More lenient sanction for young people did not lead to more reoffending
As Sweden introduces tougher sanctions for young offenders, a new study from the Department of Criminology at Stockholm University shows that a less interventionist response to minor youth offending did not lead to higher rates of reoffending. Young people who were more often given a prosecution deferral instead of a fine were no more likely to reoffend.
In the study Minimal Intervention in the Criminal Justice System: The Effect of Prosecution Deferrals On Youth Recidivism, researchers Enes Al Weswasi and Anna Kahlmeter examine what happened when Swedish prosecutors began using prosecution deferrals much more frequently for young offenders instead of summary penalty orders, which in practice most often result in fines. The study was published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology on 8 September.
The change gained momentum in 2006 ahead of a reform of the sanctions system for young offenders. Among 15-20-year-olds, the share of cases resulting in prosecution deferrals increased sharply, while fines of around SEK 1,000 or less in particular became less common. The researchers use this change as a natural experiment and compare the development with a control group of 21-26-year-olds, who were not affected by the change.
No deterrent effect of fines
From a deterrence perspective, one might assume that a more lenient response would increase the risk of further offending, since the young person avoids a financial penalty. However, the researchers find no support for this assumption. Neither the risk of being suspected of new offences nor the risk of being subject to new criminal sanctions was affected during the three-year follow-up period. The pattern was the same regardless of sex, parental education level or previous entries in the criminal record.
Timely amid tougher sentencing policies
The findings are particularly relevant today, as Swedish criminal policy is moving towards increasingly severe sanctions. However, the study does not provide answers about the effects of tougher penalties for serious crime, as the analysis focuses on less serious offences such as petty theft, fraud, criminal damage and minor drug offences.
The researchers conclude that reducing the use of low-level fines does not appear to increase the risk of reoffending. From a policy perspective, the findings suggest that prosecution deferrals could be used even more widely for 15-20-year-olds who commit minor offences, without increasing recidivism. Such an approach could also reduce the financial burden on families, as fines imposed for young people’s offending often affect their parents in practice.
Last updated: 2026-09-10
Source: Department of Criminology