Chancellor: It would appear that imprisonment is longer and more absolutely absolute
Ministry of Justice|The number of prisoners has increased more than expected. According to the Chancellor, the reform of the Sexual Office Act is contributed to the issue.
Prisons They are full, the number of prisoners is increasing and there is a shortage of guards. As a result, the safety of both prisoners and staff will suffer and prisoners cannot be provided with sufficient meaningful activities.
« The development of the number of prisoners is an acute challenge. Since last autumn, the number of prisoners has increased significantly more than expected, » says the Ministry Antti Leinonen.
How has the situation come about?
According to Leinonen, the background is, among other things, a comprehensive reform of the Sexual Office Act in the last term.
« The effect was possibly greater than what was assessed when the reform was started. »
Other unpredictable has happened.
« There have been no significant changes in the amount of crime, but the courts have tightened their punishment practice. According to preliminary information, it would appear that, to some extent, longer imprisonment and more absolute imprisonment are imposed.
According to Leinonen, a more detailed understanding of the matter requires research. For example, it is not known, for example, in which types of crime have changed.
Current The government has made reforms that are estimated to increase the number of prisoners. For aggravated firearms offense In the future, in principle, the imprisonment of the future and the new penalty will come into force in the summer criteria for hardening so -called street gangs.
According to Leinonen, the effects of the reforms on the prison this season have been taken into account when making the reforms.
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Many prisoners perform their punishment closed in their cell.
« The growth is covered in its entirety so that the need for more than 300 additional prisoners is met. Each prisoner has been assigned funding including staff. »
According to Leinonen, the Vaala, Oulu and Vantaa additional building will have a total of about 200 additional seats by the end of next year. Next year, there will also be deployed prison buildings, so -called module cell compartments. One of them has been used in Pelso, and according to Leinonen, it is being moved because the Pelson Prison has recently ceased.
In 2027, an additional building in Turku Prison will be completed, with about 140 prison positions. The longer -term plan is to build a new closed prison in Pirkanmaa and to start planning a new prison in Uusimaa.
Prison So the future looks more positive. At the moment, however, there are problems. The Ombudsman has stated in many of his decisions, and the UN Committee on the UN torture is remark Finland about the inadequacy of prison staff and the fact that prisoners cannot be provided with sufficient meaningful activities. Many prisoners perform their punishment closed in their cell.
The Deputy Ombudsman gave to the Legal Committee last spring statement The Criminal Sanctions Agency (Rise) operating conditions. According to the statement, the number of complaints made by prisoners has doubled from 2020 to 2023.
« This reflects the problems that have been increased in recent years of institutions. Prisoners’ complaints are often justified, and the problems they present are real, » the statement states.
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« I emphasize that this is not that we do not recognize this problem. »
According to the Deputy Ombudsman, Rise’s problems are also illustrated by the fact that prisons are unable to respond to the deficiencies indicated. According to the statement, the increase in the number of prisoners will further complicate Rise’s ability to perform his duties legally.
“With these resources that the state currently shared, it does not seem rosier next year or the next,” Leinonen says.
Financial situation So it’s not easier. The Ministry of Justice and Rise have tried to find solutions themselves, but « when there is no money, there is no money, » Leinonen says.
« It’s not in the hands of me, the Ministry of Justice or the Minister of Justice.
If there is no sufficient funding for the tasks assigned by the legislator, should some of Rise’s responsibilities give up? According to Leinonen, this too must be considered. However, he considers « very rugged », for example, that prison rehabilitation activities would be permanently reduced and significantly. Rehabilitation and other meaningful work affect not only the prisoners’ current well -being, but also on the situation in which they return to society, he says.
« If imprisonment were just to be preserved, then it would lead to the fact that people who are released from prisons would be substantially adapting to normal everyday life. I don’t think it would be in anyone’s interest. »
Leinonen says that the ministry and Rise agree: this should not be the case.
« I know that the Criminal Sanctions Agency – management and other staff – do their best every day within the resources available. »
STT also asked for an interview with prisons for the situation in the prisons Leena from the sea (ps), but he would have agreed to answer questions only by email.
A prisoner photographed in his room in connection with the Ministry of Justice and the Criminal Sanctions Agency’s Crime and Penalty Day in Vantaa Prison 2019.
