Sweden’s parliament voted on Wednesday to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 14, approving a revised government proposal that had been scaled back from an earlier, more aggressive plan. The vote marks a significant shift in Scandinavian juvenile justice policy amid growing concern over youth involvement in gang violence.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer had originally pushed to lower the threshold to 13, arguing that children as young as 13 should face criminal prosecution for serious offenses including murder, aggravated rape and weapons crimes. That proposal was withdrawn in June after it became clear it lacked sufficient parliamentary support, with dozens of MPs declining to back the measure.
The revised bill sets 14 as the new minimum for criminal responsibility, bringing Sweden closer to the European average. The government argued that criminal gangs have been recruiting younger and younger members to carry out shootings and bombings, exploiting the fact that those under 15 face no criminal liability under current law.
The legislation passed with support from the ruling centre-right coalition and the Sweden Democrats, who had initially co-sponsored the original proposal to lower the age to 13. Opposition parties, including the Social Democrats and Greens, voted against, warning that prosecuting children would fail to address the root causes of youth crime.
Children’s rights organizations, trade unions and researchers had mounted a vigorous campaign against the plan. An open letter signed by 48 groups, including the children’s charity Bris and the Bishop of Stockholm, urged MPs to reject the measure, arguing it would violate principles of the rule of state and risk harming the youngest members of society.
Sweden has experienced a surge in gang-related violence in recent years, with the country now recording among the highest rates of shootings in Europe. Authorities say criminal networks increasingly rely on minors to carry out attacks, betting that youth offenders will escape meaningful punishment. The new law is expected to take effect on a temporary basis, with the government pledging to review its impact after five years.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the vote a necessary step to protect Swedish society, saying children were being ruthlessly exploited by organized crime. Critics, however, argued that the measure was a populist response to a complex social problem and called instead for greater investment in education, social services and gang prevention programs.
Sources: Sweden Herald, Euronews, Reuters
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