Sweden’s prisons prepare to house young teens

This is in response to a much-criticised juvenile judicial reform expected to take effect in July. Read more at straitstimes.com.

SIGTUNA, Sweden – North of Stockholm, the Rosersberg prison is making preparations to house children as young as 13 in response to a much-criticised juvenile judicial reform expected to take effect in July.

The minority right-wing government, which is backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats, announced in January that it would reduce the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 for crimes punishable by at least four years in prison.

Its goal is to break a surge in children being recruited by criminal networks as hitmen to carry out bombings and shootings, knowing they would not face prison time if caught.

Until now, minors who committed serious offences were placed in secure youth care homes (SiS-hem), but these homes have faced problems, including reports of them becoming recruitment grounds for gangs.

The legislation still needs to pass parliament, but Rosersberg is one of eight prisons preparing to house young offenders starting July 1.

“You have to keep in mind that it may be the first time they sleep away from home, and then it’s here in an institution,” prison director Gabriel Wessman told AFP during a tour.