Finland has commissioned a new prison facility in Oulu, representing a major shift in the country's detention infrastructure. The Oulu Ruskonselkä facility is part of a unique integrated security campus, co-locating prison, police, and court functions under a single operational umbrella. This consolidation aims to streamline judicial processes significantly. Prisoners no longer require transport to separate courthouses for hearings, as sessions can be conducted in an adjacent building connected by a corridor. Officials project annual savings approaching one million euros from reduced logistics and transfers.
The new prison replaces an aging facility in Oulu's city center that dates back to the 1880s. Unit Manager Ilkka Lämsä noted the old building, despite renovations, was not functional for modern pre-trial detention needs. The new complex, spanning approximately 32,000 square meters on a forested site ten kilometers from downtown, houses about 100 inmates across several small, segregated units. These units allow flexible placement for different prisoner groups, including men, women, minors, and pre-trial detainees, which is crucial for enforcing communication restrictions between co-defendants.
Finland's prison philosophy has evolved from punitive isolation to active rehabilitation. The new facility reflects this, with single-story, barrier-free living units designed for accessibility. Cell blocks feature individual cells with private bathrooms, a desk, television, and a window view. Common areas include a full kitchen, laundry, a small gym, and a classroom. Despite these amenities, the environment remains fundamentally restrictive, with all movement controlled by staff. The complex is already at capacity, with the old 86-bed facility holding around 100 inmates, a situation expected to continue, potentially requiring double occupancy in some new cells.
The integrated campus concept, decided upon after lengthy deliberation in the previous decade, was driven by parallel needs for new police and court premises in the region. While a full courthouse was ultimately built downtown, one courtroom remains on the campus. The total project cost for the entire security campus was under 130 million euros, below the initial 136 million euro estimate. The old prison site, containing Oulu's oldest stone building, is now for sale.
This development occurs within a broader Nordic context of penal reform focused on normalization and reintegration. Finland's incarceration rate remains among the lowest in Europe, a point of national policy pride. The Oulu model tests whether physical integration of justice services can improve procedural efficiency without compromising legal safeguards. The success of this approach will be closely watched by other municipalities considering similar consolidations. The practical test begins in the coming weeks as staff and inmates complete a rapid transition to the new building, a move necessitated by an inability to operate two facilities simultaneously.