Crime and Punishment

Abstract

Nordic criminal justice systems are based on shared histories and traditions, common model of society (Nordic Welfare State), as well as over 50-year co-operation in legal issues. For some periods, Finland, however, has followed its own paths, as a result of severe political crises in first part of the 20th century. This period was followed by a profound revisions of criminal law and a dramatic decrease in the use of imprisonment in 1960–1990s from over 150–60 prisoners/100,000 population. These experiences are worthwhile to study when most countries are still experiencing increasing incarceration rates. And so are the underlying principles of Nordic penal policy, which still rest on the values of Nordic Welfare State and the idea that social policy is the best criminal policy.