Finland's criminal justice system is based on the Code of Judicial Procedure and the Criminal Code. Fundamental principles of criminal law encompass legality, equality, predictability, and proportionality. Criminal justice policy emphasizes deterrence which is related to the certainty and severity of punishment. An offense is punishable only if committed intentionally, not through negligence. Finnish criminal law recognizes self-defense and corporate liability and identifies the age of criminal responsibility as 15 years. The Police Administration Act regulates police organization, functions, rights, and duties. Finnish criminal law includes the Pretrial Investigation Act and other legislation that deals with coercive measures in criminal proceedings, and criminal law also covers victim-offender reconciliation and prosecution. Court procedures are based on the Code of Judicial Procedure. Finland's criminal justice system incorporates provisions on defendant and victim rights to legal counsel, appeals, sentencing and sanctions, the prison system, and parole and offender aftercare. Criminal Code reform and the importance of international cooperation in preventing crime are discussed. Statistics on the operation of Finland's criminal justice system between 1950 and 1990 are tabulated. An annex contains chapter headings of the Finnish Criminal Code. 13 references, 76 footnotes, and 1 table