Punished Without a Crime

The history of Finnish correctional labour facilities has long been unknown to the general public, even though it is part of the story of many families. Surrounded by barbed wire, correctional labour facilities chastised and disciplined debtors, promiscuous girls and other undesirables from the 1920s to the 1980s. Freedom could be earned by collecting points, but many had to spend years in these institutions.

The Punished Without a Crime exhibition tells the story of why correctional labour facilities were established, who ended up in them and what life was like inside them. The exhibition is based on the non-fiction book Rikoksetta rangaistut (Siltala 2026) by historian Katariina Parhi and photographer Vesa Ranta. On display are Ranta’s photographs of the correctional labour facility environments, as well as historical photos and artefacts. The exhibition was supported by Oulu Culture Foundation, Finnish Association of Science Editors and Journalists and Arts Promotion Centre Finland.