Sweden Plans to Lower Criminal Age to Thirteen
The measures, officially unveiled this week, target the escalating phenomenon of "violence-as-a-service" (VaaS), whereby criminal networks deploy juvenile operatives to execute contract killings, bombings, and assaults for paying clients. Under existing Swedish law, individuals below 15 cannot receive custodial sentences and instead undergo social services intervention regardless of offense severity.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer told a press conference that last year 52 people under 15 were involved in court proceedings related to murder or murder planning, which replaces a trial for younger offenders. He said violent crime by minors is rising even as overall youth offenses decline.
Authorities contend the proposal strikes equilibrium between public protection, enhanced victim justice and rehabilitation pathways for juvenile offenders.
The reform would operate temporarily, commencing in July for a five-year trial period, with potential reversion to age 15 thereafter. Should parliament approve the legislation, underage convicts would still receive substantially reduced sentences compared to adult defendants. Critics, including Swedish correctional administrators and children's advocacy organization BRIS, have condemned the initiative as counterproductive, cautioning it will elevate reoffending rates while incentivizing gangs to enlist progressively younger recruits.
The right-leaning administration of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson assumed power in 2022 pledging to suppress gang territorial conflicts that periodically claim civilian casualties. Cabinet officials face mounting pressure from the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats, which provides parliamentary backing without holding ministerial portfolios. Sweden's next general election is scheduled for September.
Last April, Sweden spearheaded establishment of a Europol police task force to dismantle VaaS operations. Additional participating nations include Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Norway.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
