Syyttäjän on tehtävä päätös syyttämättä jättämisestä, jos:

1. syytteen nostamiselle 6 §:n 1 momentissa säädetyt edellytykset eivät täyty;
2. hän jättää syytteen nostamatta 6 §:n 2 momentin nojalla;
3. asianomistaja ei ole tehnyt syyttämispyyntöä tai muu 2 §:n 2 momentissa tarkoitettu syytteen nostamiselle säädetty erityinen edellytys ei täyty ja asian laatu vaatii erillisen päätöksen tekemistä.

Päätös syyttämättä jättämisestä on perusteltava. Perusteluista on ilmettävä ne seikat ja todisteet sekä näytön arviointi ja oikeudellinen päättely, joihin päätös perustuu.

The prosecutor must make a decision not to bring charges if:

1. the conditions for bringing charges laid down in section 6(1) are not met;
2. the prosecutor decides not to bring charges under section 6(2); or
3. the injured party has not made a request for prosecution, or another special condition for bringing charges referred to in section 2(2) is not met, and the nature of the matter requires a separate decision.

A decision not to prosecute must be reasoned. The reasons must set out the circumstances and evidence, the assessment of the evidence, and the legal reasoning on which the decision is based.

This English translation is unofficial. The Finnish statutory text is authoritative.

This provision distinguishes situations where the legal conditions for prosecution are not met from cases where the prosecutor exercises statutory discretion not to bring charges despite the conditions in section 6(1) being met. It also addresses cases where a victim’s request for prosecution or another special statutory prerequisite is missing, provided the nature of the matter calls for a separate decision.

Where a decision not to prosecute is made, the reasons must identify the relevant circumstances and evidence, explain how the evidence was assessed, and set out the legal reasoning. The provision does not mean every procedural ending necessarily requires a separate reasoned decision: subsection 1(3) expressly refers to whether the nature of the matter requires a separate decision in that category.

This is a rule about the prosecutor’s decision and reasons, not a judicial finding of guilt or innocence. The precise legal basis for a decision must be read from the decision itself and assessed against the applicable statutory provisions.

• Was a decision not to bring charges made, and which of the statutory grounds was relied upon?
• Was the decision based on failure to meet the charging conditions, discretionary waiver, or the absence of a victim’s request or another special prerequisite?
• Where a reasoned decision was required, does it identify the material circumstances and evidence, assessment of evidence, and legal reasoning?
• If no separate decision was made because a request or other prerequisite was absent, does the file explain why the nature of the matter did not require a separate decision?

These questions help structure a file review; they do not determine the answer in any individual case without the relevant documents.

Finlex — Laki oikeudenkäynnistä rikosasioissa (689/1997), current consolidated statute

Finlex — Government Bill HE 58/2013, background to the statutory duty to give reasons

Finnish text checked against the current consolidated statute available on Finlex on 12 October 2026.