Over the years Sweden has had a steady (until recently) influx of migrants that are formally described as "unaccompanied minors" (in Swedish it's usually "Ensamkommande barn", literally "Children who came alone"). Despite being formally described as "children" (anyone under the age of 18 is legally and formally called a child) most are supposedly somewhere in the age-range of 15-17. Informally these are usually not called "children" but refereed to as youths (ungdomar)
Sweden, like most countries, treat minors and youths more leniently and they are afforded more "protection" in law. Most notably is the fact that if someone under the age of 18 is refused asylum status and permanent/temporary stay in the country they cannot be deported unless there is someone who can take custody of them in their country of origin. Even when their identity and age is firmly established it's not uncommon for any family or relatives to refuse to take them in. Likewise the state is also often unwilling or unable to take custody of them. Thus they wont be liable for deportation until they become 18 years old and thus an "adult".
By contrast there's nothing really positive from being found to be 18+ years old. In one case where someone was incorrectly determined to be a minor even-though they weren't, and it was detrimental to them, was when the police apparently thought that a 32 year old Romani beggar from Bulgaria was 13 years old. Another person was detained on suspicion on having committed "human smuggling" crimes. Despite the fact that the "victim" had documents identifying him and his age the police and prosecutors were apparently convinced that he was far, far younger than that. It took physical examination from both a doctor and dentist plus additional documents from Bulgarian government agencies to convince them that he really was at least 18 years old.
Although it's something of a freak case it still demonstrates that naively establishing someones age based only on superficial looks is prone to being hugely inaccurate. Together with the fact that there's strong incentives for people to understate their age means that more objective, reliable and accurate measure for establishing someones "true age" is needed.
What such tests and examinations are available? In the case with the 32 year old beggar the news reports mentioned that he was examined by a "doctor" and a dentist but I'm uncertain about what exactly such tests mean in practice.
Sweden, like most countries, treat minors and youths more leniently and they are afforded more "protection" in law. Most notably is the fact that if someone under the age of 18 is refused asylum status and permanent/temporary stay in the country they cannot be deported unless there is someone who can take custody of them in their country of origin. Even when their identity and age is firmly established it's not uncommon for any family or relatives to refuse to take them in. Likewise the state is also often unwilling or unable to take custody of them. Thus they wont be liable for deportation until they become 18 years old and thus an "adult".
By contrast there's nothing really positive from being found to be 18+ years old. In one case where someone was incorrectly determined to be a minor even-though they weren't, and it was detrimental to them, was when the police apparently thought that a 32 year old Romani beggar from Bulgaria was 13 years old. Another person was detained on suspicion on having committed "human smuggling" crimes. Despite the fact that the "victim" had documents identifying him and his age the police and prosecutors were apparently convinced that he was far, far younger than that. It took physical examination from both a doctor and dentist plus additional documents from Bulgarian government agencies to convince them that he really was at least 18 years old.
Although it's something of a freak case it still demonstrates that naively establishing someones age based only on superficial looks is prone to being hugely inaccurate. Together with the fact that there's strong incentives for people to understate their age means that more objective, reliable and accurate measure for establishing someones "true age" is needed.
What such tests and examinations are available? In the case with the 32 year old beggar the news reports mentioned that he was examined by a "doctor" and a dentist but I'm uncertain about what exactly such tests mean in practice.
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1K8L9gY
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