CORRECTIONS IN FINLAND (FROM INTERNATIONAL CORRECTIONS 1979, BY ROBERT J WICKS AND H H A COOPER - SEE NCJ-61835)

• NCJ Number: 61842
• Author(s): I ANTILLA
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IN FINLAND IS VIEWED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE LEGAL HERITAGE SHARED BY ALL SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES, AND PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL POLICY IN THE COUNTRY ARE DELINEATED.

Abstract

THE TERM 'CORRECTIONS' IS NOT USED IN DISCUSSIONS ON CRIME CONTROL IN FINLAND. IN ADDITION TO GENERAL TERMS OF PUNISHMENT, PENALTIES, AND SANCTIONS THAT ARE USED, REFERENCE IS MADE TO INSTITUTIONAL AND NONCUSTODIAL SANCTIONS. THERE IS ONLY ONE TYPE OF IMPRISONMENT IN THE COUNTRY. COURTS CAN SENTENCE IMPRISONMENT IN (1) FULLY FIXED TERMS, FROM 14 DAYS TO 3 MONTHS; (2) FIXED TERMS, FROM 3 MONTHS TO 12 YEARS, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE; AND (3) FOR LIFE. THE MEDIAN LENGTH OF ALL IMPRISONMENT SENTENCES IN 1975 WAS 4.5 MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO FINES AND WARNINGS, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM USES NONCUSTODIAL SANCTIONS FOR THE SUPERVISON OF CONDITIONALLY SENTENCED YOUNG OFFENDERS AND FOR THE SUPERVISION OF PAROLED PRISONERS. AS A DOMINANT PRINCIPLE OF FINNISH CRIMINAL POLICY, PUNISHMENT IS MEANT TO BE A FORM OF GENERAL DETERRENCE. ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO SERVE AS AN AUTHORITATIVE REPROACH VOICED BY SOCIETY. THE IDEA OF REPLACING PRISONS WITH TREATMENT INSTITUTIONS HAS BEEN ABANDONED. THE PENAL LAW COMMITTEE IN FINLAND, HOWEVER, STATES THAT CERTAIN PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE APPLIED TO ALL FORMS OF PUNISHMENT. IT INDICATES THAT PUNISHMENT SHOULD NOT BE CRUEL, SHOULD REFLECT EQUALITY AND PROPORTIONALITY, SHOULD BE DIRECTED ONLY AT THE OFFENDER, SHOULD NOT CAUSE NEEDLESS SUFFERING, SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE UNREGULATED ACCUMULATION OF SANCTIONS, AND SHOULD BE ECONOMIC FROM THE STANDPOINT OF SOCIETY. PRINCIPLES REGARDING CUSTODIAL SANCTIONS (ORGANIZATION OF PRISONS AND TREATMENT IN PRISONS), YOUNG OFFENDERS IN PRISONS, THE INDETERMINATE INCARCERATION OF DANGEROUS RECIDIVISTS, CRIMINALLY IRRESPONSIBLE OFFENDERS, AND NONCUSTODIAL SANCTIONS (SUPERVISION OF CONDITIONALLY SENTENCED OFFENDERS, SUPERVISION OF PAROLED PRISONERS, AND THE ISSUE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE) ARE DETAILED. COOPERATION BETWEEN SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES IN CRIMINAL PROCEDURES IS DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA AND NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)