The study aims to compare how the municipalities of Jönköping and Norrköping work

to prevent youth crime, particularly focusing on ideological differences reflected in their

strategies and interventions. Through a qualitative text analysis, the study examines the

municipalities’ crime policies and the ideological values embedded in their preventive

work. The theoretical frameworks of David Easton’s input-output model and the

governance perspective are used to analyze differences in political inputs (ideological

values) and outputs (practical measures). The findings indicate that Jönköping adopts a

long-term, collaboration-based strategy that prioritizes children's rights and well-being

through inclusive initiatives and strong civic engagement. In contrast, Norrköping

emphasizes efficiency and repressive methods with rapid interventions and strong

coordination between the municipality and authorities. These differences reflect the

ideological foundations of the municipalities' political coalitions. Jönköping’s governing

parties emphasize social inclusion and collaboration, whereas Norrköping’s leadership

prioritizes control and individual-based measures. The study concludes that ideological

values significantly influence the implementation of crime policy at the local level. At

the same time, it highlights the need to combine legitimacy and efficiency in crime

prevention to create sustainable long-term solutions. This provides insights into how

crime policy can be improved through adaptation to local conditions and collaboration

among various stakeholders.

Keywords: crime policy, Jönköping, Norrköping, ideological values, left-wing politics,

right-wing politics, local level, crime prevention, governance, input, output

Number of words: 12241