Vankeutta

Vankeutta is a Finnish legal term meaning imprisonment or a prison sentence. It is a central form of punishment in the Finnish criminal justice system and is used for more serious offenses. There are two main forms: unconditional imprisonment (vankeus) and conditional imprisonment (ehdollinen vankeus), the latter combining a prison term with probation and monitoring.

Duration can vary: unconditional imprisonment may be for a fixed term or, in the gravest cases, life imprisonment (elinkautinen vankeus). The law also provides for the possibility of release before the full term through parole or other forms of early release, depending on the offense and the offender’s behavior and rehabilitation prospects.

Execution takes place in a prison (vankila) under state supervision. While incarcerated, individuals retain several basic rights and may access legal aid, pursue appeals, and participate in rehabilitation programs. After serving a term or upon conditional release, supervision and reintegration measures are typically provided to support a return to society.

Relation to other penalties: vankeutta is distinct from pre-trial detention (pidätys), which is deprivation of liberty during investigation or proceedings. It exists alongside other penalties in the Finnish Penal Code, such as fines, community penalties, and conditional penalties, reflecting a system oriented toward punishment, deterrence, public safety, and rehabilitation.