Finland to improve treatment of crime victims with police checklist

Finland is launching a new program to improve how authorities handle crime victims, with police set to receive a checklist for victim interactions, Yle reports.

The initiative comes as officials acknowledge inconsistent practices in victim support. Justice Ministry advisor Venla Roth said the goal is to ensure sensitive treatment regardless of where or by whom a crime is investigated.

Police will incorporate guidelines on victim interactions into their interrogation manuals, with a checklist added to questioning forms. The program involves prosecutors, public defenders, court officials, and social and healthcare services.

Leena-Kaisa Åberg of the Victim Support Finland (RIKU) organization said Finland lags behind international standards, citing gaps in risk assessment systems and excessive delays in criminal proceedings. Victims are often not interviewed by police until a year after the crime.

Åberg noted many victims mistakenly believe their cases are already resolved, and that insufficient videorecording of initial police interviews compounds problems when trials occur years later.

RIKU reports that 75% of its clients are women, with domestic and sexual violence victims forming the largest group, followed by a rise in online fraud cases.