The activities arranged in prisons consist of work, education or other activities promoting the readiness of the prisoner. Their purpose is to promote the placement of the prisoner in society.

Participation in activities advances a prisoner’s abilities to live without crime, maintains or improves his or her work skills and competence as well as working and functioning capacity, and supports substance-free lifestyle. The prisoner is obliged to participate in activities arranged or approved by the prison at the confirmed working or activity hours.

Activities corresponding to the goals are planned together with the prisoner in a sentence plan, which, in the case of prisoners serving a longer sentence, is based on a risk and needs assessment made in the assessment centre. The assessment determines those factors that can be influenced and, thus, reduce the prisoner’s risk of recidivism. The aim is to influence the problems related to the prisoner’s life control, education history, and working and functioning capacity emerged in the assessment by placing him or her in a suitable activity. Prisoners are often in need of activities that, in particular, aim to decrease the use of intoxicating substances. In order to ensure the continuation of the activities in freedom, co-operation especially with the authorities of the prisoner’s municipality of residence is important.

Prisoners in activities in 2009

In 2009, the daily average of prisoners participating in activities was 1 668, which was slightly less than in the previous year.

On certain conditions, it is possible for a prisoner to work or study outside the prison. A prisoner can also be placed in rehabilitation outside the prison for a short period time.