Swedish lawmakers cut age of criminal responsibility to 14 ahead of general election

Sweden’s justice minister says lawmakers are moving to reduce the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 14, rather than continuing with a more extreme proposal to set it at 13. The change is being framed as an emergency response to rising gang violence and the recruitment of children for serious crimes. The minister said there wasn’t enough backing in parliament for the 13-year plan, and the government will instead pursue legislation establishing the new 14-year threshold