2025-04-292024/25:JuU11 · p.7JuUJustice
Investigation time when children have been subject to crime
Investigation time limits when a child is the victim of a crime
What's at stake: Long processing times can worsen the evidence situation and delay support and protection measures for children who are victims of crime, with serious consequences for the child's health. The decision therefore affects how quickly children who are injured parties get their cases resolved and gain access to support.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether parliament should now urge the government to act on excessively long investigation and prosecution times when a child is the victim of a crime, or whether it is enough that the issue has already been identified and is being handled as part of the government's ongoing work.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects motions 2024/25:3111 (S) point 107 and 2024/25:3164 (C) point 27 on investigation time when a child is the victim of a crime. The reason is that an earlier inquiry has already pointed to the need for a time limit in criminal cases where the injured party is a child, and the matter now rests with the government, so the committee sees no reason to pre-empt the outcome of that ongoing work.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 6 (S, C)
The reservation (S, C) calls for the government to take measures to ensure that the justice system meets the prescribed time limit for deciding on prosecution when children are victims of serious crime, and to review what counts as a reasonable total time for investigation and the criminal trial process in cases involving children, with effective follow-up. The reasoning is that the time limit is often exceeded today without clear investigative grounds - a report finds more than one in three children waited longer - which worsens the evidence situation and delays support and protection measures, with serious consequences for the child's health.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 6 by S, C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna
Ja 177–108Ja 166–119
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 18/0/0/6 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/87/0/19 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 55/0/0/13 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:3111 by Teresa Carvalho et al. (S) motion item 107 and 2024/25:3164 by Ulrika Liljeberg et al. (C) motion item 27.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3111 av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S) yrkande 107 och 2024/25:3164 av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C) yrkande 27.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 120 proposals in motions about violent crimes and crime victims. The motions were submitted during the general motion period 2024 and deal with, among other things, violence in close relationships, strengthened protection for crime victims and compensation to crime victims. The Riksdag refers primarily to the fact that work is already underway in the areas that the proposals address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants women experiencing violence to receive necessary help and for inter-agency cooperation to be improved. (S, C) — Reservation 6
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to implement the Children's Convention and the principle of always prioritizing the best interests of the child, and requires that society acts collectively, effectively and with legal certainty to provide support and redress to those who have been violated.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to implement the Children's Convention and the principle of always prioritizing the best interests of the child, and requires that society acts collectively, effectively and with legal certainty to provide support and redress to those who have been violated. Ensuring that the time limit for prosecution decisions is met when children have been exposed to serious crimes is a direct expression of this. The plan also links crime victims' redress to good resources in the justice chain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill förverkliga barnkonventionen och principen att i varje läge se till barnets bästa, och kräver att samhället agerar samlat, effektivt och rättssäkert för att ge den som utsatts stöd och upprättelse. Att säkerställa att tidsfristen för åtalsbeslut hålls när barn utsatts för allvarliga brott är ett direkt uttryck för det. Planen kopplar också brottsoffrens upprättelse till goda resurser i rättskedjan.
- the best interests of the childdecisive»liga barnkonventionen och principen att i varje läge se till barnets« (party programme ↗)“the Children's Convention and the principle of always prioritizing the best interests of the child”
- effective and legally certain justice system»kunna agera samlat, effektivt och rättssäkert för att förhindra brott« (party programme ↗)“able to act collectively, effectively and with legal certainty to prevent crime”
- resources to the justice chain»Goda resurser till polis,« (party programme ↗)“Good resources to police,”
- functioning justice system»Det är viktigt att rättssystemet fungerar, att kvinnors erfarenheter tas på allvar och att de som begår brott döms.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is important that the justice system works, that women's experiences are taken seriously and that those who commit crimes are convicted.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme makes the best interests of the child and the child convention the starting point for all decisions, and the election manifesto particularly highlights children and young people exposed to violence and demands an uncompromising fight against crime.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes the best interests of the child and the child convention the starting point for all decisions, and the election manifesto particularly highlights children and young people exposed to violence and demands an uncompromising fight against crime. That time limits for prosecution decisions are met when children have been victims of serious crimes follows from these explicit commitments. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör barnets bästa och barnkonventionen till utgångspunkt för alla beslut, och valmanifestet lyfter särskilt barn och unga som utsätts för våld samt kräver en kompromisslös kamp mot kriminaliteten. Att tidsfristerna för åtalsbeslut hålls när barn utsatts för allvarliga brott följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen talar därför för motförslagets krav.
