Lagrådet, Sweden's Council on Legislation, has strongly rejected the government's proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 years, according to a report from TV4 Nyheterna. The council stated that the proposal's preparation does not meet constitutional requirements and that it fails to achieve its intended purpose of reducing youth crime. Lagrådet argued that lowering the age could potentially increase youth crime and push criminal activity to even younger children, thereby working against its own objectives.
The council also raised concerns about the risk of wrongful deprivation of liberty for children and potential conflicts with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The government had proceeded with the proposal despite harsh criticism during the consultation process in late January. Lagrådet's review now represents a significant legal obstacle to the proposed change.