Meanwhile, in Finland, people who are involved in a pretty bad crime get a pretty bad sentence: a couple years in prison and a few grand fine. That sounds completely fair to me.

People who think that throwing everyone in corporate prisons is a good idea need their heads examined.

I don’t know the facts of this case, but if what Hank wrote is true, a guilty verdict of ‘non-aggravated’ (let’s ask the woman whether she thought this was aggravated or not), and they walk away after 1,8 months. I agree that the justice system in the Policed States of America is corrupt, racists, and broken, but Amnesty has a point. Something is rotten.

I read your blog post, and I see it connects to the heart of one of the most serious political problems in the Finnish society. I haven’t yet had time to read all the comments here, but I will sure read them next. Right now I just want to write down my initial thoughts just after reading this article that a friend of referred me to.

What you say is so true. It is so true, no words can express. Finnish justice system is absolutely corrupt to the bone in this sense, and as a Finn it makes me feel depressed, anxious and ashamed at the same time. Even guilty. Especially I am horrified by how men – especially the powerful and famous – escape their rape convictions with so disgustingly small sentences. There are numerous other cases than the ones in your article. For example:

http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/1135239476564 (in Finnish)
A 54-year-old police officer got 2.5 years in prison for raping a 15-year-old girl and €8,000 in damages. First off, just according to the law on police duties and rights in Finland, the police officers should behave themselves in a respectful manner both in their private and public lives. To me, this would logically mean of course that a police officer committing such serious crime should be sentenced both for the victim and for the public for desecrating his office. But no. The public prosecutor did not appeal the sentence.

This sentence is nothing but totally in line with some (all) previous convictions. The minimum penalty for rape is one year in prison, but there are many possible “mitigating circumstances” (yes, to a rape) that can make the crime something of a “lesser rape” – for example the victim being unconscious! I don’t even want to dwell into all these possible “mitigating circumstances” – they are so depressive and stupid – but you are not the first person to criticize them. They have indeed been reported by international human rights’ watch organizations such as Amnesty International before:

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1135239507838
Amensty International criticises Finnish rape legislation.

The real truth is actually even sadder. There are actually numerous cases where the perpetrator was sentenced only to a probational term and/or (even only) a fine – essentially letting them walk free; or even unharmed, if they happen to be economically well-off. It also seems, that certain district courts are especially nice on rapists, which just adds to how alarming the situation actually is.

I just hope, that in the future we can have some truly respectful decision-makers who would adjust the Finnish violence and rape legislation to internationally accepted humane standards. In the current reality I sadly don’t see any change forthcoming, as the Ministry of Justice has been totally deaf to the general public uproar that has been going on during the last decade or so, launching no inquiry to the possibility of increasing sentencing. Democracy? Maybe. Justice? Hell no!

Lets say one of the defendants does not have dreadlocks…

And yes indeed, there was a case nearly 15 years ago and now another. I detect a pattern – almost as clear as with Finnish girlfriend-killers in Brazil.

Phil, have you heard of this guy?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Thomas_(HIV_infector)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j99Kbz_J2FM

Guess who was there.