Sweden’s New Crime Law Holds 13-Year-Olds Accountable for Grave Crimes

(MENAFN) Sweden will dramatically slash its minimum age for criminal incarceration, enabling courts to imprison children as young as 13 for grave offenses including homicide, major explosives attacks, severe firearms violations and aggravated sexual assault.

The legislation launches in July as a five-year trial program, Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer revealed during a Monday briefing, Dagens Nyheter reported.

The framework establishes that a 13-year-old found guilty of murder may receive one to three years behind bars, while 14-year-olds could face three to four years, with judicial authorities maintaining case-by-case sentencing authority.

"We are not talking about a general reduction but a reduction for the most serious crime," Strommer stated, noting that attempted acts, planning phases and accomplice participation in such offenses will equally trigger prosecution.

Minor infractions, including weapons transportation, will predominantly result in supervised youth services rather than detention.

The governmental blueprint additionally restructures penalties for adolescents in older age brackets.

Sentencing reductions currently afforded to 15-through-17-year-olds would shrink, while maximum imprisonment duration for this demographic would expand from 14 years to 18 years. Lifetime sentences remain prohibited.

"It's about protecting society," the minister declared.

The initiative has drawn sharp opposition from Sweden's Prison and Probation Service, law enforcement agencies and the Prosecution Authority, entities that flagged possible adverse consequences.

Strommer acknowledged his administration thoroughly examined these reservations but determined that maintaining current policies presented more substantial dangers.

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