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🇧🇪 Belgium /Crime & Justice

Sweden to Imprison Teenagers from Age 15 to Combat Gang Violence

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Sweden is introducing stricter penalties for young offenders, allowing individuals aged 15 and older to be imprisoned in adult facilities.
  • This measure aims to combat rising gang violence, where criminal networks increasingly use minors for violent acts like murder attempts and attacks.
  • Critics, however, raise concerns about the potential negative impacts of incarcerating young people alongside hardened criminals.

Sweden is set to implement a significant policy shift, moving young offenders aged 15 and above from youth institutions to traditional prisons. This change, approved with broad parliamentary support, is a direct response to escalating gang violence, where criminal networks are increasingly exploiting minors for serious crimes, including murder attempts and bombings.

While the new law allows for incarceration from age 15, some politicians advocate for lowering this age further. The measure aims to disrupt the cycle of violence by imposing harsher penalties and preventing young individuals from maintaining contact with criminal gangs. The government hopes this will serve as a significant deterrent.

Deterrence is not about the number of troops, but about capabilities, and the capabilities here in Romania, in the context of NATO, remain strong and I believe they will be even stronger.

— Gabriel WessmanDescribing the new facilities for young offenders in Rosersberg prison.

At the Rosersberg prison near Stockholm, a special wing has been prepared for these young inmates. Prison director Gabriel Wessman explained that this section is isolated from adult prisoners, with more guards and no requirement for cell sharing. Each cell, approximately 10 square meters, is equipped with a bed, desk, television, and private toilet, offering opportunities for study.

Sweden has grappled with gang violence for years, marked by a high rate of shootings and fatalities. Although recent years have seen a decrease in shootings, there has been a rise in arson and grenade attacks. A disturbing trend is the increasing involvement of younger perpetrators, with criminal gangs luring teenagers with substantial sums, sometimes up to €15,000, for contract killings. The number of suspects aged 13 or 14 has tripled in recent years, and an 11-year-old was placed under youth supervision for allegedly being involved in planning a murder.

Each cell is about 10 square meters large. The young people can also study here. In one corridor, there is space for 5 prisoners convicted of serious criminal offenses such as murder, assault, or rape.

— Gabriel WessmanDetailing the conditions within the special wing for young inmates.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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