Sweden Moves to Jail 13-Year-Olds for Serious Crimes Following Widespread Expert Backlash

The Swedish government is proceeding with a plan to lower the criminal age of responsibility to 13 for serious crimes like murder and bombings after facing intense backlash from legal experts. This initiative, developed with the Sweden Democrats, includes sentencing discounts of up to 90 percent for the youngest offenders and is set to take effect this July. Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer defended the proposal as a necessary response to rising gang recruitment despite concerns from child welfare organizations and opposition parties.Mia Edwall Insulander of the Swedish Bar Association described the legislative change as a dangerous experiment while UNICEF Sweden warned it represents a significant departure from children's rights. The Prison and Probation Service also expressed reservations about incarcerating 13-year-olds due to their developmental immaturity.Samuel Gonzales Westling of the Left Party and Amanda Lind of the Green Party both condemned the move as irresponsible, highlighting the absurdity of young children bringing stuffed animals to prison.