Regarding the changes in prison population composition, the Prison and Probation Service of Finland also requires and needs information and knowledge to adapt and develop its core functions and its ability to respond to various societal changes. To address this need, the Prison and Probation Service launched a two-year research project (2023–2025) based on its own informational needs. The study aimed to produce up-to-date insights using diverse research data with mixed methods on prisoners’ backgrounds, needs and situations after release.
An essential prerequisite for effective prison work is to take into account prisoners’ individual needs and backgrounds at different phases of the penalty period - even before and after that (including assessment, enforcement, and release processes). The study examined a relationship between prisoners’ backgrounds and needs in sentence planning and in enforcement of the prison term. Additionally, it explored how needs and backgrounds, sentence planning, and enforcement of penalty to post-release integration are associated.
The study’s results indicate that consideration of the individual needs and backgrounds of prisoners at various stages of the sentence (assessment, enforcement and release phase) remained incomplete. This was particularly evident among short-term prisoners (less than 3 months). In many respects, individual consideration of prisoners' needs and backgrounds was inadequate throughout sentence (including assessment, goals of the sentence plan, prison activities, and preparation for release). Also, some insufficiencies were identified in phases related to gradual release such as transfer from a closed prison to an open prison, backdoor electronic monitoring, and service continuum after release.
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Sasu Tyni
Senior Specialist, The Prison and Probation Service of Finland, Finland
Dr. Tyni is a distinguished researcher in the field of criminology. He holds a Ph.D. in Administrative Sciences. Tyni has worked at the Prison & Probation Service Finland since 2003. His main responsibility is research related to prison and community sanctions. He has particularly studied recidivism among prisoners and the effects of prison activities (such as treatment programs) on crime and post-release integration. Dr. Tyni previously worked at the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy (University of Helsinki) as the Research Director of Criminal Policy. Currently, he holds the status of visiting researcher at the institute after returning to the Prison & Probation Service. He has participated in several working groups of both ICPA and Europris.
