REVIEWED ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF VARIOUS AUTHORITIES AND THEIR DISCRETIONARY SCOPE, THE MAIN PRINCIPLES AND RULES GOVERNING THE CRIMINAL PROCESS, AND SENTENCING OPTIONS. APPENDIXES INCLUDE CRIME RATE STATISTICS AND MAPS. THE FINNISH COUNTERPART TO DIVERSION, CALLED THE 'WAIVING OF MEASURES,' (WAIVING THE CRIME REPORT, DROPPING CHARGES, AND DISCHARGING CASES) IS DISCUSSED. THE LEGAL AND FACTUAL EXTENT OF DIVERSION IN FINLAND IS REPORTED, AND FINNISH DIVERSION IS COMPARED WITH PRACTICES IN OTHER NORDIC COUNTRIES. DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE WAIVING OF MEASURES IS DISCUSSED, AND THE PROS AND CONS OF DIVERSIONARY SCHEMES ARE EVALUATED IN VIEW OF RECENT CRIMINAL LAW REFORMS. DISCUSSION ALSO FOCUSES ON THE TREATMENT OF YOUNG OFFENDERS, 18 TO 20 YEARS, WHICH IS CONTROVERSIAL IN FINLAND SINCE PERSONS OF THAT AGE ARE LEGALLY ADULTS BUT ADJUDICATED AS JUVENILES. A RECENT REFORM PROPOSAL WOULD TREAT ALL OFFENDERS 18 YEARS OR OLDER AS ADULT OFFENDERS. PRESENT LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR THESE YOUTHS AS WELL AS REFORM PROPOSALS ARE REVIEWED, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF FINNISH PENAL POLICY SINCE 1889 IS PRESENTED ALONG WITH ITS RAMIFICATIONS FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE. IDEOLOGICAL TRENDS ARE FURTHER ILLUSTRATED IN AN APPENDIX REVIEWING A SEMINAR ON THE TREATMENT OF YOUNG ADULT OFFENDERS. ALL THREE PAPERS INCLUDE FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES. (PAP)