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Omyndig, men straffmyndig - En analys av den straffrättsliga påföljdsbestämningen för unga lagöverträdare mellan 15 och 17 år

Heikkinen, Matilda LU (2020) JURM02 20201
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
Den som är yngre än 18 år stadgas vara omyndig enligt gällande rätt, men den som är 15 år gammal kan bli föremål för straffrättsliga påföljder om den begått ett brott. Enligt gällande rätt bör dock straffrättsliga påföljder dömas ut mycket restriktivt när lagöverträdare är mellan 15 och 17 år, eftersom vårdande åtgärder angetts erhålla företräde. Enligt barnkonventionen, vilken gäller som svensk lag sedan 1 januari 2020, ska vidare barnets bästa beaktas i alla beslut som rör den under 18 år. Barnkonventionen stadgar bland annat hur rehabiliterande åtgärder ska ges företräde, och att frihetsberövanden enbart ska ske som sista utväg och under kortast möjliga tid. Gällande rätt, och de uppfattningar den bygger på, har dock under senare tid... (More)
Den som är yngre än 18 år stadgas vara omyndig enligt gällande rätt, men den som är 15 år gammal kan bli föremål för straffrättsliga påföljder om den begått ett brott. Enligt gällande rätt bör dock straffrättsliga påföljder dömas ut mycket restriktivt när lagöverträdare är mellan 15 och 17 år, eftersom vårdande åtgärder angetts erhålla företräde. Enligt barnkonventionen, vilken gäller som svensk lag sedan 1 januari 2020, ska vidare barnets bästa beaktas i alla beslut som rör den under 18 år. Barnkonventionen stadgar bland annat hur rehabiliterande åtgärder ska ges företräde, och att frihetsberövanden enbart ska ske som sista utväg och under kortast möjliga tid. Gällande rätt, och de uppfattningar den bygger på, har dock under senare tid kommit att ställas mot kravet på en effektiv brottsbekämpning, och ett straffrättsligt påföljdssystem som ska tillgodose det allmänna rättsmedvetandet.

Framställningen syftar till att analysera lagstiftning och förarbeten avseende särbehandlingen av unga lagöverträdare mellan 15 och 17 år utifrån tre utvalda intressen; rättssäkerhet, samhällets framtida goda medborgare och barnets bästa. Häri har legat att utforska de intressen som kommer till uttryck såväl i äldre rätt som i gällande rätt, samt i nytillkomna förslag genom regeringens 34-punktsprogram med åtgärder mot gängkriminaliteten. För att uppfylla syftet redogörs under framställningen för de skäl som anförs för, respektive emot, en ökad tillämpning av strängare påföljder för unga lagöverträdare i åldern 15 till 17 år, utifrån de tre utvalda intressena. I framställningen tillämpas dels en rättsanalytisk metod, för att utröna intressena i materialet, dels den kritiska rättspositivismen, där intressena givits rollen som rättens djupstruktur vid den straffrättsliga påföljdsbestämningen för unga. Vid undersökningen av rättens framväxt, gällande rätt samt föreslagen rätt, blir avvägningen mellan de tre intressena ett återkommande inslag. I framställningens avslutande del anförs de för och nackdelar avseende mer repressiva straffrättsliga påföljder för unga lagöverträdare som utrönts under framställningen utifrån utvalda intressen.

Sammanfattningsvis kan rättssäkerhetsintresset anses tala för mer repressiva påföljder för unga lagöverträdare, medan intresset barnets bästa står för motsatt ståndpunkt. Intresset av att forma samhällets framtida goda medborgare blir tveeggat. Rehabiliterande påföljders förmåga att motverka återfall har ifrågasatts, men det har även konstaterats hur repressiva påföljder ökar risken för fortsatt kriminalitet. Trots det mer repressiva synsättets genomslag, konstaterar framställningens författare hur en avvägning mellan de tre intressena fortsatt varit central vid utformningen av det straffrättsliga påföljdssystemet för unga lagöverträdare mellan 15 och 17 år. (Less)
Abstract
According to the Swedish Parental Code (1949:381), chapter 9, section 1, a person below the age of eighteen years is considered a minor. But according to the Swedish Penal Code (1962:700), chapter 1, section 6, a person above the age of fifteen may be subject to sanctions if he or she has committed a crime. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was incorporated as Swedish law on January 1st 2020, the best interests of the child must be taken into account in all decisions concerning a juvenile. It is also stated that care shall be prioritized before resorting to judicial measures, and that imprisonment of a child shall be used only as a measure of last resort, and for the shortest appropriate period of time. However,... (More)
According to the Swedish Parental Code (1949:381), chapter 9, section 1, a person below the age of eighteen years is considered a minor. But according to the Swedish Penal Code (1962:700), chapter 1, section 6, a person above the age of fifteen may be subject to sanctions if he or she has committed a crime. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was incorporated as Swedish law on January 1st 2020, the best interests of the child must be taken into account in all decisions concerning a juvenile. It is also stated that care shall be prioritized before resorting to judicial measures, and that imprisonment of a child shall be used only as a measure of last resort, and for the shortest appropriate period of time. However, the current law for juvenile offenders in Sweden has been set against the requirement of an effective law enforcement, and a criminal justice system which intends to satisfy the public’s sense of justice.

