Finland plans high-security youth care unit costing €1,500 per day

A proposed secure youth care facility in Liminka, Finland, would cost an estimated €1,500 per day to operate, according to state-run school homes project manager Janne Alanko. The unit is intended for violent and criminal minors who cannot be helped in existing child welfare institutions.

The facility, described in public debate as a “children’s prison,” would differ from current high-support units by allowing placements of up to 18 months—far longer than the current maximum of three months. Alanko told national broadcaster Yle that while the unit would incorporate prison-like security measures, such as reinforced fencing and restricted movement, it would not have bars on windows or prison walls.

“We aim to create as homelike an environment as possible,” Alanko said, noting that residents would attend school and receive therapy. The goal is to gradually reduce restrictions and eventually transition youth out of the facility.

The project requires legislative changes currently under review by Parliament’s Social Affairs and Health Committee. If approved, the unit could open in 2027 within existing buildings at Liminka’s state school home, which already meets most operational requirements.

Alanko cited Finland’s ongoing challenges with “hatkanuoret” (runaway youth) as part of the rationale, explaining that the facility’s design would prevent escapes. The daily cost estimate exceeds that of state psychiatric hospitals, which average around €1,000 per day.