Pakkokeinot

Pakkokeinot, in the Finnish legal context, refer to coercive measures available to authorities to secure investigations, prevent crime, and ensure lawful proceedings. They are defined and limited by legislation such as the Criminal Procedure Act and the Police Act, and their use is subject to constitutional rights and international human rights standards. The purpose of pakkokeinot is to enable effective investigation and to protect the public, while safeguarding the rights of individuals.

The main coercive measures include pidätys and tutkintavankeus. Pidätys is a temporary detention by the police intended to facilitate investigation and to prevent the suspect from evading authorities. It is time-limited and must be followed by a court assessment. Tutkintavankeus is remand in custody ordered by a court to prevent逃逃 escape, to avoid destruction of evidence, or to prevent new crimes during the investigation. The duration and conditions of tutkintavankeus are regulated by law and are subject to judicial review.

Other commonly applied measures involve kotietsintä, or house searches, which require a warrant in most circumstances and must be proportionate to the investigation. Seizure or confiscation of documents and objects connected to the case can accompany searches to secure evidence. In practice, these measures are designed to be targeted, time-bound, and reversible where possible, with oversight by courts and opportunities for challenge or appeal when rights are believed to have been violated.

Safeguards and oversight are essential for pakkokeinot: they must be legally authorized, necessary, and proportionate to the aims pursued. Violations can be appealed in court, and authorities are obligated to respect the fundamental rights of the individuals involved.