Sweden Plans Lower Criminal Age to 14 Amid Rising Youth Gang Violence

Sweden's government, led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, announced plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 in response to a surge in gang-related crimes involving children. Official data shows that 93 children under 15 were suspected of serious crimes such as murder or attempted murder in the first half of 2024, a threefold increase from the previous year. The government aims to curb the exploitation of youths by criminal networks, who recruit minors via social media and encrypted apps to carry out violent acts like shootings and bombings, shielding older criminals from prosecution. This measure, set to last five years, is part of a broader strategy to combat organized crime amid persistent gang violence, although overall shootings and murders linked to gangs have declined recently. Critics, including children's rights organizations, warn that lowering the age could backfire by prompting gangs to recruit even younger children. The decision reflects growing concern about the use of minors in crime and the need to protect both vulnerable youths and society at large from ongoing violence.