Published: 4 Aug 10 11:21 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/28178/20100804/
Inmates at Sörby prison in northern Sweden have reacted with dismay at the internment of a 78-year-old man who moves with the help of a walking frame and wears a nappy, threatening to strike if he is not taken into care.
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Anyway, another great story of how things work in Sweden.....a real eye opener. Cheers
I didn't realize they were in prison voluntarily.
The guy was in a confused state when he assaulted the officer. That needs to be looked at again.
Sounds like the prisoners have more sense than the judges, police and prosecutors.
That tells me a lot about the criminal system in Sweden.
Does it matter how old the attackers is? Does their mental state matter?
If a 78 year old is convicted for assault, it surely must have been severe enough. If you live here, you would know their is quite a strong social services net.
Given the scoffing comments about weak sentencing on thelocal - it really is clear that complaining and trolling is the aim.
Quote, "it is awful to see an old man treated in this way after all he has done for society" - said the convicts, about the convict.
Obviously once you reach a certain age, you automatically become a benevolent pensioner and any crimes (past or future should be forgotten).
Give me a break.
There is obviously more to this story than is being reported here. Perhaps the story here will be supplemented with......(drum roll) facts, perhaps not - I'll not be holding my breath.
Of course the person's mental state matters - if the person has a serious mental disorder then they would be sentenced under the rules to Rättspyskiatrisk vård to closed psychiatric treatment.
Obviously in your country people are fine about the elderly suffering with dementia being locked up in prison
Dementia - I never saw that in this article - do share.
So you are agreeing with me? If he was sentenced to prison, Rättspyskiatrisk did not apply. Therefore this story reported by thelocal is perhaps a little sensational?
the facts of the news is clearly that the inmates have threatened to strike over this. All the rest is just discussion of the reasons why, not whether their cause is justified or not.
Give the old guy a break.....He's in a place that he doesn't want to be in .....I don't mean prison, I mean in his own failing body. Let us not forget inside every old person is a young person screaming "What happened"
I heard the item on the Swedish news where the man was described as very confused, has emphysema, unable to walk without a zimmer frame and incontinent - obviously much too difficult for the Swedish Police to handle .......
The reason that I surmised dementia from the description is that it is one of the conditions that falls into the loophole of the Lagen on Rättspsykiatriskvård - as only those with treatable mental conditions can be sentenced to care.
Even so I find it shocking that a confused and frail man can be sentenced to prison rather than an alternative form of care
Either way the penal system is a joke, globally and especially here in Sweden.
Yes, a soggy diaper could be a passion killer.
@Puffin
I personally know people who work in social services and they are constantly being drawn into police cases to help anyone thought to be vulnerable. The police are very sensitive procedurally to these issues - if not overly so. I tend to think that people try to do a good job, conscientiously - rather than assume everyone is incompetent and intentionally messing up. But hey-ho.
f you or your son/wife/daughter were stabbed/attacked/raped by a person with "a walking stick/diaper/dementia - wooden leg, glass eye" (pick one or more) - would you feel less attacked. Of course not.
@GLO, etc, etc.
Looking on google, it would seem there is a global problem with elderly convicts, a quick search turned up abundant references to both the US and Japan. It would seem there is age equality in crime. If thelocal actually provided facts, like journalists, not translated headlines - then we might have a chance to fully understand the full story (apart from those of us capable to read the Swedish sources).
Just remember, being in society is a privilege, not a right.
why live in a smelly old aged home when you can live in a holiday resort!
will the guards put their foot down and smack the prisoners around to get them into the cells if they strike, are prisoners able to go on strike, after all they are not supposed to be their for their own pleasure, but we all know they are!
this article is hilarious, Me I'm ROFLMAO!
Prison is the best care one can find these days they will not be able to move him short of killing him, and I guess he would not mind this either it is probably better than the care the prisoners are trying to push him into!
this is the best and funniest article the local has ever produced!