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 other Tidö parties.
The government is today presenting several tougher penalties for young offenders under the age of 18. Despite massive criticism, plans are moving forward to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 for crimes that carry a minimum sentence of four years in prison.
These include murder, attempted murder, aggravated rape and aggravated endangerment of public safety. In 2025, 52 young people under the age of 15 were involved in trials for murder and murder plots.
So we are not talking about theft, assault or robbery, but about murder, says Strömmer.
From this summer
The lowered age of criminal responsibility is intended to come into effect on July 3 of this year and remain in effect 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 prevention that we will 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 guideline value for the reduction will be 90 percent, i.e. one-tenth of an adult's sentence. For a 14-year-old, the guideline value will be an 80 percent reduction.
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. The Swedish Prison and Probation Service has arranged for 44 places in juvenile detention centers by this summer.
However, the courts will have the option of choosing a punishment other than juvenile detention, such as youth supervision and youth care. The current closed youth care in state-run SiS homes for young offenders will be phased out and replaced with juvenile detention.
We must put a stop to gangs' use of children and young people, says Gunnar Strömmer.
Time-limited law
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 will 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 may, for example, mean placement in a family home, a residential care home (HVB) or even returning the child to their home. This will also apply in the future to children under 15 who commit less serious crimes, such as robbery, theft and assault.
