“Important that punishment reflects the seriousness of the crime”

A boy who was 16 years old when he brutally murdered three people has been sentenced to twelve years in prison. Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) does not want to comment on the individual case, but says:

– On another level, it can be said that it is important that punishments reflect the seriousness of the crime, even when committed by minors.

Strömmer emphasizes that the government wants to switch to a system where prison sentences, and in addition longer prison sentences than today, are the starting point. The intention is for closed youth care to be removed as a penalty and replaced by youth prisons from 2026.

Several younger teenagers have been sentenced to relatively long prison terms in the past year.

Do you see that as a new line from the courts and, if so, is it something you welcome?

– Of course, we follow practice in the courts carefully, but I am not prepared to draw any more general conclusions based on how judgments have been made in individual cases, says Strömmer.

– On the other hand, it can be said on a general level that when we see the most serious crime, including murder, penetrate further down the ages, it is natural that society’s response to that crime is powerful, and that is what we see an expression of.