The investigation that forms the basis for the government's proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 years for certain serious crimes is "undermålig", write the prosecutors in a debate article in DN. In addition, the government goes further than the investigation, which proposed a new age of criminal responsibility of 14, from today's 15.
"In plain language, we should thus begin to detain, prosecute and punish children without the consequences being investigated. We have never heard of anything like it", write the prosecutors.
A major problem is that the lowered age of criminal responsibility will only apply to certain crimes, which means great difficulties for the judicial system and legal security, according to the prosecutors. It will, for example, mean that a 13-year-old who commits three rapes will not be prosecuted, while one who transports a thermos bomb will be.
"For the general public and the victims, it is arbitrary and offensive", write the prosecutors.
The legislative proposal cannot be implemented, "if one cares about the judicial system being legally secure, predictable and credible", write the prosecutors. They now hear how colleagues talk about not being able to continue working if the law change goes through.
"Forcing through a law change goes quickly – but the consequences of a bad reform we will have to live with for a long time. It is not too late to think again", write they.
Among the 26 who have signed the article are several state prosecutors and senior prosecutors at, among other things, the National Unit against International and Organized Crime.
