Sweden distinguished itself from its European countries and other left-leaning countries by announcing the construction of prisons for minors, aged around 13 years old.
The Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe has seen a rise in juvenile crimes, including gang-related shootings and bombings, over the past decade.
These heinous crimes have pushed the government, in power since 2022, to take strict measures against the culprits.
Due to European regulations, it is difficult to send children under 15 to prison despite their crimes; However, the Swedish government says the soft, gentle approach of the past has failed.
The European country has seen a rise in gang-related crimes, including fraud, theft and drug trafficking, over the past decade, resulting in a loss of $20 billion on average per year.
According to Reuters, gangs are using social media to manipulate and recruit teenagers, sometimes as young as 11, to commit crimes in the Nordic countries.
There are more than 17,500 active gang members and 50,000 associates, according to Swedish police.
The government has proposed a new law lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13. Separate cells for girls and boys have been created and convicts will be locked up in special facilities.
Swedish lawmakers will vote to adopt the bill on June 15, 2026 and it will be reviewed after 5 years.
Convicted children will have the opportunity to change their lives for good as they will be offered schooling, a gym, video games and they may also be allowed to watch television until 8 p.m. each evening before being locked in their cell again.
