HELSINKI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Swedish children aged between 13 and 14 convicted of serious crimes could serve prison sentences in dedicated youth units, according to a government decision announced on Monday. Following a draft legislative proposal, the measure seeks to lower the age limit of such sentences from the previously discussed 15-17 years.
This is a supplement to the Swedish Prison and Probation Service's mandate to prepare for the establishment of youth prisons. The special youth units are expected to be ready by July 1, 2026, the government said in a press release.
The move follows a government-commissioned review completed in August 2023 on the regulation of custodial sanctions for young offenders. The review proposed replacing the current penalty of closed youth care with prison sentences served in dedicated youth units within existing prisons.
"A lowering of the age of criminal responsibility for the most serious crimes is needed for several reasons. It is important to strengthen redress for victims, to protect society and to help children leave the criminal path," Minister of Justice Gunnar Strommer said in the press release.
Torsten Elofsson, legal policy spokesperson for the Christian Democrats Party of Sweden, said the number of children as young as 13-14 committing serious violent crimes has risen sharply in Sweden, adding that measures are needed both to prevent such crimes and to address these cases.
"When 13-14-year-olds run around with automatic weapons, it must be met with the full force of society. To protect others, they must be able to be locked up," said Henrik Vinge, chairman of the Justice Committee. "It gives us a chance to both stop continued violence and turn the tide for these children before it is too late."
On Sept. 24, the Ministry of Justice submitted a draft to the legislative council proposing to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 for crimes with a minimum sentence of four years or more, as well as for attempt, preparation and instigation of such crimes.
