Jussi Pajuoja

Bio: Jussi Pajuoja is an academic researcher from University of Eastern Finland. The author has contributed to research in topics: Prison & Time limit. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 3 citations.

Prison Leave in Finland: Legal and Empirical Fundamentals of an Established Practice

Abstract: Prison leave was introduced into the Finnish legal system in 1971, with the aim to reduce negative effects of institutionalization and disadvantages caused by the length of the prison sentence. After the total reform of prison legislation in 2006, the role of the prison leave has become even more central; the number of prisoners has decreased, but the amount of prison leave has increased. Historically, the length of the sentence has been the most common ground for prison leave. A prisoner can be granted a prison leave when two thirds of the prison term has been served, for example, after 2 years if the length of the total sentence served in prison is 3 years. However, during the past 10 years, prison leave based on an important reason has grown into the most common type of prison leave. This indicates a structural change from the rigid legal rules to a more flexible practice. In 2018, there were about 17,000 prison leave applications, and over 13,000 of those were granted, i.e. 79%. The conditions were breached 466 times, which is 3.5% of all prison leaves. The most common breaches of prison leave conditions were returning from a prison leave after the set time limit or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The majority of prison leave applications are decided in the prisons. On the other hand, for example, the decision on the prison leave of a life-sentenced prisoner is made by the Criminal Sanctions Agency. There have been significant differences in the probability of granting prison leave, which are emphasized especially in the practices of closed prisons. Among those prisoners who serve longer than 1 year in prison, the application rate of prison leave rises over 90%. For the sentences under 3 months, it is less than 20%.

Prison Leave Across Europe: Some Reasons to Think About it

Abstract: In diesem Artikel gehen wir naher auf den Hafturlaub ein, eine Lockerungsmasnahme, die die Wissenschaft grostenteils vernachlassigt. Uber den Hafturlaub in Europa (und anderswo) ist sehr wenig bekannt. In diesem Artikel konzentrieren wir uns auf Fragen, die sich im Zusammenhang mit einer Analyse des Hafturlaubs in acht Landern Europas ergeben haben. Wissenschaftler*innen aus Belgien, Danemark, Finnland, Frankreich, Italien, Rumanien, Spanien und der Ukraine legten uns detaillierte Berichte uber den Hafturlaub in ihrem jeweiligen Land vor. In diesem Beitrag greifen wir auf dieses Wissen zuruck, um allgemeine Fragen zu den Zwecken und Funktionen des Hafturlaubs, den Kriterien fur dessen Gewahrung, der Befugnis fur seine Gewahrung, dem Zusammenhang zwischen Hafturlaub und Gefangnisleben und dem Zusammenhang zwischen Hafturlaub und Ruckfallen aufzuwerfen. Wir schliesen diesen Artikel, indem wir die Aufmerksamkeit auf eine zugrunde liegende Spannung lenken: Ist Hafturlaub ein Privileg oder ein Recht? Daruber hinaus schlagen wir zusatzliche Fragen vor und hoffen, andere Wissenschaftler zur Analyse des Hafturlaubs in ihren jeweiligen Landern zu motivieren.

Examining Sanction Type and Drug Offender Recidivism: A Register-Based Study in Finland

Abstract: Nordic countries incarcerate offenders at much lower rates in comparison with incarceration rates in the United States, and reincarcerate fewer people per capita. Non-custodial alternatives to sanctions, including fines and community service, are used extensively in Finland to reduce negative effects of institutionalization and subsequent disadvantage caused by incarceration. The nature of drug-involved offenders within the Finnish system is reviewed in light of current research about the effectiveness of incarceration and deterrence-based approaches for drug offenders. Employing a 2014 sample from register data (consisting of official government records) of drug offenders in Finland with a 3-year recidivism period, this study utilizes a genetic matching procedure to compare offenders who received fines, conditional sentences (probation), or incarceration. While recognizing that numerous confounding variables affect incarceration, we compare a matched sample of drug offenders and the sanctions they have received from the Finland judicial system to determine whether offenders who initially receive a fine or a conditional sentence reenter the correctional system at different rates than those who are incarcerated. After matching, results found no significant differences between offenders receiving incarceration sentences or those who received noncustodial sentences (fine, or conditional sentence) for general and drug-related recidivism. These results are presented within the context of the Finnish corrections system in order to inform the criminal justice community about culture, incarceration, and process differences that could positively affect working with drug offenders in other localities.

First steps towards freedom : prison leave across Europe

Abstract: This is the editorial introduction of a special issue that focuses on prison leave as it is applied in 8 European countries across the continent.