Home → Resources → Restorative Justice around the World → Europe → All Documents → Finland

Finland

Up one level

Eskelinen, Ossi and Iivari, Juhani. Victim-Offender Mediation with juvenile offenders in Europe: The case of Finland.

The European Commission’s Grotius II Criminal Programme initiated a project to address the need for better understanding of victim-offender mediation practices with juvenile offenders and justice systems in Europe. Under this project, studies were contracted and research papers produced to examine the situation in a number of European countries. Each study covered the following matters: norms and legislation allowing for the implementation of VOM programs; theoretical frameworks of VOM centers; organizational structure of VOM centers; categories and profiles of juvenile offenses; professional characteristics and job satisfaction of mediators; and advantages and criticisms of VOM. The papers were presented and discussed at a final seminar in Bologna, Italy, September 19-20, 2003. Within the categories mentioned above, this particular paper surveys victim-offender mediation with juvenile offenders in Finland.

Iivari, Juhani. The Process of Mediation in Finland: A Special Reference to the Question ëHow to Get Cases for Mediation?

In this paper the author gives a brief summary of the developing phase and features of the mediation projects in Finland and addresses the question of how to get cases for mediation in cooperation with different officials, especially with the police and the prosecutor. The author points out that cooperation with officials has been vital for mediation in Finland. The author also addresses the question of so-called "net-widening" effect and points out that although there are standpoints pro and contra the concept, cooperation with officials is defensible.

Government of Finland. Act on Mediation in Criminal and Certain Civil Cases.

For the purposes of this Act, mediation in criminal cases (mediation) means a non-chargeable service in which a crime suspect and the victim of that crime are provided the opportunity to meet confidentially through an independent conciliator, to discuss the mental and material harm caused to the victim by the crime and, on their own initiative, to agree on measures to redress the harm. (excerpt)

Mediation in Finland

In three recently-published articles, Juhani Iivari provides a glimpse into the development, use, and possible future of victim offender mediation in Finland.

Iivari, Juhani. Victim-offender mediation in Finland

Juhani Iivari examines the history and current state of victim-offender mediation in Finland.

Iivari, Juhani.Challenges of Organizing Victim-Offender Mediation in Finland

This short article reports on a study commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The project focused on the present situation surrounding mediation and possible options for organizing mediation.

Iivari, Juhani. Victim-Offender Mediation- An Alternative, An Addition or Nothing but a Rubbish Bin in Relation to Legal Proceedings?

This paper is a result of the research Iivari did for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. He discusses the need for regulation and institutionalization in the mediation system.

Elonheimo, Henrik. Restorative Justice Theory and the Finnish Mediation Practices

In Finland, the most prominent manifestation of restorative justice is victim-offender mediation. In order to investigate to what extent the restorative ideals are actually realized within the Finnish mediation practices, 16 cases of victim-offender mediation have been observed.