This thesis aims to analyse legislation and preparatory work concerning the criminal sanctions imposed on juvenile offenders aged fifteen to seventeen. The analysis is based on three interests; rule of law, the future diligent citizens of society and the best interests of the child. The thesis explores how the interests are expressed in both the evolvement of the law, the applicable law, and the proposed law through the Swedish government’s proposal, the 34- point program aimed at combating gang crime. In order to fulfil the purpose of the thesis, the reasons stated in favour of, and against, an increased use of stricter sanctions for juvenile offenders aged fifteen to seventeen is analysed. While examining the chosen subject, a legal-analytical method has been used in order to ascertain the interests in the material. Furthermore, critical legal positivism has been applied on the materials used, and the three interests rule of law, the future diligent citizens of society and the best interests of the child have been given the role as the deep structure of the law. While examining the evolvement of the law, the applicable law and the proposed law, the balance between the three interests becomes a recurring element. In the last chapter of the thesis, the pros and cons of stricter sanctions for juvenile offenders presented.

In conclusion, the rule of law is in favour of stricter penalties for juvenile offenders, while the best interest of the child states the opposite opinion. The interest in shaping society's future diligent citizens is two folded; sanctions with a rehabilitative objective has not been proven to prevent recidivism, but stricter punishments have also been found to increase the risk of relapsing into crime. Despite the impact of the approach which advocates stricter sanctions for juvenile offenders, it is noted by the author that the legislator is aiming for a balance between the three interests in the criminal justice system. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Heikkinen, Matilda LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
A minor, but with criminal responsibility - An analysis of the criminal sanctions for 15 to 17 year old juvenile offenders
course
JURM02 20201
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
straffrätt, criminal law, barnrätt, barnkonventionen, the convention on the rights of the child, kritisk rättspositivism, critical legal positivism
language
Swedish
id
9010582
date added to LUP
2020-06-18 21:02:08
date last changed
2020-06-18 21:02:08
@misc{9010582,
  abstract     = {{According to the Swedish Parental Code (1949:381), chapter 9, section 1, a person below the age of eighteen years is considered a minor. But according to the Swedish Penal Code (1962:700), chapter 1, section 6, a person above the age of fifteen may be subject to sanctions if he or she has committed a crime. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was incorporated as Swedish law on January 1st 2020, the best interests of the child must be taken into account in all decisions concerning a juvenile. It is also stated that care shall be prioritized before resorting to judicial measures, and that imprisonment of a child shall be used only as a measure of last resort, and for the shortest appropriate period of time. However, the current law for juvenile offenders in Sweden has been set against the requirement of an effective law enforcement, and a criminal justice system which intends to satisfy the public’s sense of justice. 

This thesis aims to analyse legislation and preparatory work concerning the criminal sanctions imposed on juvenile offenders aged fifteen to seventeen. The analysis is based on three interests; rule of law, the future diligent citizens of society and the best interests of the child. The thesis explores how the interests are expressed in both the evolvement of the law, the applicable law, and the proposed law through the Swedish government’s proposal, the 34- point program aimed at combating gang crime. In order to fulfil the purpose of the thesis, the reasons stated in favour of, and against, an increased use of stricter sanctions for juvenile offenders aged fifteen to seventeen is analysed. While examining the chosen subject, a legal-analytical method has been used in order to ascertain the interests in the material. Furthermore, critical legal positivism has been applied on the materials used, and the three interests rule of law, the future diligent citizens of society and the best interests of the child have been given the role as the deep structure of the law. While examining the evolvement of the law, the applicable law and the proposed law, the balance between the three interests becomes a recurring element. In the last chapter of the thesis, the pros and cons of stricter sanctions for juvenile offenders presented. 

In conclusion, the rule of law is in favour of stricter penalties for juvenile offenders, while the best interest of the child states the opposite opinion. The interest in shaping society's future diligent citizens is two folded; sanctions with a rehabilitative objective has not been proven to prevent recidivism, but stricter punishments have also been found to increase the risk of relapsing into crime. Despite the impact of the approach which advocates stricter sanctions for juvenile offenders, it is noted by the author that the legislator is aiming for a balance between the three interests in the criminal justice system.}},
  author       = {{Heikkinen, Matilda}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Omyndig, men straffmyndig - En analys av den straffrättsliga påföljdsbestämningen för unga lagöverträdare mellan 15 och 17 år}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}