- the best interests of the childdecisive»Alla barn ska ha rätt till en trygg uppväxt i enlighet med FN:s barnkonvention.« (party programme ↗)“All children should have the right to a safe upbringing in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
- children as crime victims»Barn och ungdomar utsätts för förnedringsrån och våld, ofta av andra unga.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Children and young people are victims of humiliating robbery and violence, often by other young people.”
- uncompromising crime prevention»Kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against crime shall be uncompromising.”
- clear response to crime»Samhället måste reagera tydligt mot brott och regelöverträdelser.« (party programme ↗)“Society must respond clearly to crime and rule violations.”
The plan requires that the child's legal security is strengthened when there are suspicions of violence or sexual abuse and that criminal policy places the crime victim and its victimization at the center.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the child's legal security is strengthened when there are suspicions of violence or sexual abuse and that criminal policy places the crime victim and its victimization at the center. It also wants the Child Convention to become Swedish law and that decisions are preceded by a child impact assessment. Ensuring that the deadline for prosecution decisions is met when children have been subjected to serious crimes is precisely such a strengthening of the child's legal security.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att barnets rättstrygghet stärks när det finns misstankar om våld eller sexuella övergrepp och att rättspolitiken sätter brottsoffret och dess utsatthet i centrum. Den vill också att barnkonventionen blir svensk lag och att beslut föregås av barnkonsekvensanalys. Att säkerställa att tidsfristen för åtalsbeslut hålls när barn utsatts för allvarliga brott är precis en sådan förstärkning av barnets rättstrygghet.
- child's legal securitydecisive»Barnets rättstrygghet måste stärkas om det« (party programme ↗)“The child's legal security must be strengthened if there”
- victim at the center»brottsoffret och dennes utsatthet i centrum.« (party programme ↗)“the crime victim and its victimization at the center.”
- child convention as law»barnkonvention ska bli svensk lag och politiska« (party programme ↗)“child convention shall become Swedish law and political”
- support for vulnerable children»Vi vill särskilt satsa på stöd till barn i familjer där« (party programme ↗)“We particularly want to invest in support for children in families where”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The manifesto explicitly requires that processing times in courts and agencies be shortened, which is precisely what the demand for maintained timeframes in child cases is about.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The manifesto explicitly requires that processing times in courts and agencies be shortened, which is precisely what the demand for maintained timeframes in child cases is about. The plan furthermore promises firm action against violence against children and a strengthened victim perspective, which weighs heavily when the delay worsens the evidentiary situation and delays protection for the child. Children's unconditional protection from violence is the fundamental basis.
Original (Swedish)
Manifestet kräver uttryckligen att ledtiderna för handläggning i domstolar och myndigheter kortas, vilket är precis vad kravet på hållna tidsfrister i barnärenden handlar om. Planen lovar dessutom krafttag mot våld mot barn och ett stärkt brottsofferperspektiv, vilket väger tungt när fördröjningen försämrar bevisläget och skjuter upp skydd för barnet. Barns villkorslösa skydd mot våld är den principiella grunden.
- shortened processing times in the justice chaindecisive»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad. Ledtiderna för handläggning och myndighetsutövning i domstolar och myndigheter måste kortas och tillgången till ombud förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone living in Sweden should be able to have their case examined. Processing times for handling and exercise of public authority in courts and agencies must be shortened and access to legal representatives improved.”
- firm action against violence against children»Sverige behöver fler poliser, hårdare straff och bättre förebyggande insatser — med krafttag mot såväl gängbrottslighet, våld mot barn och mäns våld mot kvinnor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs more police, tougher sentences and better preventive measures — with firm action against both gang crime, violence against children and men's violence against women.”
- strengthened victim perspective»Brottsofferperspektivet måste stärkas. Den som utsatts för brott ska få upprättelse och bättre stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The victim perspective must be strengthened. Those who have been subjected to crime shall receive justice and better support.”
