Skärpta påföljder för unga – funktion eller fiktion? En kritisk undersökning av rättsutvecklingen bakom ungdomsreduktionen
(2025) JURM02 20251Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract
- The reduced sentence for juveniles in Chapter 29, Section 7 of the Swedish Penal Code, which entails a reduced sentence for young offenders at the meting out of punishment has in recent years undergone significant changes in a more severe direction. The development marks a departure with a tradition of more lenient punishment for young offenders. Juveniles have long been treated differently in criminal law, but this has increasingly been questioned, as it overshadows, primarily, the principle of proportionality.
This thesis examines how the reduced sentence for juveniles has changed from its introduction in 1935 until the latest bill in 2024, as well as the values and functions underpinning this development. The role of public... (More) - The reduced sentence for juveniles in Chapter 29, Section 7 of the Swedish Penal Code, which entails a reduced sentence for young offenders at the meting out of punishment has in recent years undergone significant changes in a more severe direction. The development marks a departure with a tradition of more lenient punishment for young offenders. Juveniles have long been treated differently in criminal law, but this has increasingly been questioned, as it overshadows, primarily, the principle of proportionality.
This thesis examines how the reduced sentence for juveniles has changed from its introduction in 1935 until the latest bill in 2024, as well as the values and functions underpinning this development. The role of public conciliation is given particular attention, since it is a relatively overlooked interest. This is examined primarily through legislation and legislative history, as well as theories of punishment that express what functions and values punishment or a certain level of punishment may achieve.
The development can be divided into two periods. The period from 1935 up to the reform in 2009, the reduced sentence for juveniles developed in a mitigating direction. From being an exception to being applied mandatory to all young offenders, first to those aged 15-17, and later also including those aged 18-20. The aim was to provide care rather than punishing young offenders, or at least shorter sentences. The differential treatment was based primarily on individual prevention. The second period from 2009 to the latest bill from 2024 is characterized by a gradually decreasing importance of the reduced sentence for juveniles, resulting in stricter punishment. The emphasis on individual prevention has decreased in favor of proportionality and public conciliation, which are closely related as both are based in society´s values. The lates bill, however, involves a partial return of general prevention and new importance of individual prevention, but now in connection with more severe punishment. Longer sentencing can serve several functions. It cannot be ruled out that longer sentencing can have positive effects in crime prevention and in addition to that, achieving more fair punishment, increased trust in the penal system and a sense of protection, security and peace in society. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Ungdomsreduktionen i 29 kap. 7 § brottsbalken som innebär straffnedsättning för unga lagöverträdare vid straffmätning har under de senaste åren varit under omfattande förändring i straffskärpande riktning. Utvecklingen bryter mot en tradition av mildare straff för unga. Unga har länge särbehandlats straffrättsligt men detta har i större omfattning börjat ifrågasättas, då särbehandlingen kan anses få för stor plats på bekostnad av främst proportionalitetsprincipen.
Uppsatsen undersöker hur ungdomsreduktionen har förändrats från dess införsel år 1935 fram till det senaste lagförslaget 2024 samt vilka värden och funktioner som ligger bakom utvecklingen. Samhällsfridens roll i utvecklingen undersöks särskilt, eftersom det är ett... (More) - Ungdomsreduktionen i 29 kap. 7 § brottsbalken som innebär straffnedsättning för unga lagöverträdare vid straffmätning har under de senaste åren varit under omfattande förändring i straffskärpande riktning. Utvecklingen bryter mot en tradition av mildare straff för unga. Unga har länge särbehandlats straffrättsligt men detta har i större omfattning börjat ifrågasättas, då särbehandlingen kan anses få för stor plats på bekostnad av främst proportionalitetsprincipen.
