The purpose of this study has been to investigate the similarities and differences in the Swedish and Danish action plans against gang crime, based on three kinds of penal theoretical reasoning, the principle of proportionality, general deterrence and specific deterrence. A qualitative content analysis combined with a comparative text analysis was implemented to compare the material. Previous research has shown that the Nordic countries have followed each other in criminal developments since the 1960s. Criminal policy has gone from a development with harsh punishments, to a period focused on treatment and readjustment, to then return to tougher punishments. However, some researchers believe that it is no longer possible to talk about the Nordic countries as a united region based on today's criminal policy context. The results showed that Sweden's action plan was based on more general preventive reasoning, while Denmark was based on more individual preventive reasoning. The results also showed that opinions of which penalties are considered proportionate based on the principle of proportionality, has shifted. The shift may explain measures aimed at stricter penalties for gang crime. The study concludes that there are both similarities and differences between the action plans based on the penal theory reasoning, but that the differences are not as striking as the media has shown. / Syftet med studien var att undersöka Sverige och Danmarks handlingsplaner mot gängkriminalitet för att hitta likheter och skillnader utifrån tre straffteoretiska resonemang, proportionalitetsprincipen, allmänprevention och individualprevention. En kvalitativ innehållsanalys och komparativ textanalys genomfördes där handlingsplanerna från respektive land jämfördes med varandra. Tidigare forskning har visat att de nordiska länderna följt varandra i den kriminalpolitiska utvecklingen sedan 1960-talet. Kriminalpolitiken har gått från en utveckling med hårda straff, till en period med behandling och återanpassning i fokus, för att sedan återgå till skärpta straff. En del forskare menar det att utifrån dagens kriminalpolitiska kontext inte längre går att tala om Norden som en enhet. Resultatet visade att Sveriges handlingsplan utgick från fler allmänpreventiva resonemang, medan Danmark utgick från fler individualpreventiva resonemang. Resultatet visade även att Sverige och Danmarks regeringar har förskjutit tolkningen av vilka straff som anses vara proportionella utifrån proportionalitetsprincipen. Förskjutningen kan förklara åtgärder som syftar till strängare straff för gängbrottslighet. Studiens slutsats är att det finns både likheter och skillnader mellan handlingsplanerna utifrån de straffteoretiska resonemangen, men att skillnaderna inte är så påfallande som media har uppvisat.

Abstract The purpose of this bachelor’s thesis (C-uppsats) is to analyse the Swedish governments 34-point programme, which contains measures for preventing gang criminality, to see if the government has addressed the theoretical perspective of social capital. The analysis will be conducted using the previously mentioned theoretical perspective. To make the analysis, two different interpretations of the theoretical perspective was combined into a theoretical analysis framework. Which contained the codes used for analysing the text material. The theoretical analysis framework contains the four most central elements from both the interpretations of the theoretical perspective, regarding social capitals effects on criminality, and has been filtered out and used in the analysis.  This thesis is designed as a case study and to conduct it, a qualitative analysis method has been used. Choosing this method has led to a more deep going analysis of the material. It has made it possible to observe interesting information between the written lines thanks to the thorough reading of all material, which is a part of the qualitative text analysis. The deductions made from the thesis analysis are as follows. The government has considered three of the four central elements of social capital that affects criminality. Which means they have taken social capital into account. The measures proposed for preventing gang criminality are also believed to work since the government addresses the theoretical perspective. This is backed up by both the theoretical perspective and by earlier studies. However, the fourth central element that the government has not addressed in their programme is negative social capital, which is an important element. They have not addressed the fact that negative social capital could lead to all their proposed measures of preventing gang criminality having the opposite effect. The proposed measures could increase the criminality or make it harder integrating the gang members back into “normal” society, thanks to the negative social capital.  Therefore, the government receives criticism at the end of the thesis for not addressing this central element in their programme. It is proposed that the government should rework the 34-point programme to also include a consideration of the negative social capital and to have some form of risk analysis in the programme as well. Just in case the proposed measures do not work, or if they increase gang criminality. At the very end of the thesis, possible subjects for further studying in the future are presented.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka de tre brottsförebyggande åtgärdsförslagen för socialt utsatta grupper i socialt utsatta områden presenterade av regeringen i 34-punktsprogrammet. Detta via en jämförande analys av texten i förhållande till Brottsförebyggande Rådets kunskapsöversikt inom samma problemområde. Denna undersökning grundar sig i frågeställningarna om vilka åtgärder 34-punktsprogrammet och Brottsförebyggande rådets översikt presenterar samt hur de överensstämmer vad gäller åtgärdsmål och målgrupp. Underlaget för studiens bakgrund ger läsaren förutsättningar att förstå brottsprevention i förhållande till brottsförebyggande åtgärder, 34-punktprogrammets innebörd och centrala aktörer i det brottsförebyggande arbetet. Med stöd av studiens tematiska innehållsanalys har flertal gemensamma teman återfunnits där samverkan och ökad kunskap varit betydande i brottsförebyggande arbetet mot gängkriminaliteten i socialt utsatta områden. Studiens resultat har däremot visat på att det råder en viss diskrepans vad gäller definitionen av socialt utsatta grupper och socialt utsatta områden samt en vaghet om hur 34-punktsprogrammet förhåller sig till Brå’s kunskapsöversikt. Studiens resultat möjliggör förslag på vidare forskning i form av jämförelse med internationell forskning. Ännu ett förslag är att undersöka huruvida en gemensam definition av brottsförebyggande arbete påverkar beredningen av kriminalpolitiska åtgärdsförslag. Ett slutligt aktuellt förslag är även att undersöka effektiviteten av åtgärderna för att tillhandahålla information om huruvida åtgärderna är tillämpningsbara inom svensk kriminalpolitik. / The purpose of the study was to examine the three crime prevention measures for socially vulnerable groups in socially vulnerable areas presented by the government in the 34-point program. The purpose is fulfilled by a comparative analysis of the 34-point program in relation to the Crime Prevention Council's research review within the same problem area. This study is based on what measures the 34-point program and the Crime Prevention Council's research review present, as well as how they correspond in terms of action goals and target group. The basis for the study's background provides the reader with the prerequisites to understand crime prevention in relation to crime prevention measures, the meaning of the 34-point program and key actors in crime prevention work. With the support of the study's thematic content analysis, several common themes have been found where collaboration and increased knowledge have been significant in crime prevention work against gang crime in socially vulnerable areas. The results of the study, on the other hand, have shown that there is a certain discrepancy regarding the definition of socially vulnerable groups and socially vulnerable areas, as well as a vagueness about how the 34-point program relates to Crime Prevention Council's research review. The results of the study enable proposals for further research in the form of comparison with international research. Another proposal is to investigate whether a common definition of crime prevention work affects the preparation of criminal policy measures. A final current proposal is also to investigate the effectiveness of the measures to provide information on whether the measures are applicable in Swedish criminal policy.