Sweden to Hold Younger Teens Accountable for Violence
The initiative, formally announced this week, targets the ongoing issue of “violence-as-a-service” (VaaS), in which organized crime recruits young people to carry out assaults, bombings, and murders on behalf of clients. Currently, teens under 15 cannot be imprisoned and are instead referred to social services, even when involved in serious crimes.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer stated at a press briefing that last year 52 individuals under 15 were involved in court proceedings related to murder or murder planning, which serves as a substitute for a formal trial for younger offenders. He added that violent crime among minors is rising, even as overall youth crime is decreasing.
The government argues that the proposal strikes a balance between public safety, improved redress for victims, and opportunities to divert minors from criminal activity. The measure would be temporary, starting in July and lasting five years, with the possibility of the age of liability returning to 15 afterward. Minors would still receive lighter sentences than adults.
Critics, including prison authorities and the children’s rights organization BRIS, warn that the plan could be counterproductive, increasing recidivism and prompting gangs to recruit even younger children.
The right-leaning administration of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in power since 2022, has pledged to reduce gang turf wars that sometimes claim bystander lives. Ministers are under pressure from the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats, who support the government in parliament but hold no cabinet positions. Sweden’s next general election is scheduled for September.
In April, Sweden led the creation of a Europol task force to tackle VaaS networks, alongside Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Norway.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
