By young offender is meant a person who committing a punishable act has been 15-20 years old. On an offender of this age, a personal history report is drawn if it is not likely the sentence is a fine.

The personal history report clarifies the youth’s life situation and it expresses an opinion concerning eventual supervision in connection with a conditional prison sentence. In addition, the impact of different sanction alternatives on the young person’s situation are assessed. A youth under 18 years of age is sentenced to unconditional imprisonment only on weighty reasons.

When the supervision starts, the risks, needs and resources are assessed which the offender has at that life situation. On the basis of the assessment, an individual supervision plan is drawn together with the person to be supervised, in which the targets and means of the supervision period are determined. During the supervision appointments, different themes are dealt with according to the supervision plan, for instance by means of discussions, tasks and exercises. Supervision supports the client in his own efforts to change. Supervision may include collaboration with the family of the client and also various authorities.

Besides the officials of the Probation Service, there are also private persons functioning as supervisors, who in the direction of the Probation Service take care of nearly half of the supervisions of conditionally sentenced young offenders.