- children's protection from violence»villkorslöst skydd mot våld och förnedring inom och utom hemmet« (party programme ↗)“unconditional protection from violence and degradation at home and outside the home”
The party programme explicitly requires that legal proceedings with young people as suspects or complainants be handled faster, which is exactly what the counter-proposal wants to ensure when children have been subjected to crime.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly requires that legal proceedings with young people as suspects or complainants be handled faster, which is exactly what the counter-proposal wants to ensure when children have been subjected to crime. The plan also requires that the justice system's processing times be shortened in general and that support for crime victims is a main task. That the deadline is often exceeded is thus precisely the problem the plan wants to address.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver uttryckligen att rättsprocesser med ungdomar som misstänkta eller målsägande handläggs snabbare, vilket är precis vad motförslaget vill säkerställa när barn utsatts för brott. Planen kräver också att rättsväsendets handläggningstider kortas generellt och att stöd till brottsoffer är ett huvuduppdrag. Att fristen ofta överskrids är därmed just det problem planen vill åtgärda.
- faster legal proceedings with childrendecisive»Samarbetet mellan polis och socialtjänst behöver utvecklas, sekretesshinder undanröjas så att information smidigare kan delas mellan myndigheter, och rättsprocesser med ungdomar som misstänkta eller målsägande handläggas snabbare.« (party programme ↗)“Cooperation between police and social services needs to be developed, confidentiality barriers removed so that information can be shared more smoothly between authorities, and legal proceedings with young people as suspects or complainants be handled faster.”
- shorter processing times»Rättsväsendets förmåga och effektivitet behöver förbättras så att handläggningstiderna kortas, fler brott anmäls och klaras upp samt färre brottsanmälningar avskrivs.« (party programme ↗)“The efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system need to be improved so that processing times are shortened, more crimes are reported and solved, and fewer crime reports are dismissed.”
- support for crime victims»Insatser för att stödja brottsoffer är ett huvuduppdrag för både rättsväsende och socialtjänst.« (party programme ↗)“Support for crime victims is a main task for both the justice system and social services.”
- more judges and prosecutors»Samtidigt behöver vi fler domare och fler åklagare, och fler häkten och fängelser med fler kriminalvårdare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time, we need more judges and prosecutors, and more detention facilities and prisons with more correctional officers.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan requires that prosecutors rapidly prosecute and conduct prosecutions and that rapid response to committed crimes is important, while at the same time the child's best interest shall come first.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that prosecutors rapidly prosecute and conduct prosecutions and that rapid response to committed crimes is important, while at the same time the child's best interest shall come first. The counter-proposal's demand that the prescribed time limit be maintained when children have been subjected to serious crimes, with review and monitoring, is precisely this commitment applied to child cases. The plan also wants the justice system to be organized so that decisions can be given within reasonable time.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att åklagarna skyndsamt väcker och utför åtal och att en snabb reaktion på begångna brott är viktig, samtidigt som barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet. Motförslagets krav på att den föreskrivna tidsfristen hålls när barn utsatts för allvarliga brott, med översyn och uppföljning, är just detta åtagande tillämpat på barnärenden. Planen vill också att domstolsväsendet organiseras så att beslut kan ges inom rimlig tid.
- swift prosecution proceedingsdecisive»Åklagarna ska skyndsamt väcka och utföra åtal.« (party programme ↗)“Prosecutors shall rapidly prosecute and conduct prosecutions.”
- child's best interest»barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet.« (party programme ↗)“the child's best interest shall come first.”
- rapid response to crimes»snabb reaktion på begångna brott och en ökad upptäcktsrisk för förövarna är viktigt.« (party programme ↗)“rapid response to committed crimes and increased risk of detection for perpetrators is important.”
- decisions within reasonable time»vara organiserat så att domar och beslut kan ges inom« (party programme ↗)“be organized so that sentences and decisions can be given within”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that the justice system is under-resourced and promises more prosecutors so that more crimes can lead to conviction, which is exactly what is needed for statutory time limits in cases involving children to be met.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the justice system is under-resourced and promises more prosecutors so that more crimes can lead to conviction, which is exactly what is needed for statutory time limits in cases involving children to be met. It also wants to shift focus from the offender to the crime victim and strengthen the victim's standing in the process. The requirement that the time limit for prosecution decisions be secured when children have been subjected to serious crime follows from that.
