Sweden backs down on 13-year-old criminal age proposal, proposes 14 instead

Sweden's centre-right government has abandoned plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13, instead proposing a revised threshold of 14, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer confirmed on Thursday (11 June).

Strömmer said the government would move forward with updated legislation reflecting the lower age limit after the original proposal failed to secure sufficient parliamentary support.

The proposal comes amid growing political pressure over rising gang-related violence involving increasingly young offenders, one of Sweden's most contentious domestic policy issues.

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Gang crime pressures

Sweden has experienced a sustained rise in gang-related shootings and organised crime over the past two decades, with criminal networks increasingly recruiting minors through social media platforms to carry out violent offences.

Government figures indicate that more than 50 children under the age of 15 were involved in suspected murder or attempted murder cases last year, underscoring concerns about the number of young offenders being drawn into serious crime.

Authorities have already expanded police powers and introduced tougher sentencing laws as part of a broader crackdown. However, officials say existing youth care systems have struggled to prevent reoffending among children linked to gangs.

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Punishment and rehabilitation

The original proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 included plans to place some convicted minors in specially designed juvenile detention facilities rather than traditional social care settings.

Supporters of stricter measures argue that tougher sentencing is necessary to deter gangs from exploiting younger children. Critics warn that imprisonment risks deepening social harm without addressing underlying causes such as poverty and recruitment pressures.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has previously recommended a minimum age of 14 for criminal responsibility, aligning with the revised approach now being taken by the Swedish government.

The revised legislation will now proceed to parliament for consideration, with a vote expected on 15 June. If approved, Sweden would still lower its current threshold of 15.

Global perspective

Across the world, the age of criminal responsibility varies widely, reflecting different legal systems and approaches to juvenile justice.

Germany, Italy and Spain all set the age at 14 and operate specialised juvenile justice systems that prioritise rehabilitation over detention.

France operates a more flexible system in which criminal responsibility is based on a child's level of discernment rather than a fixed minimum age, with younger offenders typically dealt with through the juvenile justice framework.

In contrast, England and Wales, along with Northern Ireland, set the age at 10 - one of the lowest thresholds in Europe and one frequently cited in international human rights assessments by organisations such as UNICEF and the Council of Europe.

In parts of the U.S., there is no uniform federal minimum age of criminal responsibility, although prosecutions involving very young children are rare and are generally handled through juvenile or diversionary systems.

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