Conversionsentence for unpaid fines

A conversion sentence for unpaid fines is one of the forms of punishment used in Finland. If the collection of a fine imposed on a person has failed, the fine is converted into imprisonment by a new court decision. Each year, approximately 1,900 persons are sentenced to imprisonment for failing to pay their fines.

Conversion sentence for unpaid fines is unconditional. The most common offences leading to a conversion sentence are theft, driving while intoxicated and narcotics offences. The length of a conversion sentence is determined so that four unpaid unit fines correspond to one day of imprisonment. The sentence may range from a minimum of four days to a maximum of 40 days. On average, fine default prisoners serve 18 days in prison. These sentences may be served in either closed or open prisons.

Many fine default prisoners are unemployed, homeless and struggling with substance abuse. The conversion sentence for unpaid fines has been criticised within the Finnish penal system as the persons unable to pay fines are often the poorest and most socially excluded people in society.

Placing fine default prisoners in substance abuse treatment institutions

In order to reduce recidivism among fine default prisoners with substance abuse problems, the Prison and Probation Service may refer them to institutions outside the prison for treatment. Placement is arranged as soon as possible after the person enters prison. This process requires cooperation between the Prison and Probation Service, the Health Care Services for Prisoners, the municipalities, the wellbeing services counties and the substance abuse treatment institutions.

The decision on the placement is made by the head of the prison. Provisions on the placement in an outside institution are laid down in the Imprisonment Act according to which prisoners who are considered reliable may serve their sentence outside the prison. The placement institution and the measures required after conditional release are always agreed together with the prisoner’s municipality of residence or wellbeing services county.

The Prison and Probation Service covers the costs of the rehabilitation of fine default prisoner using a dedicated appropriation. Around 30 substance abuse treatment institutions have signed procurement agreements for the placement of prisoners.