Rikosvastuullinen

Rikosvastuullinen is a Finnish legal term that translates to "criminally responsible" or "legally liable for a crime" in English. It refers to an individual who has the capacity and has committed an act that is defined as a crime under Finnish law. For a person to be considered rikosvastuullinen, several conditions must typically be met.

Firstly, the individual must have reached the age of criminal responsibility. In Finland, this age is 15 years. Individuals below this age are generally not considered capable of forming the necessary criminal intent and are instead dealt with through child protection services.

Secondly, the act committed must be unlawful, meaning it violates a specific provision of the Finnish Penal Code or other relevant legislation. This involves both the objective elements of the crime (the act itself) and the subjective elements (the mental state of the perpetrator, such as intent or negligence).

Thirdly, the individual must be deemed capable of understanding the nature and wrongfulness of their actions. This means they must possess sufficient mental capacity at the time of the offense. Mental disorders, severe intoxication, or other conditions that impair judgment can affect criminal responsibility. The court assesses this capacity during legal proceedings.

Finally, there must be a causal link between the individual's actions and the criminal offense. The person's conduct must be a direct cause or a significant contributing factor to the harm or prohibited outcome. Establishing rikosvastuullisuus is a fundamental principle in the Finnish criminal justice system.