Oikeuskansleri

Summary

The Chancellor of Justice (Oikeuskansleri) is established by Constitution §108 and the Act on the Chancellor of Justice (193/2000). Appointed by the President, the Chancellor supervises legality of the Government, President, courts, and all public authorities including police and correctional services. The Chancellor may process complaints, conduct oversight visits, issue reprimands, and refer criminal matters to prosecutors. In practice the Chancellor and Parliamentary Ombudsman divide oversight by agreement: the Ombudsman has primary responsibility for prisons and closed institutions (as OPCAT NPM), while the Chancellor handles structural/systemic police legality oversight and Government oversight. No binding discipline authority; findings are advisory or may prompt prosecution referral.