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Crime Prevention in Swedish schools from principals' perspective: navigating legislation for social control

Wahlberg, Ida LU (2025) SOLM02 20251
Department of Sociology of Law
Abstract
While Swedish politics actively develops crime prevention strategies, particularly targeting gang-related criminality, the role of schools in these strategies raises critical concerns. This thesis focuses on the legal obligation of principals to inform the police, which may help prevent, hinder, or detect criminal activity. Schools are increasingly positioned as arenas for policing and prevention, despite their foundational role as educational institutions built on trust and child protection. Interviews with nine principals investigate how principals navigate these conflicting expectations, where crime prevention duties intersect with traditional educational responsibilities. The thesis achieved its aim by conducting interviews with school... (More)
While Swedish politics actively develops crime prevention strategies, particularly targeting gang-related criminality, the role of schools in these strategies raises critical concerns. This thesis focuses on the legal obligation of principals to inform the police, which may help prevent, hinder, or detect criminal activity. Schools are increasingly positioned as arenas for policing and prevention, despite their foundational role as educational institutions built on trust and child protection. Interviews with nine principals investigate how principals navigate these conflicting expectations, where crime prevention duties intersect with traditional educational responsibilities. The thesis achieved its aim by conducting interviews with school principals and applying Stanley Cohen’s social control theory, together with a framework of legal cartography, highlighting the zoomed-in perspective on principals’ practical implementation. The analysis indicates an invisible process of adapting control within the school's crime prevention mission. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wahlberg, Ida LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOLM02 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
crime prevention strategies, navigating legislation, school principals, social control
language
English
id
9195353
date added to LUP
2025-06-23 09:30:13
date last changed
2025-06-23 09:30:13
@misc{9195353,
  abstract     = {{While Swedish politics actively develops crime prevention strategies, particularly targeting gang-related criminality, the role of schools in these strategies raises critical concerns. This thesis focuses on the legal obligation of principals to inform the police, which may help prevent, hinder, or detect criminal activity. Schools are increasingly positioned as arenas for policing and prevention, despite their foundational role as educational institutions built on trust and child protection. Interviews with nine principals investigate how principals navigate these conflicting expectations, where crime prevention duties intersect with traditional educational responsibilities. The thesis achieved its aim by conducting interviews with school principals and applying Stanley Cohen’s social control theory, together with a framework of legal cartography, highlighting the zoomed-in perspective on principals’ practical implementation. The analysis indicates an invisible process of adapting control within the school's crime prevention mission.}},
  author       = {{Wahlberg, Ida}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Crime Prevention in Swedish schools from principals' perspective: navigating legislation for social control}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}