Faced with gang violence, Sweden wants to imprison criminals from the age of 13.

Faced with a dramatic rise in gang-related crime, Sweden is preparing a major reform of its judicial system that could allow for the incarceration of minors as young as 13. The government believes that traditional responses based on social care are no longer sufficient to address the increasing involvement of children in violent crimes.

For several years, the country has been marked by a resurgence of shootings and bombings linked to criminal networks. Authorities say that gangs are increasingly recruiting young teenagers, sometimes through social media, to commit assassinations, attempted murders, or other acts of violence.

According to figures cited by Reuters, 52 minors under the age of 15 appeared in court for murder or attempted murder in 2025. This development is fueling concerns among political leaders as the elections scheduled for September approach, where the issue of security is among the main topics of debate.

The government, in power since 2022, believes that previous policies have failed to curb the phenomenon. It therefore plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 and to direct more young offenders towards prison facilities rather than social services.

To support this reform, infrastructure is being adapted. At Rosersberg prison, near Stockholm, cells are being redesigned to accommodate very young inmates involved in serious criminal cases.

This strategy, however, has drawn criticism. Several specialists and child rights advocates believe that early incarceration may not be an effective deterrent and could even encourage recidivism. The debate thus pits those who favor a harsher criminal response against those who prioritize prevention and rehabilitation policies.

Long considered one of the safest countries in Europe, Sweden is now seeking to address a security crisis that has profoundly altered the country's political and social landscape. The proposed reform could mark one of the most significant changes to its criminal policy in decades.