Sweden lowers age of criminal responsibility to 14 amid youth gang crime surge

Sweden's parliament has approved a law reducing the age of criminal responsibility to 14, a move aimed at curbing a sharp rise in youth gang violence. The legislation, passed with 281 votes in favor and 66 against, also significantly reduces sentence mitigation for offenders under 18, allowing them to receive prison terms of up to 18 years.

The center-right government had initially proposed lowering the age to 13 but settled on 14 after failing to secure a parliamentary majority for the more drastic cut. Most of the 126 organizations consulted by the government, including police and correctional authorities, opposed lowering the age to 13.

Since taking office in 2022, the government has prioritized combating crime. The current minority government, a coalition of the Moderate Party and the far-right Sweden Democrats, gained support for the 14-year-old threshold from the opposition Social Democrats. Sweden has grappled with escalating gang violence, shootings, and crimes committed by minors, often linked to disputes over the drug market. The country faces a shortage of prison capacity, leading to an annual expenditure of approximately 30 million euros to house inmates in Estonia.

The new law will be implemented on October 10, just three days before general elections. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's government is currently trailing in opinion polls, with a coalition of four opposition parties holding a slight lead.