Justice Minister Leena Meri wants to find out about changing the age limit for criminal responsibility – 2024-04-06 22:28:50

Justice Minister Leena Meri (ps) says she will comment on the matter at a general level. Karoliina Vuorenmäki

Should criminal liability apply to children under the age of 15?

Calculating the minimum age should be clarified and seriously considered, Justice Minister Leena Meri (ps) tells Uutissuomalai.

According to Mere, criminal responsibility could be looked at, for example, in relation to the child’s level of development. In practice, it would be a question of how well the child has been able to understand the consequences of his actions.

– I would hope that we could find out if there could be some kind of sanction in addition to child protection, Meri says to Uutissuomalainne (USU).

In Finland, a person under the age of 15 cannot be sentenced to criminal sanctions such as fines or imprisonment. A person under the age of 15 can be held liable for damages.

Meri believes that the reform of the legislation could make the work of the authorities easier.

– The police have long hoped to expand the possibility of coercive measures so that it would be easier to investigate crimes committed by children and young people and break the cycle of crime, Meri tells USU.

After the school shooting in Viertola, Vantaa, there has been a discussion in Finland about changing the minimum age for criminal responsibility. In Viertola’s case, the perpetrator and all three victims are 12 years old.

Meri tells Uutissuomalai that as a minister, she cannot take a stand on an unfinished case. He says that he is commenting on the matter on a general level.