The penal voluntary sector’s role in the Nordic countries: A shadow state?

Annette Olesen, Maija Helminen, Emy Bäcklin

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter analyses and compares the challenges faced by the Danish, Finnish, and Swedish penal voluntary sector organisations (PVSOs). Our data indicates that the main challenges across the three Nordic countries relate to precarious funding structures and disorganised co-operation with the prison and probation services. Furthermore, the Nordic PVSOs are subjected to many similar constraints regarding their independence and critical voice as noted in previous Anglophone research. We argue that neoliberal transformations have increased the importance of Nordic PVSOs and placed them in a sense in a position of a shadow state. We also suggest that the PVSOs’ unstable position compromises prisoners’ and released prisoners’ access to welfare rights and jeopardises their possibilities for successful reintegration.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTransformations of European Welfare States and Social Rights. Regulation, Professionals, and Citizens
EditorsStine Piilgaard Porner Nielsen, Ole Hammerslev
Number of pages20
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Publication date2024
Pages61-80
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-46636-6
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-46637-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
SeriesPalgrave Socio-Legal Studies
ISSN2947-9274

Keywords

  • Penal voluntary sector organisations
  • access to welfare rights
  • neoliberalism
  • prison and probation service
  • prisoner rehabilitation
  • shadow state
  • social reintegration

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