The Swedish government and the Sweden Democrats have withdrawn their proposal to lower the criminal responsibility age to 13. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer announced the change on Thursday, stating the age will now be considered at 14 instead. This decision follows indications that the original proposal lacked sufficient support for passage in the Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament. The initial plan, unveiled last autumn, faced significant opposition, including criticism from the Swedish Prison and Probation Service. Concerns were raised regarding the practicality and potential consequences of incarcerating individuals as young as 13. The revised proposal aims to balance addressing rising crime rates with broader concerns about juvenile justice. The government hopes the 14-year threshold will garner broader political support.