No decline in use of mediation in criminal and civil cases in 2020
Mediation went online during the Coronavirus epidemic, but this had no effect on the number of mediation initiatives. The number of criminal and civil matters referred for mediation grew slightly last year. Nearly half of all matters referred for mediation involved crimes of violence.
Initiatives referred for mediation and the criminal and civil matters extracted from them 2007-2020. From 2019 the data has been taken from a new data system, which makes it more difficult to compare the data with that of previous years.
The number of crimes and civil cases referred for mediation increased by three percent from the previous year. A total of 10,021 mediation referrals were made in 2020. They included 13,073 criminal cases and 688 civil matters. One mediation referral may involve several different offences.
However, the percentages of mediation launches declined slightly in civil cases, as did the percentages of cases in which a settlement was reached, both in criminal and civil matters. Last year 66 percent of mediations in criminal cases, and 48 percent of civil mediations launched last year concluded with a settlement.
“It appears that the coronavirus epidemic has not reduced the need for mediation in Finland. “We initiated online mediation, which enabled us to offer the service without a physical meeting”, notes Henrik Elonheimo, Development Manager for Victim-Offender Mediation and Restorative Justice at THL.
The police continued to issue most of the mediation referrals - 91 percent. The second-most common initiator of mediation was a prosecutor.
More than half of all criminal and civil cases referred for mediation were for crimes of violence
Last year 53 percent of all criminal and civil cases referred for mediation involved crimes of violence, such as assaults or illegal threats. The proportion of intimate partner crimes was 19 percent. Causing property damage and various crimes involving theft accounted for about 12 percent each.
“It would be possible to refer significantly more civil cases to mediation than is now being done”, Elonheimo says.
Distribution of crimes referred for mediation, and the proportion of civil cases in 2020.
Cost-effective alternative to legal proceedings
The processing of one criminal or civil case through mediation cost society an average €474 in 2020.
“When looking for alternatives to slow and costly court trials, we should keep in mind that mediation offices offer their services in different parts of Finland at no cost to the parties. Volunteer mediators comprise the foundation of our service”, Elonheimo says.
There are more volunteers mediating in criminal and civil matters than ever before. There are currently more than 1,400 mediators who have been trained for the task.
THL is responsible for the organisation and development of mediation services for criminal and civil cases nationwide. The service is provided by municipalities and organisations.
Further information:
Statistics for mediation in criminal and civil matters for 2020
Henrik Elonheimo
Development Manager
THL
tel. +358 29 524 6025
[email protected]
