Finland Times

 

Penal cases decided by district courts in 2011 to 2013. Source: Statistics Finland.

The country witnessed a rise in petty thefts, smuggling and aggravated forgery, although the number of criminal cases decided by district courts diminished further in 2013 as the crimes against life, health and property decreased.

 

According to Statistics Finland, a total of 60,700 penal cases were decided by district courts in 2013, which is 2,900 less than one year ago. A total of 48,200 criminal cases against the Penal Code were decided and 1,000 criminal cases against other acts and decrees.

 

In addition, district courts decided 11,500 other penal cases. There were 73,000 defendants in penal cases that appeared before district courts.

 

Traffic offences were handled most by district courts and they represented 31 per cent of all criminal cases. The number of traffic offences decreased by 11 per cent from the previous year. All of the largest traffic offence groups decreased in 2013. Drunken driving cases declined by 11 per cent, aggravated drunken driving cases by 12 per cent, waterway, air or rail traffic drunkenness by 27 per cent, and endangering of traffic safety by 19 per cent. Only aggravated endangering of traffic safety remained on the 2012 level.

 

Decision compositions of criminal cases decided by district courts in 2002 to 2013. Source: Statistics Finland.

District courts processed 2 per cent fewer offences against property than last year. In absolute numbers, petty thefts increased most and in relative terms smuggling and aggravated forgery increased most.

 

The two biggest groups of offences against property – theft and fraud – decreased while crimes against life and health declined by 6 per cent. 

 

The number of sexual crimes also decreased in district courts, which was caused by the number of rapes falling by more than one-fifth. However, the number of cases involving sexual abuse of a child remained at the same level as in 2012. Narcotics offences (including manufacturing and use) increased, although aggravated narcotics offences diminished.

 

Altogether, 50 per cent of penal cases handled by district courts were completed within less than two months. In 13 per cent of cases, the process lasted over six months. On average, cases were decided in district courts in 3.5 months. The overall processing time in criminal cases – the time from when the crime was committed to when the district court gave its decision – was 10.8 months on average.