Finland Home to Some of Europe’s Lightest Rape Sentences
Image: YLE
In Finland, sex criminals receive lighter sentences than they would in other European countries. Sentences for sex offences also vary by region. Justice Minister Tuja Brax says tougher sentences for rape are in the cards.
The recent rape of a 16-year-old girl by a policeman has raised debate on how sex crimes are penalized in Finland. The policeman who got the girl drunk and raped her twice was handed a suspended sentence.
Quite astonishingly, the courts handed down a multi-year prison sentence last year for cigarette smuggling.
"In Finland there’s an antiquated way of thinking that matters of bodily integrity are not deemed as serious as economic crimes,” says Brax, adding that tougher punishments for sexual offences will still be rolled out during this electoral term. “Sentences for sex crimes against children are being hardened.”
No uniform punishment
Critics of Finland’s soft sentencing practices say courts around the country hand down different punishments for the same crime.
Allan Rosas, a Finnish judge at the European Court of Justice, says Finnish court decisions on rape are light compared to other EU countries.
“I believe it’s naïve to imagine that the punishment level doesn’t impact human behavior. Violent crimes still only draw suspended sentences in Finland. This may be a signal to some that the crime didn’t warrant much punishment,” says Rosas.
YLE