Esa Vesterbacka

Professional career and positions:

• Current position: Director General of the Finnish Criminal Sanctions Agency (ie. Prison and Probation Service) since 2005
• Head of the Criminal Policy Department of the Ministry of Justice in 2001-2004
• Deputy Head of the Prison Department of the Ministry of Justice in 1995-2001
• Prison Director of Turku Provincial Prison in 1990-1995
• Prison Director of Köyliö Open Prison in 1987-1990
• Public Prosecutor in Helsinki in 1985-1987
• Associate Professor of Legal Science at the University College of Lapland in 1980-1982
• Assistant of Criminal Law in 1977-1984 and Assistant of Procedural Law in 1980-1984 at the University of Turku

Expert appointments and committee work:

• Board Member of the European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris) in 2012-2015
• Interim Board Member of EuroPris in 2011-2012
• Representative of Finland in the European Committee of Crime Problems (CDPC) of the Council of Europe; and member of the Bureau of CDPC in 2002-2006
• Representative of Finland in a Council of Europe project supporting the development of the prison services in the Baltic countries and Russia in 1996-2004

Studies:

• Licentiate of Laws in 1984, University of Turku
• Master of Laws with Court Training in 1983
• Master of Laws in 1977, University of Turku

Publications:

• Articles on criminal policy and prison services in various professional publications