Rangaistava

Rangaistava is a Finnish adjective meaning punishable under criminal law. In legal usage, it describes conduct that can be punished by the state under the criminal code and related statutes. A conduct is punishable when it fulfills the elements of a crime as defined by law, including the prohibited act and, in many cases, a culpable mental state.

Punishability depends on the specific provision that criminalizes the act and the applicable penalties, which may range from fines to imprisonment, or other sanctions provided by law. Not all wrongful acts are punishable; legal defenses and exemptions may remove or reduce punishability, such as lack of intent, duress, necessity, or a mental incapacity.

The concept is used in statutes and court decisions to distinguish between acts that incur criminal liability and those that do not. The term also contrasts with non-criminal sanctions administered by authorities, such as administrative penalties, which are not necessarily based on criminal liability. In practice, prosecutors and courts assess rangaistavuus by applying the statutory elements of the offense, considering the circumstances and the offender's age, capacity, and intent.

In everyday language, rangaistava is often used to describe behavior that is wrong under the law and subject to punishment if caught and prosecuted.