Chronological age and crime: A review of how Swedish Courts evaluate age evidence

IF 2 4区医学 Q2 MEDICINE, LEGAL

Science & Justice Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-14 DOI:10.1016/j.scijus.2026.101410

Moa Lidén , Marie Allen

引用次数: 0

Abstract

In criminal cases, age estimations are not only commonly occurring but also tremendously influential e.g. for determining whether an individual is old enough to be held responsible as well as the appropriate sentencing. In this research we review 61 Swedish cases focusing on the 15, 18 and 21 years thresholds, which entailed varying forensic, oral and documentary age evidence. The findings suggest e.g. that age estimations are most commonly used for sentencing issues (18/21 years) and that forensic age evidence is more influential than other types of age evidence. When the case concerned a violent crime, the odds that the Courts concluded that an individual was 18 years or older were 38 times higher when there was supporting forensic evidence supporting, while no corresponding trends were seen for oral and documentary age evidence. The research highlights both methodological and human sources of error to be addressed in research and legal practice.

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实足年龄与犯罪：瑞典法院如何评估年龄证据的综述

在刑事案件中，年龄估计不仅经常发生，而且具有极大的影响，例如，对于确定一个人的年龄是否足以承担责任以及适当的量刑。在这项研究中，我们回顾了61个瑞典案例，重点关注15岁、18岁和21岁的阈值，其中包括不同的法医、口头和书面年龄证据。调查结果表明，年龄估计最常用于量刑问题（18/21岁），法医年龄证据比其他类型的年龄证据更有影响力。在涉及暴力犯罪的案件中，如果有支持性的法医证据，法院判定当事人年龄在18岁或以上的几率要高出38倍，而口头和书面年龄证据则没有相应的趋势。该研究强调了在研究和法律实践中需要解决的方法和人为错误来源。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Science & Justice 医学-病理学

CiteScore

4.20

自引率

15.80%

发文量

审稿时长

81 days

期刊介绍： Science & Justice provides a forum to promote communication and publication of original articles, reviews and correspondence on subjects that spark debates within the Forensic Science Community and the criminal justice sector. The journal provides a medium whereby all aspects of applying science to legal proceedings can be debated and progressed. Science & Justice is published six times a year, and will be of interest primarily to practising forensic scientists and their colleagues in related fields. It is chiefly concerned with the publication of formal scientific papers, in keeping with its international learned status, but will not accept any article describing experimentation on animals which does not meet strict ethical standards. Promote communication and informed debate within the Forensic Science Community and the criminal justice sector. To promote the publication of learned and original research findings from all areas of the forensic sciences and by so doing to advance the profession. To promote the publication of case based material by way of case reviews. To promote the publication of conference proceedings which are of interest to the forensic science community. To provide a medium whereby all aspects of applying science to legal proceedings can be debated and progressed. To appeal to all those with an interest in the forensic sciences.