On Monday, the government presented several tougher penalties for young criminals under the age of 18.
Despite massive criticism, the government is moving forward with lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 13 years for crimes with a minimum sentence of four years in prison.
These include, for example, murder, attempted murder, aggravated rape and aggravated destruction of public safety.
We have an urgent situation and the measures we take must reflect that seriousness, says Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) at a press conference with the Tidö parties.
In 2025, 52 young people under 15 were involved in legal trials over murder and murder plots.
It's staggering, says Strömmer.
From this summer
The lowered age of criminal responsibility is intended to come into effect on July 3 of this year and be valid for five years. After that, a new parliamentary decision is required.
The goal is that in five years we will have taken such big steps forward in crime prevention that we will then be faced with a real choice between either returning to the 15-year limit or making the 13-year limit permanent, says Strömmer.
For 13- and 14-year-olds sentenced to juvenile detention, the sentence reduction will be substantial. For a 13-year-old, the benchmark will be that the child will only receive one-tenth of an adult's sentence. For a 14-year-old, the benchmark will be one-fifth of an adult's sentence.
This could mean 1–2 years in juvenile detention for a 13-year-old convicted of murder and 3–4 years for a 14-year-old.
However, the courts will have the option of choosing a penalty other than juvenile detention, such as youth supervision and youth care, especially if the penalty value is assessed to be less than one year after the penalty discount has been deducted.
Choosing punishment
The Swedish Prison and Probation Service expects to have 54 places for 13-17-year-olds in its special youth departments this summer. These will be expanded to 300 in 2027.
Today's closed youth care in state-run Sis homes for young offenders is gradually being phased out and replaced with youth prisons.
After the prison sentence is served, the idea is that the 13- and 14-year-olds will undergo a controlled release for two years, which social services and the correctional service plan together.
Those under the age of 15 who commit a crime today cannot be punished, but are instead taken into care by social services. This can, for example, mean placement in a family home, a home for children with disabilities, or even the child being returned to their home.
Children under the age of 15 who commit less serious crimes, such as robbery, theft and assault, will continue to be handed over to social services.
The age of criminal responsibility is lowered to 13 years for crimes with a minimum sentence of four years.
The reduction will apply for five years.
The penalties for young people under 18 years of age can be a fine, youth care, youth service, youth supervision or youth imprisonment.
Today's sentence discount for 15–17-year-olds is more than halved - a 15-year-old will receive 40 percent of an adult's sentence.
The penalty discount for 13-year-olds will be 10 percent and for 14-year-olds 20 percent of the penalty for an adult.
The penalty discount is completely abolished for 18-20-year-olds and they are to be treated as adults in the legal process.
The maximum sentence that can be imposed on young people under the age of 18 is increased from 14 to 18 years.
The penalty of youth supervision is tightened by house arrest for one additional day a week and a ban on being in certain places.
Prosecutors must file an evidentiary case if the crime carries a minimum sentence of at least four years in prison.
Source: Ministry of Justice
