Government bills15
- HE 5/2026 vpPassed with amendments
Expanding and speeding up fine proceedings
The police and prosecutors will be able to resolve more clear-cut criminal cases directly with fines without district court proceedings. At the same time, undisputed claims for damages and substance testing costs can also be settled within the procedure.
17 Jun 2026 · passed without a vote - HE 138/2026 vpIn progress
Speeding up criminal proceedings
The processing of criminal cases will be streamlined and expedited from the preliminary investigation stage through to court proceedings. The reform introduces, among other things, a new method of summons, time limits for naming evidence, and the option to record interrogations using audio only.
11 Sep 2026 · no votes yet - HE 187/2025 vpPassed with amendments
Expanding and streamlining plea bargaining
Plea bargaining will be expanded to cover aggravated narcotics offences, aggravated robberies and aggravated human trafficking. A person suspected of an offence can receive a more lenient sentence by confessing to their act, which speeds up and eases the judicial process.
13 May 2026 · passed without a vote - HE 188/2025 vpPassed with amendments
Speeding up criminal proceedings
The handling of criminal cases will be streamlined and expedited across the entire criminal process chain, from pre-trial investigation to court. More criminal cases can be resolved in written proceedings without an oral hearing or in the absence of the defendant.
9 Apr 2026 · passed without a vote - HE 220/2022 vpPassed
Improving assistance for trafficking victims
Victims of trafficking will receive help and support directly based on their own needs regardless of the progress of criminal investigations. The continuation of assistance will no longer depend on whether charges are brought or a conviction is secured.
15 Dec 2022 · 1 vote93 jaa65 ei - HE 217/2022 vpPassed with amendments
Reforming coercive measures in criminal investigations
Coercive measures used by the police and other authorities in criminal investigations will be clarified and made more effective. At the same time, the protection of fundamental rights for persons subjected to coercive measures and victims of crime will be improved.
16 Mar 2023 · passed without a vote - HE 144/2022 vpPassed with amendments
Faster processing of offences against children
The investigation and processing of violent and sexual offences against children will be made urgent throughout the criminal process. In court, the main hearing in these cases must be initiated no later than 30 days after the case is brought before the court.
20 Dec 2022 · passed without a vote - HE 131/2022 vpPassed
Reimbursing legal costs of wellbeing services county employees
Employees of wellbeing services counties and joint county authorities for wellbeing services would be entitled to reimbursement of their legal costs if criminal charges or compensation claims brought against them in relation to their work duties are dismissed. The amendment would put wellbeing services county personnel in the same position as municipal employees.
28 Oct 2022 · passed without a vote - HE 178/2018 vpPassed with amendments
Converting repeated fines into imprisonment
Unpaid fines of persons repeatedly committing fine-level offences, such as shoplifting, can in future be converted into imprisonment. If a person has received at least six fines in the preceding year, new offences will be dealt with directly in court instead of through the summary police penal order procedure.
18 Feb 2019 · 2 votes154 jaa22 ei - HE 177/2018 vpPassed with amendments
Improving rights of underage suspects
Legal safeguards for underage suspects and defendants will be strengthened in criminal proceedings. The obligation of authorities to inform minors of their rights and to offer protection will be increased.
28 Feb 2019 · passed without a vote - HE 200/2017 vpPassed with amendments
Streamlining court proceedings and remote connections
Court procedures will be streamlined to speed up trials and reduce costs. Participation in hearings via video link will be permitted more widely than before, and cases can be decided by smaller panels of judges.
9 May 2018 · 1 voteOnly vote · 2. lakiehdotus, 8 luvun 3 §, mietintö / Tavio
104 jaa61 ei - HE 29/2017 vpPassed with amendments
Enhancing evidence gathering across EU countries
The gathering of evidence for criminal investigations between EU countries will be streamlined through the introduction of a common European Investigation Order. The new procedure speeds up cross-border legal assistance and makes it more binding on authorities than before.
19 Jun 2017 · passed without a vote - HE 99/2016 vpPassed
Strengthening legal safeguards for criminal suspects
The right of a criminal suspect to counsel and to notify family members or close associates of deprivation of liberty will be strengthened in pre-trial investigations. In addition, the court will be able to withhold a legal counsel's fee entirely if there have been very serious deficiencies in handling the case.
14 Oct 2016 · passed without a vote - HE 66/2015 vpPassed with amendments
Improving protection and rights of crime victims
The right of crime victims to receive information, support and protection during criminal proceedings would be strengthened. Victims of serious crimes would, among other things, be granted the right to receive notification upon request when an offender is released from prison.
21 Dec 2015 · passed without a vote - HE 39/2015 vpPassed with amendments
Establishing a register of legal interpreters
An official register of qualified legal interpreters will be established in Finland. The register will help authorities and members of the public find high-quality interpretation assistance for trials and other legal proceedings.
7 Dec 2015 · passed without a vote