Status of a child and a young person in the trial

On this website will be explained how the fact that one of the persons involved in the present case is a minor is taken into account in the courts and trials.

Despite your status as a minor, you have the same rights in court as adults. These include:

  • the right to know and understand how the matter concerns you,
  • the right to know and understand what rights you have in that matter,
  • the right to know and understand how the case is proceeding,
  • the right to be treated objectively and kindly,
  • the right help from an adult who can take care of the matter for you and in your interest,
  • the right to express your own opinion or not doing that,
  • the right to know and understand the impact that your position may have, including on loved ones,
  • the right to the assistance of the legal counsel and support person, free of charge where appropriate,
  • the right to interpretation and translation of documents, free of charge where appropriate,
  • the right to know and understand how and on what grounds the matter has been decided and the consequences thereof, and
  • the court knows and understands how to get the matter reviewed.

You have the right to use Finnish or Swedish according to your choice.

If you do not speak and understand Finnish or Swedish, you are usually entitled to free interpretation as a minor.

You have the right to interpretation arranged by the court if you speak sign-language or if interpretation is necessary due to sensory or speech problems.

In addition to these, there are rules that specifically take minors into account. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide specific protection for minors. The underlying idea is that minors cannot be treated in the same way and that the same things and skills as adults cannot be expected of minors. For this reason:

  • the matter should be examined specifically from the perspective of the minor, i.e. the child
  • the age and level of development of the minor must be considered and information given in a manner adapted to this
  • the need for special arrangements or measures to protect the minor in the trial should be assessed
  • it should be noted that minors are dependent on adults, such as their parents
  • consideration should be given to the right to the protection of family life and to privacy and to everyday life as normal as possible
  • the right to security and support measures for the benefit of minors must be taken into account
  • the minor is protected against harmful measures
  • a person under 18 years of age can only be imprisoned for serious reasons the penalties are less severe than those applied to adults
  • in order to ensure that matters concerning minors are dealt with quickly, certain cases have statutory processing times that must be observed.
The principles of child-friendly justice are the responsibility of all minors, regardless of their position in the trial and must be respected before, during and after the trial.


Children's and young people's rights belong to all minors, regardless of their country of origin or their family or life situations.

What is important is that you know that you have the right to be informed, to participate in the dealing of the matter and to express your own views.

Published 21.3.2025