Sweden mulls prison for young teens as violent crime rises

Article excerpt

Sweden's parliament is preparing to vote on lowering the criminal age of responsibility to 13, potentially allowing young teenagers to face prison sentences in serious cases. The move targets gang violence that has surged across the country, with lawmakers arguing that current laws leave them unable to prosecute the youngest offenders. Sweden joins other European nations in tightening juvenile justice rules, though the proposal marks a significant shift for a country historically known for lenient rehabilitation-focused approaches. Criminal responsibility currently begins at 15 in Sweden, making the change contentious among advocates concerned about prison's effects on developing minds.