Prison and Probation Service of Finland selects Prison Officer Jussi Vauhkonen as Official of the Year 2025

“As staffing levels in prisons are very low at the moment, I want to express my sincere thanks to my colleagues, who also need to be flexible when I, for example, step away from the core duties of a prison officer to run courses or carry out other tasks,” says Jussi Vauhkonen.

Vauhkonen also works as the ICT contact person, the main user of the offender management system, and the emergency first-aid trainer responsible for the maintenance of first-aid equipment at Naarajärvi Prison. He has worked as a prison officer for 16 years.

The Official of the Year was selected by the chief shop stewards of the Prison and Probation Service and the Directors of the Core Operations Department and the Client Processes Department. There were several candidates. The theme for this first award year, 2025, was exemplary conduct and strong cooperation skills. The Official of the Year plays a role in promoting the internal and external employer brand of the Prison and Probation Service.

The idea of introducing an annual award originated from a staff initiative. Each year, one public official will be recognised with the Prison and Probation Service’s Official of the Year award.

The Official of the Year 2025 was announced at a press briefing for legal journalists on 15 January 2026. Director General Anna Arola‑Järvi commented that, although these are challenging times with high unemployment in many fields, prisons continue to offer plenty of work for professionals, and the duties are varied. Jussi Vauhkonen is an excellent example of a public official who, through his attitude and professional skills, promotes the achievement of goals related to both security and rehabilitation.

At the press briefing, Riitta Kari, Director of Core Operations Department, and Tommi Kiiala, Senior Prison Official, discussed how the growing prisoner population affects prison operations and staff wellbeing. Senior Specialist Kati Sunimento and Prison Teacher Elina Salonen highlighted about the importance of schooling for underage prisoners. In addition, the Safety and Security Unit of the Prison and Probation Service presented an overview of the current security situation in prisons.