NCJ Number
53191
Journal
Home Office Research Bulletin Issue: 6 Dated: (1978) Pages: 19-22
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATION AND IDEOLOGY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH IN FINLAND ARE DESCRIBED, TOGETHER WITH THE CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH RESEARCH RESULTS ARE CONVEYED TO POLICYMAKERS.
Abstract
MOST CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN FINLAND IS CONDUCTED BY THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF LEGAL POLICY. THE INSTITUTE IS SUBORDINATED TO THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE IN THE STATE BUDGET, BUT IT MAKES ITS OWN APPOINTMENTS, ESTABLISHES ITS OWN RESEARCH PROGRAM, AND IS FREE TO CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE POLICIES OF THE MINISTRY AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THE INSTITUTE TRIES TO SELECT RESEARCH TOPICS THAT ARE BOTH POLICY RELEVANT AND OF THEORETICAL OR OTHER GENERAL INTEREST. LIKE RESEARCHERS IN OTHER SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES, FINNISH CRIMINOLOGISTS TAKE A SOCIETAL VIEW OF CRIMINALITY AND HAVE REJECTED THE REHABILITATIVE IDEAL. UNLIKE OTHER SCANDANAVIAN COUNTRIES, FINLAND HAS EMPHASIZED APPLIED RESEARCH IN CRIMINOLOGY. MOST FINNISH CRIMINOLOGISTS FEEL THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY SHOULD BE AIMED AT KEEPING THE SOCIETAL COSTS OF CRIME AT A TOLERABLE LEVEL AND AT ACHIEVING A JUST DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE COSTS THROUGHOUT SOCIETY. CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN FINLAND HAS FOCUSED ON SURVEYING THE EXISTING SYSTEM, REVEALING ITS WEAKNESSES, AND SUGGESTING NEW APPROACHES. FINNISH RESEARCHERS BRING THEIR EFFORTS TO BEAR ON POLICY DECISIONS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN POLICYMAKING COMMITTEES, PUBLICATION OF BOOKS AND ARTICLES, REVIEWS OF LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS, AND OTHER MEANS. THERE HAS BEEN A TENDENCY TOWARD A RESEARCHER-ADMINISTRATOR 'ROLEBLURRING' AMONG THE MOST POLICY-ORIENTED OF FINLAND'S CRIMINOLOGISTS THAT MAY HAVE MADE THEM TOO REALISTIC IN THEIR POLICY PROPOSALS. IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT THERE IS A PLACE IN THE CRIMINOLOGICAL COMMUNITY FOR VISIONARIES WHO SEEK THE IMPOSSIBLE. EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH PROJECTS THROUGH WHICH FINNISH CRIMINOLOGISTS HAVE INFLUENCED OR ATTEMPTED TO INFLUENCE POLICYMAKING ARE CITED. (LKM)