The position of neurodivergent individuals within the Finnish criminal justice system is vulnerable. Failure to recognize these individuals poses a risk to the realization of their legal protection and may lead to misallocation of rehabilitation measures.
We provide Revion services for neurodivergent (the autism spectrum and ADHD) youth and adults who exhibit criminal or other risky behaviour, as well as for their close ones and the professionals working with them.
ReVioN stands for Rehabilitation, Violence, Neurodivergent.
Our services include:
- Revion Rehabilitation: Individualized rehabilitation for adolescents and adults exhibiting criminal or other risk behaviour, such as violent behaviour, substance abuse or inappropriate sexual behaviour. Rehabilitation can be implemented during incarceration, after release, or preventively in outpatient care to address potential risks. We also support individuals transitioning from institutional to outpatient care. As part of Revion rehabilitation, we may also collaborate with the individual's networks – such as family members and professionals – in accordance with individual needs and the individual’s consent.
Revion rehabilitation program has been developed using research-based and experiential knowledge from neurodivergent individuals as well as professionals. Revion rehabilitation employs methods of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, adopting a neurodiversity-affirming approach.
Revion rehabilitation was awarded second place in the European Crime Prevention Award 2024. The jury specifically praised the programme for its focus on an overlooked group in prisons, its scientific base, and its relevance for improving professionals’ knowledge across all European member states. Finland: Revion Rehabilitation Programme | EUCPN
- Training for Professionals: Specialized training for prison staff, forensic mental health professionals, police officers, and other judicial authorities who encounter neurodivergent individuals showing signs of risk behaviour. The training blends research-based knowledge with practical insights from extensive experience. Training packages may be customized to suit client requirements and may cover the following topics: recognizing neurodivergent needs and establishing a working relationship, neurodivergent individuals and criminal behaviour, neurodivergent individuals and everyday contact work in prison.
- Consultancy and Support: Professional guidance and counselling for those working with neurodivergent adolescents and adults, helping them better understand and address their needs. Our consultancy services are available to address specific issues, including situations in which cooperation proves challenging, or where individuals are displaying behaviours of concern. We aim to increase understanding of an individual’s needs and the function of their behaviour in relation to their environment. We also offer individual and group supervision for professionals.
The Revion rehabilitation program was developed during the Revion project (Ministry of Justice, 2021–2022) and its predecessor, the Legal Protection and Rehabilitation 2020 project (Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organizations, 2018–2020). In the course of these projects, the identification of the target group in prisons was improved; a model for rehabilitation during incarceration, conducted both on-site and remotely, was implemented; and the effects of rehabilitation at the individual level were investigated. Extensive training for authorities was also carried out as part of the projects.
We have continued our development work on the Revion-AVO and Revion-YKS projects.
The Revion AVO project (Ministry of Justice, 2024–2025) provided individual rehabilitation for neurodivergent individuals at increased risk of committing sexual or violent offences or already convicted of such offences. Rehabilitation was targeted at clients under the care of Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) Forensic Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic and those in the release phase within the Prison and Probation Service of Finland.
The Revion-YKS project (Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, 2023–2026) is implemented by the Autism Foundation Finland in collaboration with the Prison and Probation Service of Finland and the University of Jyväskylä. The project develops and studies a remote rehabilitation model based on acceptance and commitment therapy methods for neurodivergent clients under community sanctions. The aim is to strengthen well-being and to support desistance from crime by helping neurodivergent individuals move towards a meaningful, values-based life.
More information about our Revion services and ongoing projects:
Sanna Kara, project manager, Licensed Occupational Therapist (Finland), Master of Health Care, Licensed Psychotherapist (Finland), sanna.kara(at)autismisaatio.fi
Katri Friman, Licensed Psychologist (Finland), MSc in Psychology, Specialist in Neuropsychology, katri.friman(at)autismisaatio.fi
Minna Tuusa, Bachelor of Social Services, Neuropsychiatric Coach, minna.tuusa(at)autismisaatio.fi
Anna Anttila, Licensed Occupational Therapist (Finland), MSc in Occupational Therapy (in progress), anna.anttila(at)autismisaatio.fi