Myths are broken in a history of Vaasa Prison

In his new book about the history of Vaasa Castle and the Finnish prison service, Vaasan linna 1863–2013 ja suomalaista vankeinhoitoa 1700-luvulta nykyaikaan, historian Jukka Muiluvuori suggests that the judicial system and the multi-level prison system played a significant role in suppressing the knife-fighters; a point the previous accounts have almost completely ignored. In addition to the 150 years of Vaasa Prison, the books provides a comprehensive review of the general evolution of the prison service.

People want prisons

While imprisonment as a punishment has met with strong criticism since the 19th century, less attention has been paid to the protection prisons offered to their inmates. Neither have prisons only been maintained for the protection of rulers or the suppression of the poor – ordinary people have shown just as much, if not more, support for prison sentences.

Since the 18th century, the prison service has been an integral part of the Finnish social welfare service, the final attempt for society to shut away its wayward members when all others have failed in their duty. Objectives of the prison service have remained largely un-changed since the 18th century, focusing on social and vocational rehabilitation and seek-ing to strengthen the prisoners' self-esteem.

Prisoner numbers controlled by necessities

At their largest, Finnish prisons have incarcerated over 10,000 inmates. Currently the number of prisoners stands at just over 3,000. The structure of the prison population has also changed dramatically. Today, the majority of prisoners are serving for homicide, vio-lent crimes and narcotics offences, while previously these accounted for a small minority of sentences. Penal labour, prisoners held in preventive detention and vagrants have disap-peared, there are only a small number of default prisoners or drunken drivers, and a only fraction of prisoners have been sentenced for property crimes.

Muiluvuori points out that the major reforms carried out in the prison service in the 1970s have often been explained by party politics, ideology and big ideals, even though economic and environmental reasons have been just as significant. For example, farming went into steep decline in the 1970s, preventing released prisoners from finding traditional rural em-ployment. Farming suffered from massive overproduction, which forced farmers to let their lad go fallow and send their cattle to slaughter.

Money talks – the long-term policy in the prison service

The prison service has always competed for the small pot of public funds with other social needs, and a few fat years have invariably been followed by austere times: savings have been forced, employee costs cut and fine plans come to nothing. In the 2010s, prisons are closed, technical surveillance is increased and new savings are effected whenever possible. Muiluvuori notes that the consequences closely reflect those seen before: hard pace, ill-being and less personal guidance and support for prisoners.

Jukka Muiluvuori: "Vaasan linna 1863 - 2013 ja suomalaista vankeinhoitoa 1700-luvulta nykyaikaan"
The book is richly illustrated with photographs, most of which have not been published before. The book is priced at EUR 50 (+ EUR 10 postage and packing). For orders, contact Vaasa Prison by email vaasa.vankila(at)om.fi or phone +358 50 389 1532.

Further information:

Jukka Muiluvuori, Researcher
muiluvuori(at)jippii.fi, tel. +358 50 412 0963,

Taina Nummela, Director, tel. +358 50 389 1508, taina.nummela(at)om.fi
Vaasa Prison and community service office

Usko Määttä, Media and Communications Manager, usko.maatta(at)om.fi, tel. +358 29 56 88570,
The Criminal Sanctions Agency