Substance abuse rehabilitation instead of prison

You may be placed in substance abuse rehabilitation outside the prison if you:

• serve a conversion sentence for unpaid fines or a short prison sentence;
• have a substance abuse problem; and
• want to commit to rehabilitation.

In a substance abuse treatment institution, you have to comply with the conditions of the placement. For example, you have to participate in the activities of the institution and give permission for the exchange of information between different authorities.

How can you get into substance abuse rehabilitation instead of prison?

The Prison and Probation Service has made agreements with various substance abuse treatment institutions. The decision on your placement will be based on, among other things:

• your own preference for the institution;
• the services you need and the services available in the institution;
• the opinion of your municipality of residence or wellbeing services county on the institution;
• the distance of the institution from the prison and the number of vacant places in the institution.

If you want to serve your sentence in substance abuse rehabilitation instead of prison, it is a good idea to start preparing for it before you go to prison. Early preparations can be started together with you, the probation office, the prison and representatives of your wellbeing services county. The preparations can also be started in prison.

You can ask if serving your prison sentence in substance abuse rehabilitation is an option by calling the nationwide advice line at +358 29 568 7055 or by sending an e-mail to rise.kuntoutus@om.fi.