Prosecutions, sentences and punishments 2024

Around 50,000 sentences were passed in courts of first instance in 2024

03/06/2026 release

According to Statistics Finland, courts of first instance issued 49,868 criminal convictions in 2024, which is four per cent fewer than in 2023. Examined by main offence, traffic offences decreased most in absolute numbers. By contrast, sentences for offences against life and health increased most.

Correction

The data of the statistics corrected on 19.8.2026.

Correction

Database tables corrected on 17.6.2026.

Change

New database tables replacing old tables have been published in the statistics 3.6.2026.

Key selections

In 2024, most of the sentences passed in courts of first instance concerned property offences (31%) and traffic offences (29%).
Eighty-one per cent of the persons sentenced in courts of first instance were men and 19 per cent women. More than one-half of those sentenced were aged 25 to 49.
Around 5,500 unconditional imprisonment sentences were passed, which is one per cent more than one year earlier. Thirteen sentences of life imprisonment were passed, four more than in 2023.
District courts issued approximately 32,000 fines. Close on 33,000 fines were sentenced by a summary penal order, and the number of fine orders issued by the police was 76,600.
Part of the decisions in courts of first instance in 2024 were obtained from the new system (AIPA system) which must be taken into account when comparing data from different years. However, based on analyses and comparisons conducted, the impacts of the system renewal seem to be minor.

Database tables

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

Updated database tables

126v

Petty fines by sex, age and amount of fine(External link)

Updating frequency:

year

Statistics:

Prosecutions, sentences and punishments

Updated:

03/06/2026

12cj

First court instance fine sentences and summary penal orders and fine orders by amount and number of day fines, gender, age and group of offence(External link)

Updating frequency:

year

Statistics:

Prosecutions, sentences and punishments

Updated:

03/06/2026

13re

Prison sentences by length of total sentence, gender, age and group of offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance)(External link)

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year

Statistics:

Prosecutions, sentences and punishments

Updated:

03/06/2026

New database tables

15hh

No. of sentences by citizenship, place of residence and offence (dist. cts. and courts of appeal as first court instance, summary penal orders and fine orders and petty fines)(External link)

Updating frequency:

year

Statistics:

Prosecutions, sentences and punishments

Updated:

03/06/2026

15hi

Key figs. from sentences by citizenship, place of residence and offence (dist. cts. and courts of appeal as first court instance, SPOs and fine orders and petty fines)(External link)

Updating frequency:

year

Statistics:

Prosecutions, sentences and punishments

Updated:

03/06/2026

15dh

Number of sentences by district court and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance)(External link)

Updating frequency:

year

Statistics:

Prosecutions, sentences and punishments

Updated:

03/06/2026

15di

Key figures from sentences by district court and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance)(External link)

Updating frequency:

year

Statistics:

Prosecutions, sentences and punishments

Updated:

03/06/2026

15df

Number of sentences by gender, age and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance, summary penal orders and fine orders and petty fines)(External link)

Updating frequency:

year

Statistics:

Prosecutions, sentences and punishments

Updated:

03/06/2026

15dg

Key figures from sentences by gender, age and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance, summary penal orders and fine orders and petty fines)(External link)

Updating frequency:

year

Statistics:

Prosecutions, sentences and punishments

Updated:

03/06/2026

Removed database tables

Future releases

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Referencing instructions

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Prosecutions, sentences and punishments [online publication].

Reference period: 2024. ISSN=2343-1679. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [Referenced: 21.8.2026].

Access method:

Contact information

Service email

rikos@stat.fi

Inquiries primarily

Katri Lepikkö

Senior Statistician

029 551 3223

Other experts

Pekka Hänninen

Senior Statistician

029 551 2606

Head of Department in charge

Harri Lehtinen

Head of Department in charge

029 551 3403

Around 50,000 sentences were passed in courts of first instance in 2024

Correction

Correction

Change

Key selections

Database tables

Petty fines by sex, age and amount of fine(External link)

First court instance fine sentences and summary penal orders and fine orders by amount and number of day fines, gender, age and group of offence(External link)

Prison sentences by length of total sentence, gender, age and group of offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance)(External link)

No. of sentences by citizenship, place of residence and offence (dist. cts. and courts of appeal as first court instance, summary penal orders and fine orders and petty fines)(External link)

Key figs. from sentences by citizenship, place of residence and offence (dist. cts. and courts of appeal as first court instance, SPOs and fine orders and petty fines)(External link)

Number of sentences by district court and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance)(External link)

Key figures from sentences by district court and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance)(External link)

Number of sentences by gender, age and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance, summary penal orders and fine orders and petty fines)(External link)

Key figures from sentences by gender, age and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance, summary penal orders and fine orders and petty fines)(External link)

Sentences by citizenship, place of residence and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance, summary penal orders and fine orders and petty fines)

Sentences by district court and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance)

Sentences by gender, age and offence (district courts and courts of appeal as first court instance, summary penal orders and fine orders and petty fines)

Future releases

Referencing instructions

Further information about the statistics

Related topics

Contact information

Inquiries primarily

Other experts

Head of Department in charge