Sweden Drops Plan to Jail 13-Year-Olds for Serious Crimes

Sweden’s government has scrapped a Justice Ministry bill that would have made it possible to imprison children as young as 13 for serious crimes, after failing to secure parliamentary support. The proposal would have lowered the age for criminal liability from 15 to 13, in response to a surge in violent crime involving younger teenagers.

The move comes after Swedish authorities saw more than 50 children under 15 appear in court last year on charges including murder and attempted murder. Some of those minors were also used in recent months in attempted attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets in Sweden, including Elbit offices, the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, and other institutions.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said the government now plans to try lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14. He said the aim is to allow “fair and proportionate” sanctions and better rehabilitation, while protecting society and victims. Under current law, children under 15 convicted of violent crimes are sent to youth homes for rehabilitation.