Sweden is preparing to vote on controversial legislation that would lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 and allow some children convicted of serious crimes to be sent to prison, as authorities struggle to curb gang violence involving increasingly young offenders.
The proposal follows years of gang-related shootings and bombings that have left Sweden grappling with one of Europe's most serious organised crime problems. Criminal networks have increasingly recruited teenagers and younger children through social media to carry out murders and attacks.
According to government figures, 52 children under the age of 15 were involved in legal proceedings related to suspected murder or attempted murder last year.
"We have an emergency," Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said in April.
Under the proposed law, children aged 13 and 14 convicted of the most serious offences could be held in specially designed juvenile prisons rather than being placed under the supervision of social services.
The government argues that Sweden's traditional welfare-based approach has failed to prevent reoffending among young gang members. A report by the Swedish National Audit Office found that nine in ten gang-affiliated young people placed in state care later reoffended, while eight in ten eventually ended up in prison as adults.
The legislation forms part of a broader anti-crime strategy that includes longer prison sentences and expanded police powers. Authorities say gang violence has begun to decline, with 44 fatal shootings recorded in 2025, compared with a peak of 62 in 2022.
Supporters say tougher penalties are needed to protect society and deter gangs from exploiting minors who currently fall below the age of criminal responsibility.
Critics, however, argue that imprisonment risks harming vulnerable children without addressing the root causes of gang recruitment.
"A 13-year-old is a child," said Wilma Roth, who opposes the proposal. She argues that young offenders should receive treatment and specialised care rather than prison sentences.
The plans have also raised concerns among some law enforcement officials, prison authorities and criminologists.
One of the prisons being adapted for teenage offenders is located in Rosersberg, north of Stockholm. Officials say the facilities will place a strong emphasis on education, rehabilitation and emotional support alongside security measures.
Prison Governor Gabriel Wessman said staff would face unique challenges in helping inmates navigate adolescence while serving their sentences.
"They will grow up in here," he said, referring to the young offenders expected to arrive later this year.
Parliament is due to vote on the legislation on 15 June. If approved, Sweden would join a small group of European countries with criminal responsibility thresholds below 15, reigniting debate over whether harsher punishment can effectively reduce youth crime.
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