NCJ Number
208151
Date Published
2004
Length
35 pages
Annotation
Following the presentation of basic facts on Finland's demography, climate, economy, and government, this chapter presents a brief history of the country and its corrections system, with attention to the system of sanctions, prison and probation services, and future directions.
Abstract
Although the rate of imprisonment in Finland was four times higher than that of other Nordic countries in the early 1950's, the rate began to decline dramatically in the early 1990's, even as it was increasing in most European countries. In 2001, Finland's incarceration rate was one of the lowest of all European Union countries. Several legislative reforms related to corrections occurred in the 1960's. Features of the military-type hierarchy were reduced in the prisons, correctional administrators became highly trained, and mental health services were introduced in prisons. More severe forms of imprisonment were abolished, and Finland ratified all the major human rights documents related to sentence enforcement and the treatment of inmates. Currently, however, Finland's correctional policies are being influenced by attempts of the European Union to harmonize the correctional policies of member states. Trends in the majority of European Union states are more conservative and custodially oriented than in Finland. The number of prison sentences and the number of inmates has again started to increase in the country, and sentences for violent offenses have become more severe; however, there is still a strong influence toward noncustodial sentences and a recognition that imprisonment, particularly for nonviolent offenders, is not cost effective. 1 table, 2 figures, discussion questions, Web-links, 17 references, and 9 notes