Sweden is considering sending children to prison, driven by a surge in gang-related shootings and bombings carried out by minors over the last decade.
Authorities are seeking solutions to what has become a huge problem: what to do with children who kill.
Reuters reports that Sweden is “preparing” prisons for children as young as 13 who are gang killers. It has become increasingly common for gangs to recruit children on social media for violent crimes – with 52 children aged under 15 facing court for murder or attempted murder last year.
Data from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention shows that the number of offences linked to suspects aged under 15 has doubled in the last ten years.
Media within the country reports on Government plans to cut the age of criminal responsibility to 13, with minors to face prison rather than social care. However, critics of the plan, including police, prison officials and prosecutors, have said that prison would not be an effective deterrent. They say it may lead to some even younger children becoming offenders.
In January, the Swedish government signalled that it would move forward with plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 in serious cases, with a rising number of children carrying out violent crimes without serious legal repercussions.
According to Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer, the country is facing an “emergency situation” and stopping the use of children by criminal gangs has become a “crucial task” for the government, which has been in power since 2022.
“Last year, 52 children under the age of 15 were involved in legal trials suspected of murder or attempted murder. So we’re not talking about theft, not even assault or robbery. We’re talking about murder,” said Strommer last April.
Parliament is set to vote on the legislation, which will be reviewed after five years, on June 15.
According to reports, one jail which is being rebuilt for the worst teenage offenders is Roserberg prison, north of Stockholm. The approach will focus on schooling, with cells to be locked at 8pm each night.
Prison Governor Gabriel Wesman says he expects the first young inmates after this summer.
The number of children referred to the Irish Probation Service hit a decade long high last year, according to recent figures, with statistics corroborating an increase in youth crime.
Burglary cases involving youths have risen by 43 per cent, according to recent statistics, whilst repeat offending is an issue – with almost 200 children responsible for ten or more criminal cases each in a single year.
Although the Garda Youth Diversion Programme has enabled many young people to avoid criminal records, concerns were raised last year when data showed that some serious offences (including rape) were included in the diversion scheme.
When a child aged between 12-18 commits a criminal offence, they can be admitted to the Diversion Programme under certain conditions and be given a caution. Once accepted, they cannot be prosecuted in court for their offence, therefore avoiding a criminal record.