Stockholm is taking a pioneering step by introducing a tracking program for six-year-olds, aimed at preventing future criminal behavior. This initiative involves an investment of 55 million kronor and focuses on families that are assessed to be lacking in effective parenting skills. According to Alexander Ojanne, the city's social councilor, while the program is costly, it is expected to yield positive long-term benefits. This initiative aligns with existing efforts in Stockholm that already monitor teenagers identified as being at risk of engaging in criminal activities.

The method used in tracking these children is known as Multisystemic Therapy (MST), which is described as an intensive intervention approach. The social services will maintain close contact with both the children and their families, often reaching out daily to monitor progress and provide necessary support. The primary goal is to disrupt negative trajectories for vulnerable youth who are either on the brink of criminality or susceptible to recruitment by criminal gangs, promoting early intervention in a supportive environment.

Moreover, the program aims to avoid the need for compulsory placements of at-risk youth by reinforcing support within the home rather than relying on external facilities. This decision by the Stockholm social welfare board to extend the program to younger children reflects a broader strategy to proactively engage with families and communities, potentially leading to a significant impact on crime prevention in the city and a comprehensive reevaluation of how social services respond to early signs of family dysfunction.