– We must react quickly to young people committing crimes. Long waiting times between the crime and the response can be a heavy burden for both the victim and their loved ones. There is also a risk that young people will commit new crimes, so a quick response is necessary. Swift criminal proceedings will be able to prevent relapses and inclusion in criminal networks, says Minister Emilie Mehl.

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Emilie Enger Mehl has now asked the Courts Administration, in cooperation with the Police Directorate, the Directorate of Correctional Services, the Attorney General and the Secretariat of the Conflict Councils, to explore the possibility of establishing a fast track for criminal cases, preferably in the Oslo District Court. The investigation must be completed by the end of the year and will form the basis for further follow-up within the ministry.

Accelerating the processing of cases against young offenders

– The government recently presented proposals for changes in the response to youth crimes. The proposals aim, among other things, to ensure that penalties are introduced more quickly and that courts have more options for action when imposing penalties and in the event of infringements. Many drew attention to the need to speed up the process of examining cases against young criminals. It was important for us to listen to these signals.