Sweden plans to send juvenile offenders from the age of 13 to correctional centers. The move is intended to increase society’s protection and combat the rise of gang crime.
Sweden announced plans on Monday to place serious offenders aged 13 and up in juvenile correctional centres. This is related to the increasing crime of children associated with criminal gangs. Special centers should be opened next summer, TASR informs, according to a report by the DPA agency.
The Swedish government has previously ordered the prison agency Kriminalvården to create wards in existing correctional centers for 15- to 17-year-olds who commit serious crimes. Based on the new regulation, it will also apply to 13- and 14-year-olds, confirmed the Swedish Ministry of Justice.
Criminal responsibility from the age of 13
According to Swedish law, criminal responsibility applies from the age of 15, but Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s government wants to change this in the case of particularly serious crimes, DPA reports.
According to Swedish Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer, lowering the age of criminal responsibility for the worst crimes is important not only for the protection of society, but also for children not to go down the path of crime.
“When 13- and 14-year-olds are running around with automatic weapons, society must react with full force,” said Henrik Vinge, chairman of the parliamentary committee on constitutional law.
Stockholm has long been faced with growing crime by gangs that often recruit juveniles to commit serious crimes, including murder, DPA explains.
