Finland to open first secure child welfare unit for violent and criminal youth

Finland will establish its first secure child welfare facility in Liminka, designed for young people who commit crimes or engage in violent behaviour, public broadcaster Yle reports.

The unit, set to open in 2027, aims to break cycles of youth offending that current child protection measures have failed to address. Unlike traditional facilities, it will restrict residents’ movement to prevent escapes, though officials stress it is neither a prison nor a mental health institution.

“This is a secure unit, but it remains a child welfare facility,” said Janne Alanko, project manager for state-run children’s homes. “People have asked if it’s a prison or psychiatric rehabilitation—it’s neither.”

The planned reform of Finland’s Child Welfare Act will require state children’s homes to provide secure care. Liminka, in Northern Ostrobothnia, was selected due to its recently renovated facilities and existing infrastructure. One of the country’s five state-run children’s homes is already located there, though only one or two units will initially operate under the new secure model.

Alanko noted that while violent or criminal youth are already placed in child protection facilities, current services lack sufficient support to intervene in harmful behavioural patterns. The new unit will differ primarily in its movement restrictions and the option for indefinite placements—unlike today’s system, which only allows temporary emergency care in life-threatening situations.

Liminka’s municipal director, Pekka Rajala, welcomed the decision, calling the location “well-suited” and expressing hope for new local jobs. The facility will be self-sufficient, providing all necessary services without relying on municipal resources.

Planning is underway, though the legal framework is still being finalised. Authorities aim to launch operations quickly, with potential expansions or similar units in other regions in the future.