Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Den avskaffade ungdomsreduktionen och dess påverkan på strafflindringen - En analys av förhållandet mellan den avskaffade ungdomsreduktionen och strafflindringsgrunden i 29:3 § 3 p. brottsbalken

Wikström, Alice LU (2023) JURM02 20231
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
Unga lagöverträdare har under lång tid särbehandlats inom den svenska straffrätten av flera olika skäl vilka främst grundar sig i principen om humanitet. På senare tid har dock denna särbehandling kommit att ifrågasättas. En bestämmelse som varit föremål för särskilt omfattande kritik är den så kallade ungdomsreduktionen vilket stadgas i 29:7 § brottsbalken. Detta till följd av kriminalitetens utveckling under det senaste decenniet, särskilt med hänsyn till problemen med organiserad brottslighet. Många lagändringar har införts i syfte att minska brottsligheten och få fler fall lösta, varav en av dessa lagändringar är den avskaffade ungdomsreduktionen. Lagändringen trädde i kraft den 2 januari år 2022 och innebär att möjligheten till... (More)
Unga lagöverträdare har under lång tid särbehandlats inom den svenska straffrätten av flera olika skäl vilka främst grundar sig i principen om humanitet. På senare tid har dock denna särbehandling kommit att ifrågasättas. En bestämmelse som varit föremål för särskilt omfattande kritik är den så kallade ungdomsreduktionen vilket stadgas i 29:7 § brottsbalken. Detta till följd av kriminalitetens utveckling under det senaste decenniet, särskilt med hänsyn till problemen med organiserad brottslighet. Många lagändringar har införts i syfte att minska brottsligheten och få fler fall lösta, varav en av dessa lagändringar är den avskaffade ungdomsreduktionen. Lagändringen trädde i kraft den 2 januari år 2022 och innebär att möjligheten till straffreduktion avskaffats för lagöverträdare i åldersgruppen 18–20 år som begått allvarlig brottslighet.

I 29:3 § 3 p. brottsbalken finns en strafflindringsgrund stadgad. I bestämmelsen anges att om den tilltalades handlande stått i samband med hans eller hennes bristande utveckling, erfarenhet eller omdömesförmåga, ska detta beaktas i lindrande riktning vid straffvärdebedömningen.

Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka om det med hänsyn till den avskaffade ungdomsreduktionen finns något ökat utrymme för domstolen att beakta strafflindringsgrunden i 29:3 § 3 p. brottsbalken. Detta undersöks genom gällande rätt, principer om proportionalitet, ekvivalens- och humanitet samt avgöranden från hovrätter.

Slutsatsen i undersökningen är att det med hänsyn till den avskaffade ungdomsreduktionen finns ett ökat utrymme att beakta strafflindringsgrunden i 29:3 § 3 p. brottsbalken. Den avskaffade ungdomsreduktionen innebär inte ett större utrymme att tillämpa lindring av straffet men ger anledning till att beakta strafflindringsgrunden mer ofta. Detta kommer i sin tur sannolikt leda till att strafflindringsgrunden även tillämpas i fler fall än tidigare. En sådan utveckling kommer med hänsyn till rättssäkerheten att kräva ett större underlag, än i dagsläget, avseende den tilltalades person i brottmålsprocesser samt att bestämmelsen i 29:3 § 3 p. brottsbalken tydliggörs. (Less)
Abstract
Young offenders have been treated differently within Swedish criminal law for a long time due to several different reasons, which are primarily based on the principle of humanity. However, recently, this differential treatment has come into question. One provision that has been subjected to particularly extensive criticism is the so-called youth reduction, which is stipulated in Section 29, paragraph 7 of the Criminal Code. This is a result of the development of crime in the past decade, particularly in regards to the problems of organized crime. Many legislative changes have been introduced with the aim of reducing criminality and have more cases solved, one of such changes being the abolition of youth reduction. The amendment to the law... (More)
Young offenders have been treated differently within Swedish criminal law for a long time due to several different reasons, which are primarily based on the principle of humanity. However, recently, this differential treatment has come into question. One provision that has been subjected to particularly extensive criticism is the so-called youth reduction, which is stipulated in Section 29, paragraph 7 of the Criminal Code. This is a result of the development of crime in the past decade, particularly in regards to the problems of organized crime. Many legislative changes have been introduced with the aim of reducing criminality and have more cases solved, one of such changes being the abolition of youth reduction. The amendment to the law entered into force on January 2, 2022, and implies that the possibility of sentence reduction has been abolished for offenders in the age group 18–20 who have committed serious crimes.

