Government says youth prisons will curb gang violence, as critics warn the policy risks breaching children’s rights.

Sweden is set to dramatically toughen its criminal justice system by allowing children as young as 13 to be sentenced to prison for the most serious offences, including murder, aggravated bombings, weapons crimes and aggravated rape.

Under the new law, due to take effect on 1 July 2026, the current closed youth-care system will be replaced with dedicated youth-prison units located within eight existing correctional facilities, including Rosersberg, Kumla and Sagsjön.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said the reform is aimed at “strengthening society’s protection against serious crime,” particularly as gang-related violence increasingly involves minors.

The legislation sets clear sentencing ranges: a 13-year-old convicted of murder could face between one and three years in custody, while a 14-year-old could receive up to four years. Judges will still have discretion to impose youth supervision rather than prison for less severe crimes.

Penalties for older minors will also be tightened. For offenders aged 15 to 17, sentence reductions will be scaled back and the maximum prison term increased from 14 to 18 years. Life imprisonment, however, will remain prohibited for under-18s.

The proposal has triggered sharp criticism from across Sweden and abroad. The Prison and Probation Service, police authorities and prosecutors have warned that incarcerating very young teenagers could violate children’s rights and increase the risk of deeper involvement in criminal networks.

International bodies, including the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, have urged Sweden to keep the age of criminal responsibility at 15, arguing that jailing children at 13 could cause lasting harm without tackling the root causes of gang recruitment.

Supporters of the reform counter that the country faces an “acute situation.” Government figures show that 52 children under 15 were involved in murder-related court cases last year. Backers say the law, initially proposed as a five-year trial, is a necessary response to escalating violence.

To address welfare concerns, the government says youth inmates will be housed in separate units with access to schooling, healthcare, sports facilities and supervised recreation, in an effort to balance punishment with rehabilitation.