Sweden’s parliament approved a reform on August 13, 2026, lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 14 for particularly serious crimes. The measure was backed by 281 lawmakers, while 66 voted against it. Under the new rules, 14-year-olds can face criminal prosecution and imprisonment for offences including murder, aggravated rape and serious weapons crimes. The reform is part of broader measures aimed at tackling organised crime and the recruitment of minors by criminal networks. Sweden has faced gang-related shootings and bombings for more than a decade, with authorities reporting increasing involvement of children and teenagers in serious violent offences.
The government had initially sought to lower the threshold further, to 13 years old for certain serious crimes. That proposal was withdrawn in June after it became clear that it did not have sufficient support in parliament. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer subsequently announced that the government would instead pursue a minimum age of 14. The government and the Sweden Democrats argue that tougher measures are necessary because criminal networks have increasingly recruited children to carry out violent offences. According to government figures cited earlier this year, more than 50 children under the age of 15 were suspected of murder or attempted murder during the previous year. The reform also increases the maximum prison sentence applicable to offenders under 18 from 14 to 18 years.
The changes have generated considerable political and public debate. Critics warn that bringing younger children into the criminal justice system could make rehabilitation more difficult and may not address the reasons criminal networks are able to recruit minors. Supporters argue that particularly serious crimes require stronger consequences and that the previous system was inadequate for dealing with the changing nature of gang violence. The new rules are due to take effect on September 10, just three days before Sweden’s parliamentary election on September 13. The reform therefore represents a significant change to the country’s juvenile justice system, introducing criminal responsibility from the age of 14 for specified serious offences while also increasing the maximum sentences that can be imposed on young offenders.
