Complaints
A request for reconsideration may be submitted to the Office of the Prosecutor General regarding a decision made by a prosecutor. An administrative complaint may be lodged concerning a prosecutor’s conduct or procedure. Both types of complaints may be submitted using the same form or in free‑form written format. Note that the complaint form is only available in Finnish and Swedish, and the Office of the Prosecutor General only accepts complaints in these languages.
Request for reconsideration
By submitting a request for reconsideration, a complainant may ask the Prosecutor General to re‑evaluate a case that has already been decided by a local prosecutor. A request for reconsideration may be submitted, for example, if there is an error in the decision made by the local prosecutor.
Anyone may submit a complaint containing a request for reconsideration. The Prosecutor General will assess whether there are grounds for amending the prosecutor’s decision.
Mere dissatisfaction with the prosecutor’s decision is not sufficient grounds for the case to be re-evaluated.
Administrative complaint concerning a prosecutor’s conduct
An administrative complaint may be submitted regarding a prosecutor’s conduct if the prosecutor has not acted lawfully or in accordance with their duties.
A complaint concerning a prosecutor’s conduct may be submitted even if no change to the prosecutor’s decision is requested at the same time.
Complaints regarding the legality of a prosecutor’s conduct may also be submitted to the Parliamentary Ombudsman or the Chancellor of Justice, both of whom supervise the legality of all public authorities. However, they do not have the power to amend decisions made by prosecutors.
Possible outcomes of a complaint
On the basis of a request for reconsideration, the Prosecutor General may, for example, overturn a decision not to prosecute and order that charges be brought.
An administrative complaint concerning a prosecutor’s conduct may result in guidance being issued to the prosecutor regarding correct procedure, or in a formal reprimand. An administrative complaint may also lead to the matter being transferred to disciplinary or criminal proceedings.
If, on the basis of a complaint, there is a need to assess whether a prosecutor may have committed an offence in office, the matter will be transferred by the Prosecutor General to the police or to the Chancellor of Justice or the Parliamentary Ombudsman, who act as prosecutors in cases concerning offences committed by prosecutors in office.
Scope of authority of the Prosecutor General
As the highest prosecuting authority, the Prosecutor General has the right to take a case decided by a subordinate prosecutor for re-evaluation. The Prosecutor General may also review a prosecutor’s decision or conduct on their own initiative.
Supervision of other authorities
The Prosecutor General may supervise only the activities of subordinate prosecutors and other personnel of the National Prosecution Authority. The supervision of police is handled by local police departments and the National Police Board. However, if a police officer is suspected of having committed an offence, the pre‑trial investigation is led by a prosecutor.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman and the Chancellor of Justice supervise the legality of the actions of all public authorities.
Read more about criminal matters involving the police.
Submitting a complaint
Submit a complaint using the online form in Finnish or in Swedish.
The form is provided via the Turvalomake service. Submitting a complaint and its attachments online is secure, as the form is completed and transmitted in a protected manner to the National Prosecution Authority.
Please read the instructions for completing the form carefully. You will receive notification at the provided address regarding how your complaint has been resolved.
If for any reason you are unable to submit the electronic form, you may print the form and submit it by email to valtakunnansyyttaja.syyttaja[at]oikeus.fi. The form may also be submitted by mail.
If necessary, you may also submit a complaint by letter or by other free‑form written communication. Note, however, that the complaint must still be submitted in Finnish or Swedish. You may consult a legal assistant for help.