In section 29, paragraph 3, point 3 of the Criminal Code, there is a statutory basis for a reduced sentence. The provision states that if the defendant's actions were related to his or her lack of development, experience, or judgment, this must be considered in the assessment of the penalty.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether, with regard to the abolished youth reduction, there is any increased scope for the court to consider the mitigating factor in 29:3 § 3 p. of the Criminal Code. This is examined through applicable law, principles of proportionality, equivalence, and humanity, as well as decisions from appeal courts.

The conclusion of the investigation is that with regard to the abolished youth reduction, there is an increased scope to consider the mitigating factor in 29:3 § 3 p. of the Criminal Code. The abolished youth reduction does not imply a greater scope for applying mitigation of the sentence but gives reason to consider the basis for mitigation of punishment more often. This, in turn, will likely lead to the penalty mitigation basis also being applied in more cases than before. With regard to legal certainty, such a development will require a greater basis, than at present, regarding the person who is accused in criminal proceedings and that the provision in 29:3 § 3 p. of the Criminal Code be clarified. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wikström, Alice LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Abolition of the youth reduction and its impact on the reduction of sentence
course
JURM02 20231
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
Straffrätt, ungdomsreduktion, straffreduktion, strafflindring
language
Swedish
id
9116735
date added to LUP
2023-06-09 11:04:01
date last changed
2023-06-09 11:04:01
@misc{9116735,
  abstract     = {{Young offenders have been treated differently within Swedish criminal law for a long time due to several different reasons, which are primarily based on the principle of humanity. However, recently, this differential treatment has come into question. One provision that has been subjected to particularly extensive criticism is the so-called youth reduction, which is stipulated in Section 29, paragraph 7 of the Criminal Code. This is a result of the development of crime in the past decade, particularly in regards to the problems of organized crime. Many legislative changes have been introduced with the aim of reducing criminality and have more cases solved, one of such changes being the abolition of youth reduction. The amendment to the law entered into force on January 2, 2022, and implies that the possibility of sentence reduction has been abolished for offenders in the age group 18–20 who have committed serious crimes.

In section 29, paragraph 3, point 3 of the Criminal Code, there is a statutory basis for a reduced sentence. The provision states that if the defendant's actions were related to his or her lack of development, experience, or judgment, this must be considered in the assessment of the penalty.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether, with regard to the abolished youth reduction, there is any increased scope for the court to consider the mitigating factor in 29:3 § 3 p. of the Criminal Code. This is examined through applicable law, principles of proportionality, equivalence, and humanity, as well as decisions from appeal courts.

The conclusion of the investigation is that with regard to the abolished youth reduction, there is an increased scope to consider the mitigating factor in 29:3 § 3 p. of the Criminal Code. The abolished youth reduction does not imply a greater scope for applying mitigation of the sentence but gives reason to consider the basis for mitigation of punishment more often. This, in turn, will likely lead to the penalty mitigation basis also being applied in more cases than before. With regard to legal certainty, such a development will require a greater basis, than at present, regarding the person who is accused in criminal proceedings and that the provision in 29:3 § 3 p. of the Criminal Code be clarified.}},
  author       = {{Wikström, Alice}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Den avskaffade ungdomsreduktionen och dess påverkan på strafflindringen - En analys av förhållandet mellan den avskaffade ungdomsreduktionen och strafflindringsgrunden i 29:3 § 3 p. brottsbalken}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}