The Swedish government has announced stricter criminal regulations for minors in response to rising organized crime. The age of criminal responsibility is to be lowered from 15 to 13 for the most serious offenses, such as murder or attacks using explosives. The reform, planned as temporary for five years, has faced sharp criticism from human rights organizations and the prison administration itself. Eight existing prisons are to create separate wings for juvenile inmates.

Lowering the Age of Criminal Responsibility

The Swedish government plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility from the current 15 years to 13 years. This will apply to the most serious offenses, including murder and attacks using explosives.

New Prisons for Juveniles

Eight existing prisons have been obligated to adapt separate wings for juvenile inmates. Three of them are to be ready by July 1, 2026, when the reform enters into force.

Sharp Criticism of the Reform

The project has faced opposition from human rights organizations and, notably, the Swedish penitentiary administration itself. Critics warn of negative, long-term effects of imprisonment on adolescent development.

Temporary Nature of the Law

The new law is to be introduced for a trial period of five years. It is the ruling coalition's response to the growing wave of gang-related violence and organized crime in Sweden.

The Swedish government, a coalition of conservatives supported by the far-right, has presented concrete implementation plans for the controversial reform of juvenile criminal law. The main change is the radical lowering of the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 for the most serious acts. The bill, announced at the end of January, is temporary and has been planned for five years. According to the authorities, its goal is to "stop violence related to organized crime". In Sweden, as in many other European countries, relatively high thresholds for the age of criminal responsibility have been in place for decades, stemming from the dominant philosophy of rehabilitation and youth protection. For a long time, the system focused on educational measures rather than punitive ones. On Thursday, February 19, the government revealed details regarding the conditions of detention for this new category of inmates. Eight existing prisons have been tasked with adapting special "quarters" or wings for juveniles within their walls. These are to provide not only security but also continuation of school education and access to recreational spaces resembling school playgrounds. The first three such facilities are to be ready by July 1, 2026, coinciding with the planned entry into force of the reform. The new regulations are to apply to youth convicted of crimes such as murder or "aggravated explosions", indicating the context of the fight against gangs and bomb attacks. The reform has sparked lively opposition from the start. As the media highlights, the project is criticized "against the opinion of the penitentiary administration", a rare phenomenon since this institution will be responsible for its implementation. <cytat autor=