The Supreme Prosecutor

According to the Constitution of Finland, the Prosecutor General, who is the supreme prosecutor in Finland, heads the prosecution service. The Prosecutor General is independent in his/her task, also from the Government and the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice however decides on the financial resources of the prosecution service.   

Duties

The Prosecutor General has numerous statutory duties. These include

• the direction and development of the prosecution service and
• the supervision of the subordinate prosecutors,
• the appointment of the prosecutors,
• participation in the drafting of legislation pertaining to the prosecutors,
• the issue of general guidelines for the prosecutors,
• the taking over of a case of a subordinate prosecutor or the assignation to a subordinate prosecutor of a case where the Prosecutor General has ordered a charge to be brought,
• the representation of the prosecutors in the Supreme Court and
• the Prosecutor General prosecutes in the High Court of Impeachment if the Parliament decides that charges are to be brought against the President of the Republic or against a Member of the Government.

Prosecutor General Matti Nissinen
(Photo: Johanna Lampinen/Mikkelin Valokuvausliike Oy

Updated on 2nd January 2012