Professor Noora Ellonen emphasises patience in discussions about crime
Appointed as Professor of Criminology and Criminal Policy at the Faculty of Social Sciences in November 2024, Noora Ellonen has observed significant improvements in the authorities’ ability to address violence against children. According to Ellonen, the best interests of the child are now better understood in official processes.
Her research focuses on violence against children and the subsequent reactions in society. Ellonen has especially researched police processes and cooperation between the police and child protection authorities in addressing violence against children. She has also worked as a researcher at the Police University College for six years.
The prevalence and characteristics of crime are central interests in basic criminological research.
“We do not get an accurate picture of the amount of violence, for example, from police statistics, as only a fraction of the violence comes to the authorities’ attention, which is why we need self-report surveys,” says Ellonen.
In 2008, Ellonen was involved in bringing a new research instrument to Finland to study children’s experiences of violence. She collected the country’s first Child Victim Survey where children and young people report their experiences of violence. The anonymous survey conducted at schools was repeated in 2013 and 2022. The next survey is being prepared for 2026.
Most live free from violence
Throughout the 2010s, child victim studies observed a rather positive development, namely that violence experienced at home decreased. However, in 2022, researchers reported that this development had stalled: although experiences of violence did not increase, their number no longer decreased.
The Child Victim Survey revealed changes in the experience and acts of violence, but the results do not support an increase in the amount of violence. Child Victim Surveys and other similar surveys clearly show that, on average, the violence experienced and perpetrated by children has not increased in the past 20 years.
If this is the case, why is the number of cases increasing significantly in police statistics?
“It indicates that today, more and more acts of violence against or by children come to the attention of the police. This development is positive because only reported cases can be addressed,” Ellonen points out.
In research results on young people’s own criminal behaviour, Ellonen sees indications of them being divided based on criminal activity. She urges taking such observations seriously and addressing the actions of violent youths. The idea of an increased amount of violence in young people's lives lacks a scientific basis.
“Fewer and fewer young people commit acts of violence, but those who do, do so increasingly. It is a small and geographically limited group of young people. When looking comprehensively at Finnish children and young people, violence has not grown out of control. Most children and young people still lead lives that are free from violence,” says Professor Ellonen.
Clickbait headlines stir unnecessary anxiety
Based on research data, Ellonen finds it unfortunate that the media is creating an image of an uncontrollable youth crime problem. She pays attention to how a single tragedy can publicly convince people that any of us can become a victim of random violence.
“Research results do not support this generalisation. In most violent crimes, the victim and perpetrator share the same social environment. Random acts of violence are still extremely rare in Finland," Ellonen says.
The current debate, marked by careless talk about gangs and street violence, can even turn into an admiration of a trendy phenomenon, thus increasing young people’s desire to get involved.
“Crime is a constantly changing phenomenon, and that is precisely why we need basic research. Without research data, it is impossible to react to changes in society. As a researcher, I have wanted to bring positive developments into public discussion, but they rarely get column space,” Ellonen explains.
Are we doing the correct things to help young people find the right direction?
Professor Ellonen leads the ACElife research project, which is funded by the Strategic Research Council. The project examines not only adverse childhood experiences but also how child protection can prevent them and reduce the effects of adverse impacts.
Because of adverse experiences, a person may have multiple contacts with social and health services before adulthood. This is why authorities regularly encounter young people at risk of violence, but their path cannot be straightened.
Ellonen reminds us that violence experienced in childhood is particularly harmful according to research.
“Repeated contacts with authorities indicate that we are not able to support young people in a timely manner, resulting in a significant portion of this group ending up on a criminal path. This begs the question of whether we are doing the right things,” Ellonen says.
Ellonen’s question has been said to criticise child protection social workers and other professionals. However, that is not the case; instead, her focus is on the entire service system where professionals operate. Although multiprofessional cooperation and working for the child’s best interest are part of everyday work, resources and working conditions are not adequate at the structural level.
“Finland has the most extensively educated and skilled professionals globally, both in the police and child protection. However, I am not convinced that they can fully utilise their expertise in our current service system. For example, is there enough room for prevention in our services or can we only fix visible problems?” Ellonen ponders.
Experts support criminal policy with knowledge
What is considered criminal and what kinds of punishments are desired change over time as society changes. According to Ellonen, the political nature of criminology is also evident in how individual tragedies put pressure on decision-makers to change legislation or services.
“From the perspective of the rule of law, it is important that matters are thoroughly investigated. However, justifying legal changes or extensive system changes using individual tragedies is questionable. Despite political pressure, changes should be prepared with patience and be based on scientific research,” Ellonen emphasises.
Ellonen and her research colleagues recently published a book that highlights empirical research data as a support for decision-making and identifies key skills that experts should have (Kriminaalipolitiikka, Gaudeamus 2024). Ellonen also emphasises those things to criminology and criminal policy experts graduating from Tampere University. In her teaching, she wants to showcase Tampere University’s expertise in social sciences.
“During my year in Helsinki I dreamed that one day criminology could be its own field of study at Tampere University. Now that has happened, and the first master’s and doctoral students have begun their studies. I feel it is a great privilege to be involved in steering the subject forward,” Ellonen says happily.
