ACCORDING TO FINNISH LAW, YOUTHS 15 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER APPEAR BEFORE ORDINARY ADULT COURTS, AS THERE ARE NO JUVENILE COURTS. THE SYSTEM, HOWEVER, INCLUDES SOME SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS: (1) IN LARGER CITIES, WHERE THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT HAS SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, YOUTHS GENERALLY APPEAR BEFORE THE SAME DEPARTMENT AND (2) TRIALS ALWAYS TAKE PLACE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WHEN THE YOUTH IS UNDER 18 AND OFTEN TAKE PLACE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WHEN THE YOUTH IS BETWEEN 18 AND 20. IN THE CHILDREN'S ACT OF 1936, A 'CHILD' REFERS TO A PERSON 16 OR 17 YEARS OF AGE, WHEREAS THE LAW ON YOUNG OFFENDERS COVERS YOUTHS 15 YEARS AND OLDER. THIS INCONSISTENCY IN LEGISLATION CONTRIBUTES TO THE NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE REFORM IN AREAS OF PRESENTENCE PERSONAL HISTORY INVESTIGATION, CASES NOT TO BE PROSECUTED, CASES TO BE DISMISSED, CONDITIONAL SENTENCING, AND JUVENILE IMPRISONMENT. THE STATISTICS ON YOUNG OFFENDERS CONCENTRATE ON TWO AGE CATEGORIES: 15 THROUGH 17 YEARS AND 18 THROUGH 20 YEARS. INDIVIDUALS UNDER 15 ARE NOT HELD CRIMINALLY ACCOUNTABLE AND THOSE 21 OR OLDER ARE REGARDED AS ADULTS. COMPARISON OF STATISTICS PROVIDED BY POLICE AND STATISTICS PROVIDED BY COURTS REVEALS A LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES REPORTED TO POLICE AND THE NUMBER DEALT WITH BY THE COURTS. THIS GAP IS PARTICULARLY LARGE IN THE CASE OF PROPERTY OFFENSES SINCE POLICE OFTEN DO NOT REPORT CASES OF PETTY THEFT TO THE PROSECUTOR. IN CONNECTION WITH OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON, THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO SETS OF STATISTICS ARE NOT LARGE. MAJOR OFFENSES COMMITTED BY YOUTHS ARE THEFT, DRUNKEN DRIVING, AND ASSAULT. FROM AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES PERPETRATED BY YOUTHS IN FINLAND IS LOW. GRAPHS AND TABLES ILLUSTRATE FINDINGS FOR VARIOUS OFFENSES. (KJM)