring, parents' interest/involvement, support. Conflicts, parenting strategy, occurrence of crime, drug use in the family, abuse, all forms of violence, contact with the police, mental illness, family composition, protection and risk persons, stress, finances.
- If there is a risk, these are followed by frequency linked to all of the above.
- If there is a risk, these are followed by asking if the child/youth experiences anxiety and/or wishes for help connected to all of the above.
- School – School performance, school connection, bullying or being bullied, school absence/attendance, involuntary absence, truancy, school performance, friend relationships, teacher/adult relationships, experience of own behavior.
- If there is a risk, these are followed by frequency linked to all of the above.
- If there is a risk, these are followed by asking if the child/youth experiences anxiety and/or wishes for help connected to all of the above.
- local community - finances, association with criminals, exposure to coercion, control, carrying secrets. Leisure activities.
- If there are risks, these are followed by frequency linked to all of the above.
- If there is a risk, these are followed by asking if the child/youth experiences anxiety and/or wishes for help connected to all of the above.
References
GOOD, Causes of crime among young people and methods to counteract criminal development A knowledge inventory. David Shannon, Jonas Ring. 2009
GOOD, Mapping and situational picture in local crime prevention work. Carl Gynne, Greta Berg, Charlotta Gustafsson and Roger Karlsson. 2021
GOOD report, Criminal networks and groupings. Daniel Vesterhav and Lars Korsell. 2016:12
BRÅ report, The relationship to the justice system in socially vulnerable areas. Johanna Skinnari, Fredrik Marklund, Erik Nilsson, Christian Stjärnqvist and Daniel Vesterhav. 2018:6
GOOD report, School survey on crime 2019, On vulnerability and participation in crime, Sara Westerberg. 2020.11
The National Board of Health and Welfare, Assess the risk and needs of children who commit crimes or other types of norm-breaking behaviour. 2019 (based on Andershed & Andershed's writing; Risk and protective factors for norm-breaking behavior among young people: Using theory and research in practice).
The National Board of Health and Welfare's handbook, Children and young people who commit crimes and general advice (HSLF-FS 2019:30) on the handling of cases concerning young offenders. 2020-2-6597
The National Board of Health and Welfare's knowledge support, Assess risk and needs for children and young people who commit crimes or have other norm-breaking behavior Knowledge support for social services. 2020-2-6577
The National Board of Health and Welfare's general advice on the handling of cases concerning young offenders. HSLF-FS 2019:30