Uppsatsen undersöker hur ungdomsreduktionen har förändrats från dess införsel år 1935 fram till det senaste lagförslaget 2024 samt vilka värden och funktioner som ligger bakom utvecklingen. Samhällsfridens roll i utvecklingen undersöks särskilt, eftersom det är ett förhållandevis förbisett intresse. Det relevanta materialet är lagstiftning, lagförarbeten och litteratur om bestraffningsideologierna som uttrycker vilka funktioner och värden bestraffning eller en viss straffnivå kan uppnå.
Rättsutvecklingen kan delas in i två perioder. Från år 1935 fram till reformen 2009 utvecklades ungdomsreduktionen i mildrande riktning. Från att utgöra ett undantag till att tillämpas obligatoriskt för alla unga lagöverträdare, först 15-17 år och sedan även 18-20 år. Målet var att så långt möjligt vårda istället för att straffa unga lagöverträdare, alternativt döma ut kortare fängelsestraff. Den omfattande särbehandlingen grundade sig främst på individualprevention. Andra perioden från år 2009 till senaste lagförslaget från år 2024, präglas av successivt minskad betydelse för ungdomsreduktionen vilket innebär strängare straff. Intresset för individualprevention har minskat till fördel för proportionalitet och samhällsfrid, vilket är två intressen med nära samband eftersom båda grundar sig i samhällets värderingar. Senaste lagförslaget från år 2024 innebär dock viss återkomst av allmänprevention och ny betydelse för det individualpreventiva intresset, men nu i samband med strängare straff. Straffskärpningen kan uppfylla flera funktioner. Det kan inte uteslutas att strängare straff kan ha positiva brottspreventiva effekter, och utöver det uppnå mer rättvisa straff, ökad tillit till straffsystemet samt en känsla av skydd, trygghet och lugn i samhället. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9188825
- author
- Sjöholm, Lina LU
- supervisor
-
- Karol Nowak LU
- organization
- alternative title
- Stricter punishment for young offenders - function or fiction? A critical examination of the legal development behind the reduced sentence for juveniles
- course
- JURM02 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
- subject
- keywords
- Straffrätt, Straffprocessrätt, Ungdomsreduktion
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9188825
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-09 10:23:55
- date last changed
- 2025-06-09 10:23:55
@misc{9188825,
abstract = {{The reduced sentence for juveniles in Chapter 29, Section 7 of the Swedish Penal Code, which entails a reduced sentence for young offenders at the meting out of punishment has in recent years undergone significant changes in a more severe direction. The development marks a departure with a tradition of more lenient punishment for young offenders. Juveniles have long been treated differently in criminal law, but this has increasingly been questioned, as it overshadows, primarily, the principle of proportionality.
This thesis examines how the reduced sentence for juveniles has changed from its introduction in 1935 until the latest bill in 2024, as well as the values and functions underpinning this development. The role of public conciliation is given particular attention, since it is a relatively overlooked interest. This is examined primarily through legislation and legislative history, as well as theories of punishment that express what functions and values punishment or a certain level of punishment may achieve.
The development can be divided into two periods. The period from 1935 up to the reform in 2009, the reduced sentence for juveniles developed in a mitigating direction. From being an exception to being applied mandatory to all young offenders, first to those aged 15-17, and later also including those aged 18-20. The aim was to provide care rather than punishing young offenders, or at least shorter sentences. The differential treatment was based primarily on individual prevention. The second period from 2009 to the latest bill from 2024 is characterized by a gradually decreasing importance of the reduced sentence for juveniles, resulting in stricter punishment. The emphasis on individual prevention has decreased in favor of proportionality and public conciliation, which are closely related as both are based in society´s values. The lates bill, however, involves a partial return of general prevention and new importance of individual prevention, but now in connection with more severe punishment. Longer sentencing can serve several functions. It cannot be ruled out that longer sentencing can have positive effects in crime prevention and in addition to that, achieving more fair punishment, increased trust in the penal system and a sense of protection, security and peace in society.}},
author = {{Sjöholm, Lina}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Skärpta påföljder för unga – funktion eller fiktion? En kritisk undersökning av rättsutvecklingen bakom ungdomsreduktionen}},
year = {{2025}},
}