Sweden to Lower Criminal Age to 13 for Serious Crimes
Stockholm, Sweden – The Swedish government, in collaboration with the Sweden democrats, announced plans to lower the criminal age from 15 to 13 years old, but only for especially serious offenses like murder. The move, detailed in a joint debate article published in Expressen, aims to provide law enforcement with greater tools to address a rise in suspected crimes committed by younger individuals.
The decision comes amid growing concern over increasing crime rates involving children under 15. According to the government and the Sweden Democrats, the current system is inadequate, and lowering the criminal age – limited to a five-year range – will allow police and the judicial system to intervene earlier. Proponents point to examples in other European nations, such as Ireland and England, which already have lower age thresholds for criminal responsibility.”By lowering the criminal age, we open up the entire toolbox to the police and the criminal justice at an earlier time,” the party leaders wrote in their Expressen post. The proposed change will not apply to all crimes, focusing specifically on the most severe offenses.
The government argues this targeted approach is necessary to address a recent surge in suspected criminal activity among young people and to ensure appropriate consequences for serious wrongdoing. The plan is expected to face debate regarding its potential impact on youth justice and rehabilitation efforts.
