Project information
Project manager
Caroline Hansén
Other project members
Torbjörn Forkby,
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University; Södertälje kommuns avhopparverksamhet
Financier
The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå)
Timetable
1 jan. 2025 - 31 dec. 2026
Subject
Social Work, Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences
More about the project
Leaving a criminal gang is a complex and challenging process. Gangs often offer a strong sense of belonging and security, making it difficult to sever ties even when violence, threats, and isolation mark daily life. For those seeking to leave, a strong desire for change and long-term support are essential to building a new life.
In the municipality of Södertälje, a specialised exit programme has been developed to support individuals aiming to create a life beyond gangs and criminality. The programme focuses on establishing stable daily routines, creating new social networks, and assisting participants in developing a new identity.
A key work principle is to meet each individual based on their unique situation and needs. By building trustful relationships, demonstrating early and concrete progress, and providing support for both everyday and existential challenges, the programme strives to sustain and strengthen participants' motivation for change.
Leaving gang life often requires the deconstruction of previous life structures, which must be replaced with new foundations. This includes coping with loneliness, mental health issues, threats from former associates, and processing experiences of violence and vulnerability. A secure and long-term plan is critical in helping individuals find new contexts and future goals. An evaluation of Södertälje’s exit programme is underway to develop and strengthen this work further. The aim is to analyse how methods and working practices function, and how the support provided can be refined to enhance participants’ opportunities to build a life outside criminality. The evaluation highlights the experiences of participants and staff and will contribute to the ongoing national knowledge development within this field.
Through active collaboration with other authorities and stakeholders, Södertälje municipality is part of the crucial work to counteract criminality and enhance public safety. The evaluation will help consolidate experiences and foster broader knowledge exchange with other exit programmes nationwide. Leaving a criminal lifestyle is a long and demanding journey, but a new future becomes possible with the proper support, tailored interventions, and belief in the individual’s potential.
