Sweden Drops Plan to Lower Criminal Responsibility Age to 13, Gains Opposition Support for Age 14

Swedish Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer held a press conference today to announce the withdrawal of the proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility for serious crimes to 13. The main reason is that the proposal did not receive sufficient support in parliament. He stated that the revised proposal will change the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14, news that was welcomed by the opposition parties.

In response to the growing problem of youth crime and the decreasing age of minors recruited by gangs, the Swedish government recently put forward a draft amendment to lower the age of criminal responsibility for serious crimes to 13 and increase penalties for crimes committed by minors.

Minister for Justice Strömmer stated that the proposal would be withdrawn because it did not gain enough support in parliament. The government expects to present a proposal to lower the age to 14 in the summer, which is the plan suggested by the opposition Social Democratic Party, who has already expressed its support.

This news was not only supported by the Social Democratic Party but was also welcomed by the opposition Green Party and Left Party.

According to the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN), although the ruling coalition has a majority in parliament, uncertainty about the position of some MPs, coupled with the Sweden Democrats (part of the ruling coalition) unilaterally violating the Swedish parliament's long-standing "pairing-off mechanism" in a key vote on citizenship requirements in April, has caused the parliamentary trust mechanism to fail, increasing the variables for the ruling coalition to secure a majority.

The Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerförbundet SSR) stated in a press release that this was a smart choice and welcomed the government finally listening to the advice of the correctional services, social services, and other relevant bodies and experts to withdraw the proposal. They argued that children who commit serious crimes need more care and suggested the establishment of small, specialized units to provide the necessary supervision. They recommended maintaining the age of criminal responsibility for serious crimes at 15, which has been in place since 1864.

The proposal to lower the age to 13 has caused much controversy in Sweden. "Should 13-year-olds go to prison?" has become a major topic of discussion in politics, public opinion, and even election debates over the past few months.

Supporters argue that gangs' recruitment grounds have expanded from schools to the internet, and the current system allows teenagers to remain exposed to gang influence while receiving protective measures after committing crimes, leading to rampant recidivism after serving their sentences. They see prison as a more effective method of isolation.

Opponents include the police, prosecution authorities, and correctional institutions. The police are concerned that lowering the age to 13 would lead criminal groups to recruit even younger children. The Swedish Council on Legislation (Lagrådet) stated that this amendment violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and could also lead to an increase in youth crime.

Other Nordic countries all have an age of criminal responsibility for serious crimes of 15. Among them, Denmark lowered it to 14 in 2010, but due to a rise in youth crime, it was raised back to 15 two years later.

The Swedish government had previously been very confident that this proposal would pass. According to Swedish media, Swedish prisons had begun to "tailor-make" suitable prison environments for 13-year-old youths and arrange opportunities for continued learning. Thirteen-year-olds need to continue their education, and prison staff showed reporters the schools inside the prisons, prepared suitable sports and fitness equipment, and discussed whether they should provide stuffed animals to some young inmates who may not have yet entered puberty.