We are currently developing the documentation of statistics. At the moment, the content is not necessarily up-to-date in all respects.
Decisions by district courts in civil cases: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Decisions by district courts in civil cases
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics have been discontinued. These statistics on civil cases describe civil cases instigated and decided by district courts during the year by district court and type of case. Civil cases refer to the settling of disputes between private persons or enterprises at an independent court. As a rule a civil case is instigated when the plaintiff presents a written application for a summons expressing the demands and the grounds to them to the office of a district court. An application for a summons may also be presented electronically. The biggest group of civil cases handled by district courts concern obligations between debtors and creditors, sales of movable property, employment contracts or commissions, and tenancy agreements. Non-contentious civil cases are instigated with an application in which the court is requested to confirm an action or record a matter in a public register. Examples of non-contentious civil cases are divorces, cases concerning the custody of or right of access to a child, and guardianship cases.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Appeal
Mode of appeal against a decision of a court or an administrative authority that is not yet final.
Application for re-trial
Application for re-trial is a mode of appeal against a judgment by default. A defendant against whom a judgment by default has been issued has the right to appeal against the decision within 30 days of being served with it. In this event, the matter is taken up for a hearing, so that it can be dealt with in detail and all evidence can be admitted.
Case processing time
Case processing time refers to the time elapsed until the case has been decided. The time is counted from the day the case was filed to the day of the decision.
Civil matter
Civil matters are disputes between private persons or enterprises which are settled impartially in a court of justice. Civil matters may deal with compensation for damages, annulment of purchase or validity of contracts. District Courts also decide on undisputed demands for payment and evictions.
Commencement of proceedings
Proceedings in a civil matter or a criminal matter commence and the case becomes pending in a general court when the application for a summons is filed with the registry of the court. In administrative judicial matters, the proceedings commence and the case becomes pending when e.g. the appeal document is filed with the registry of the administrative court.
Defendant
The party against whom a case is brought. The Finnish term "vastaaja" (defendant) was earlier used only in civil matters and in criminal matters concerning minor offences, but it can now be used in all civil and criminal matters.
Judgment by default
A judgment by default, or a biased judgment, must be issued in a case in which settlement is allowed if the defendant is absent from the hearing or has not provided the requested written response detailing his/her response to the demands.
Judgment phase
The court procedure in civil law cases is divided into two phases, preparation and main hearing. Preparation is further divided into written preparation and oral preparation during a preparatory session.
Petitionary matter
A petitionary matter is a matter in which a court's authorisation is requested for some action or the listing of some action into a public register. A petitionary matter is instituted by way of petition or notification. Petitionary matters are resolved at the office of a district court if no-one opposes the petition or, if the parties disagree, in a district court hearing.
Plaintiff
A party who brings a civil matter to court. The term may also be used for an injured party who institutes the private prosecution of a criminal matter in court.
Work account
The work account refers to cases pending during the year. It shows cases transferred from the previous year, cases which have arrived during the year, solved cases, and cases transferred to the following year. Cases transferred from the previous year have been instituted before the statistical year. Cases transferred to the following year have arrived during the statistical year or earlier and have not been decided yet.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information:
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data.
Further information: The terms of use for statistical data
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (eur-lex.europa.eu) and the Finnish Data Protection Act (Finlex.fi) are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (Finlex.fi).
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection