Prosecutors seek prison sentences for inmates involved in Pyhäselkä prison escape in Finland

Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences ranging from 30 to 60 days for two men who escaped from the Pyhäselkä prison. One of the inmates has confessed to the act, while the other has not commented during the preliminary investigation. The escape occurred on October 31, 2022, during an outdoor exercise session. One of the men was apprehended on the same day, but the other was eluded authorities for nearly a week before being caught in Kerava during a property crime investigation.

According to the indictment, the inmates escaped by first climbing over a temporary fence and then up onto the roof of the prison building. From there, they descended to the ground on the opposite side of the building and climbed over two more fences to exit the facility. Neither of the inmates faced disciplinary actions within the prison for the escape.

The surveillance system at Pyhäselkä prison had been malfunctioning for about 1.5 years at the time of the escape. Atso Pesonen, the prison’s union representative, stated in the past that the necessary funding to repair the system had not been forthcoming. Mika Antikainen, the head of the Correctional Services’ Facility and Security Technology Unit, noted that delays in the renewal of the surveillance system were due to a global shortage of components. Nonetheless, funding for the system’s upgrade had already been approved earlier. On the day of the escape, the prison was understaffed due to illnesses.

The Pyhäselkä prison, located in North Karelia about 25 kilometers from Joensuu, was transformed into a “smart prison” in 2023.