Request for an administrative review and complaint

The primary solution should be to discuss the issue or conflict with the staff. It is usually the quickest way to solve it.

If you feel that you have been treated inappropriately or suspect that an authority or a public official has not complied with the law or fulfilled the obligations, discuss the matter with the staff. You may also file a complaint to an authority that oversees legality.

The unit where you are placed can give you more detailed instructions on how to file a request for an administrative review or a complaint.

Request for an administrative review

If you think that an official of the Prison and Probation Service has made an incorrect decision, you may request an administrative review of the decision if it is eligible for such review.

Instructions for filing a request for an administrative review are included in the decision you received. The request for an administrative review has to be submitted in writing within seven days from the date you were informed of the decision. You can give your request for an administrative review to an official of the prison or the probation office, who will send the request forward. You can also send your request for an administrative review to the Prison and Probation Service by post or email.

The decisions of the Prison and Probation Service that are eligible for a request for an administrative review are listed in the Acts on the specific sanctions. The relevant provisions are:

• Imprisonment Act, chapter 20, section 1
• Remand Imprisonment Act, chapter 15, section 1
• Act on the Enforcement of Community Sanctions, section 86
• Act on Probationary Liberty Under Supervision, section 40
• Act on the Enforcement of Combination Sentences, section 35.

If you are not satisfied with the decision on your request for an administrative review, you may appeal against it to the Helsinki Administrative Court. The appeal instructions are attached to the decision you received. You may appeal against a decision of the Helsinki Administrative Court only if the Supreme Administrative Court grants you leave to appeal.

Complaint

If you think that the prison or an official has acted against the law, you may file a complaint on the matter. The complaint may concern the actions of an individual official or the authority. The complaint procedure is not generally meant for those decisions that are eligible for a request for an administrative review.

Filing a complaint

A complaint has to be filed in writing. Filing a complaint is cost-free. You may formulate the complaint freely in your native language.

A complaint concerning a matter dating back more than two years will not be admitted for examination. An exception may be made for a special reason.

The complaint has to include:

• the name and contact details of the complainant;
• the act or omission of the Prison and Probation Service or its official the complaint concerns;
• the grounds for considering the conduct of the Prison and Probation Service or an official to be wrong;
• the time when the act or omission happened;
• a mention if a complaint on the same matter has been filed elsewhere.

In addition, you should attach possible decisions on the matter and other relevant documents to the complaint.

Filing a complaint on behalf of another person

You may use an attorney or a counsel in filing a complaint. You may also file a complaint on behalf of someone else or together with others.

An attorney representing you has to produce a power of attorney or supply other credible proof of authorisation to represent you. If you do not deliver the power of attorney, you or the person representing you cannot be given information concerning the sentenced or imprisoned person.

Considering a complaint

The authority considering the complaint states in its decision whether or not the subject of the complaint (e.g. prison or official) has acted erroneously. The decision may, for example, draw the attention of the prison or official to the requirements of good administration or inform them of its view of lawful conduct. The prison or official may also be given an admonition regarding the matter. The decision on the complaint may not rescind or amend the given decisions.

You will be notified of the outcome of the complaint regardless of whether or not it requires any measures. No appeal may be made against the decision on the complaint.

Authorities overseeing the operations of the Prison and Probation Service

The legality of the operations of the Prison and Probation Service and its units and officials is overseen with the help of internal control, which is assigned to the Judicial Unit of the Development and Guidance Department of the Prison and Probation Service.

The main external authority overseeing the legality of the operations of the Prison and Probation Service is the Parliamentary Deputy Ombudsman. Other authorities overseeing legality include, among others, the Ombudsman for Equality and the Data Protection Ombudsman. The Ombudsman for Equality provides instructions and guidance if you suspect that you have been discriminated on the basis of, among others, gender, gender identity or expression of gender identity. The Data Protection Ombudsman oversees the legality of the processing of personal data and the realisation of the data protection rights of people.

The legality of the health care and medical treatment of the Health Care Services for Prisoners is overseen by the Regional State Administrative Agency of Northern Finland.

You may file a complaint on the same matter with more than one authority overseeing legality, but the complaint is generally investigated only by that authority where the matter was filed first.

Contact information of the authorities overseeing the operations of the Prison and Probation Service:

Prison and Probation Service
Street and postal address: Opastinsilta 12 C, 00520 Helsinki
Tel.: +358 29 56 88500 (switchboard) +358 29 56 88588 (registry)
Fax: +358 29 56 65440
Email: kirjaamo.rise(at)om.fi

Parliamentary Ombudsman
Postal address: Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, 00102 Eduskunta
Street address: Arkadiankatu 3, 2nd Floor, Helsinki
Tel.: +358 94 321 (switchboard), +358 9 432 3381 (registry) (Mon.–Fri. 9–15)
Fax: +358 09 432 2268
Email: oikeusasiamies(at)eduskunta.fi
Secured e-mail: https://turvaposti.eduskunta.fi/. Enter as the recipient: [email protected]

Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman
Postal address: PO Box 800, 00531 Helsinki
Street address: Lintulahdenkuja 4, 00530 Helsinki
Tel.: +358 29 566 6700 (switchboard), +358 29 566 6768 (registry)
General guidance for private persons: +358 29 566 6777 (Tue.–Thu. 9–11)
Fax: +358 29 566 6735
Email: tietosuoja(at)om.fi

Non-Discrimination Ombudsman
Postal address: PO Box 24, 00023 Government
Street address: Ratapihantie 9, Helsinki
Tel.: +358 295 666 800 (switchboard), +358 295 666 817 (customer service, Tue.–Thu. 10–12)
Fax: +358 29 566 6829
Email: yvv(at)oikeus.fi

Ombudsman for Equality
Postal address: PO Box 22, 00023 Government, Finland
Visiting address: Ratapihantie 9, Helsinki
Tel.: +358 29 566 6830 (switchboard), +358 295 666 840 (registry)
Helpline: +358 29 566 6842 (Mon.–Tue. 9–11 and Wed.–Thu. 13–15)
Email: tasa-arvo(at)oikeus.fi

Authorities overseeing prisoners’ health care services

Patient Ombudsman Sari Koskue

Postal address: c/o Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, 00271 Helsinki
Tel.: +358 29 524 5888
E-mail: [email protected] 

Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland
Postal address: PO Box 6, 13035 AVI, Finland
Street address: Linnankatu 3, Oulu
Tel.: +358 29 501 6000 (switchboard)
E-mail: [email protected]

National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health: Valvira
Postal address: P.O. Box 43, 00521 Helsinki
Street address: Ratapihantie 9, Helsinki
Tel.: +358 29 520 9111 (switchboard)
Fax: +358 29 520 9700
E-mail: [email protected]

Parliamentary Ombudsman
Postal address: Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, 00102 Eduskunta
Street address: Arkadiankatu 3, 2nd Floor, Helsinki
Tel.: +358 9 4321 (switchboard), +358 9 432 3381 (registry) (Mon.–Fri. 9–15)
Fax: +358 9 432 2268
E-mail: [email protected]
Secured e-mail: https://turvaposti.eduskunta.fi/. Enter as the recipient: [email protected]