Violence – Mediation in criminal and civil cases

No changes in the total number of cases referred to mediation

In 2024, a total of 10,604 mediation initiatives nationwide were referred to criminal and civil case mediation provided by mediation offices under the Mediation Act (1015/2005). These initiatives included 14,546 cases in total (13,986 criminal and 560 civil cases). The data is based on the published statistics on criminal and civil cases.

Compared with 2023, the number of criminal cases referred to mediation increased by 0.3 percent (+35), while the number of civil cases decreased by 5.9 percent (–35). Overall, the total number of criminal and civil cases referred to mediation remained exactly the same as in the previous year (2023).

More than half of all cases referred to mediation involved violence

More than half (54.6%) of all criminal and civil cases referred to mediation were violent offences (7,944). A total of 2,606 cases of domestic violence were referred to mediation (2,635 in 2023), accounting for 17.9 percent of all referred cases.

The year 2024 is the last year in which domestic violence could be mediated in mediation offices. Mediation of domestic violence was restricted in the Mediation Act as of 1 January 2025.

The mediation process was not initiated in all referred cases

The mediation process was started in 57.2 percent (7,999) of all criminal cases referred to mediation in 2024. For civil cases, mediation was started in 47.5 percent (266) of cases.

Mediation was effective and the process ran smoothly

Of the completed mediation processes concerning criminal cases, 78.6 percent (5,512) resulted in an agreement. In completed civil case mediations, an agreement was reached in 66.8 percent (151) of cases.

The total monetary value of all agreements reached in mediation was approximately 2.7 million euros.
In 2024, the average duration of the mediation process was 74 days, of which half (37 days) was spent on assessing the prerequisites for mediation and half (37 days) on the mediation itself.

* Change in statistical data collection: the national information system Sopu was introduced. (Source: THL 2024.)

About the data in more detail

Since 2019, the data in the statistics has been extracted from the shared information system Sopu. Until 2018, area-specific data was collected using a separate form. Periods when data was collected using different methods are therefore not fully comparable.

• Read the full statistical report (partly in Finnish, Julkari)
• Mediation in criminal and civil cases by service area 2024 (in Finnish)

Background information

• Data description (in Finnish, Data resources catalogue)
• Previous statistics (2023, partly in Finnish, Julkari)

Source

Mediation in Criminal and Civil Cases 2024
Statistical Report 53/2024, 26 November 2025.
Official Statistics of Finland, Mediation in Criminal and Civil Cases. THL.

Description of the statistics

These statistics describe the number and nature of criminal and civil cases referred to mediation offices and their progress in the mediation process. It also describes the age and gender distribution of the parties, and cases occurring within a domestic context are specified separately.

The statistics provide information on the initiation and discontinuation of the mediation process as well as agreements reached through mediation. The geographical reference area covers the whole of Finland, including Åland.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (Stakes until 31 December 2008) has collected information and published the statistical report on mediation in criminal and civil cases since 2006. The published data always concerns the calendar year preceding the publication.

The aim has been to publish the information within six months after the end of the statistical calendar year. In recent years, however, the publication date has mostly fallen at the end of the calendar year following the statistical year due to production-related reasons.

Updating schedule

The statistics are published annually by the end of the year following the statistical year.