Supistusjakso

Supistusjakso is a Finnish legal term that refers to the period during which an individual is considered a suspect in an investigation before formal criminal charges are filed or a formal trial is initiated. The concept is rooted in the Finnish criminal procedure laws, particularly those articulated in the Criminal Procedure Act of 2000, which allow law enforcement authorities to detain or restrict a person’s movement based on evidence that makes it reasonable to suspect wrongdoing without yet meeting the threshold for a formal arrest.

During a supistusjakso, the suspect is subject to certain investigative measures, including interviews, surveillance, restriction of movement, and occasionally preventive detention if there is a substantial risk of evidence tampering, flight, or further harm. The duration of this period is limited to a maximum of 14 days in most cases, but can be extended up to 90 days with judicial approval when the investigative complexity justifies it. The suspect has the right to legal counsel and to be informed of the grounds for their suspicion. Courts periodically review the necessity of maintaining the supistusjakso, ensuring that the right to liberty is not unduly infringed.

Critics argue that the supistusjakso can lead to pretrial violations of civil liberties, especially when it is used for prolonged periods without clear evidence. Supporters assert that it is an essential tool for preventing crime and maintaining public safety until enough evidence is gathered to either confirm or dismiss the suspicion. Comparatively, similar pre-trial suspicion periods exist in other jurisdictions, such as the 'preliminary investigation' phase in Sweden and the 'pre-trial investigation' framework in Estonia, though the legal thresholds and durations differ.