Motgångens möjligheter
en studie av ungdomars upplevelse av häktessituationen
The purpose of this study is to look into how detained swedish juveniles, in the ages between 15 an 20, experience time in custody. The primary questions are; To what exctent do juveniles understand their situation? To what exctent can juveniles handle their situation? Do the juveniles find meaning in their situation and if so, what aspects of the detention is considered meaningful? The study is based on seven qualitative interviews with young men detained at a youth custody ward at Kronobergshäktet in Stockholm. The theory used to analyze the interview results is Antonovskys theory of sence of coherence (SOC). A salient feature in the young mens experiences was that all of them had the ability to regard some of the aspects of the detention as meaningful. These positive aspects includes time for reflection and a possibility to break destructive patterns. Further more, it was evident that most of the respondents experienced that their lives contained elements of importance, such as family, education and future goals. Nevertheless, isolation, lack of contact with family and friends, powerlessness and worries about the future, were aspects of the detention that had a negative influence on all of the respondents in variyng degrees.