This summer, the serial rapist “ghost man” was conditionally released. Four months after he was released, he committed a new rape for which he was now being convicted.
In November, the Nytorgsman was arrested, also suspected of a new rape shortly after conditional release.
Both men were judged to have a high risk of relapse in sexual offenses before they were released.
– We have a problem in Sweden that when you come out after serving punishment, there is no care that takes over and ensures that he is kept in a short leash and receives treatment, says Christoffer Rahm, researcher and psychiatrist at Karolinska Institutet.
Conversation therapy and drugs
The convicted person receives as a custodial treatment linked to the sexual crimes. It can be through conversation therapy or drug. Anyone who is deemed to have a high recurrence risk should, according to guidelines, receive both, Rahm says.
However, the maintenance of the treatment is inadequate, according to the psychiatrist.
– We see that there are people who need treatment but do not get it.
Forced chemical castration
In some cases, there are criminals who do not recognize that they need care. Rahm believes that they can be treated in any case – for example with chemical castration.
– Many people have a doubt to start such treatment, but once they have come into it, most people think they want to continue. It also solves central problems for themselves. It’s win-win in every way.
According to him, coercive means are justified in some cases.
– There are a small click of people who are sexually ill and who do not want care, where I think there is an opportunity to go in with forced treatments if needed.
“There is much to do”
The government is investigating the possibility of locking in criminals that constitute a danger of society, such as gang criminals and serial rapists, indefinitely.
Christoffer Rahm understands the frustration and that the government is looking at the alternative to “basically lock in and throw away the key”. However, he thinks that the recommendations of research are overlooked.
– Before you get to the situation that you do not want to release them at all, there is much you can do.