Original (Swedish)
Planen konstaterar att rättsväsendet är underdimensionerat och lovar fler åklagare så att fler brott kan leda till fällande dom, vilket är exakt vad som krävs för att lagstadgade tidsfrister i barnärenden ska hållas. Den vill dessutom flytta fokus från gärningsmannen till brottsoffret och stärka brottsoffrets ställning i processen. Kravet på att fristen för åtalsbeslut säkerställs när barn utsatts för allvarliga brott följer av det.
- more prosecutors, faster prosecutiondecisive»Satsa på fler åklagare så att fler brott kan leda till fällande dom« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in more prosecutors so that more crimes can lead to conviction”
- strengthened victim perspective»Brottsofferperspektivet behöver stärkas i svenskt rättsväsende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The victim perspective needs to be strengthened in the Swedish justice system.”
- under-resourced justice system»Svenskt rättsväsende är uppenbart underdimensionerat i förhållande till den kriminalitet som samhället drabbas av idag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Swedish justice system is clearly under-resourced in relation to the crime society faces today.”
- focus on the victim»Införa en ny brottsbalk för att skifta fokus från gärningsmannen till brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a new penal code to shift focus from the offender to the crime victim”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that breaches of law shall be punished quickly and consistently and that the position of crime victims shall be strengthened.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that breaches of law shall be punished quickly and consistently and that the position of crime victims shall be strengthened. It also explicitly requires increased quality and legal security in investigations concerning children and that the best interests of the child shall always be considered. Ensuring that the deadline for prosecution decisions is met when children have been subject to serious crime follows directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att lagöverträdelser ska bestraffas snabbt och konsekvent och att brottsoffrets ställning ska stärkas. Den kräver dessutom uttryckligen ökad kvalitet och rättssäkerhet i utredningar som rör barn och att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas. Att säkerställa att tidsfristen för åtalsbeslut hålls när barn utsatts för allvarliga brott följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- swift and consistent prosecutiondecisive»lagöverträdelser bestraffas snabbt och konsekvent« (party programme ↗)“breaches of law are punished quickly and consistently”
- legally secure child investigations»Öka kvalité och rättssäkerhet i utredningar om barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase quality and legal security in investigations concerning children”
- best interests of the child»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the best interests of the child shall always be considered”
- strengthened crime victim protection»Stärka brottsoffrets ställning och öka stödet till brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the position of crime victims and increase support for crime victims”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:JuU11)
- Committee report full text (HC01JuU11)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1063 — Krav på registerutdrag av Christofer Bergenblock och Anne-Li Sjölund (båda C)
- Motion 2024/25:1077 — Ökad kunskap om barns utvecklingsfaser inom rättsväsendet av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1168 — Stärkta åtgärder mot bedrägerier riktade mot äldre av Yusuf Aydin (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1332 — Förbud mot omvändelseförsök av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1368 — Skadestånd av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1389 — Familjerätt av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1413 — Krafttag mot hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck av Sara Gille m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1414 — Mäns våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1490 — Ett rättssystem som sätter brottsoffret i fokus av Magnus Berntsson (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1531 — Sexualbrottsdömdas möjligheter att arbeta med barn av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1542 — Markeringen i belastningsregistret gällande sexualbrott mot barn av Marléne Lund Kopparklint och Jennie Wernäng (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1597 — Kriminalisering av omvändelseförsök av Lawen Redar och Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:1598 — Kriminalisering av underlåtenhet att avslöja äktenskapstvång och barnäktenskapsbrott av Lawen Redar (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1669 — Förbud mot omvändelseförsök av Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1678 — Förbud mot sugardejtning av Sofia Skönnbrink (S)
- Motion 2024/25:17 — Införande av möjlighet till brottsofferutsagor under huvudförhandlingar som gäller barnpornografibrott av Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:186 — Bedrägerier mot äldre av Catarina Deremar (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1903 — Åtgärder för att stoppa mäns våld mot kvinnor och barn av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1904 — Åtgärder mot organiserad brottslighet av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1929 — Rättsväsendet av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
Source: The Swedish Parliament