Intoxication is a major factor in violent crimes.

While the homicide rate in Finland is in decline, murder convictions are becoming more common, the daily newspaper Turun Sanomat reports.

“Homicides in Finland have become so increasingly brutal that they are more and more often sentenced as murders. According to researcher Matti Lehti of the National Research Institute of Legal Policy, the total amount of homicides has decreased steadily over the past 20 years while the number of murder convictions has, however, clearly increased.

Alcohol still characterises Finnish violence. According to Lehti’s research, in about 70 per cent of the homicides investigated during the years 2002-2008 all involved were intoxicated at the moment of the crime. At least one person of those involved was intoxicated in as many as 85 per cent of violent deaths.

According to Lehti, it is not yet accurately understood why the number of homicides in Finland is in decline. A development similar to that in Finland is taking place in several western and central European countries.

Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Turku Jussi Tapani believes the decline in the number of homicides is explained by Finland’s moderate crime policy.

“Homicides may be in decline because the system’s safety net works, although alcohol is the unpredictable factor there,” Tapani ponders.

Tapani is not in favour of toughening homicide sentences because decades of imprisonment make the convict’s reintegration into society more difficult.”

TURUN SANOMAT 15 AUGUST
Raimo Puotanen