Combination sentence

A combination sentence can be imposed on a person, who has committed a new serious offence and is deemed particularly dangerous to the life, health, or freedom of another. The Criminal Sanctions Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the supervision term of a combination sentence.

The supervision term begins right after the term served in prison ends. The substance of the supervision term is determined, among other things, based on the prisoner’s individual risk assessment. The main obligations of the supervised person are to remain at his or her place of residence at set times, abstain from using intoxicating substances in events related to the supervision term, participate in rehabilitation or other activities, and submit to electronic monitoring by wearing, for instance, an ankle tag.

The aim of the supervision is to reduce the risk of committing new serious offences. Gradual release and its support help the sentenced person to reintegrate into society after the sentence term.

If the obligations of the supervision are seriously breached, the remainder of the supervision term may be converted into unconditional imprisonment. Due to the supervision term included in the combination sentence, the person serving the sentence is not entitled to conditional release and probationary liberty under supervision.

The combination sentence replaces the sentence served in full in prison, which is meant for recidivists who have committed serious offences. A combination sentence may be sentenced for an offence that has been committed after the legislation on combination sentence entered into force, i.e., after 1 January 2018.

Provisions on the combination sentence are laid down in chapter 2c, section 11 of the Criminal Code of Finland and in the Act on the Enforcement of Combination Sentences.