RETS

What RETS does

RETS – Rikoksettoman elämän tukisäätiö (Foundation for a Life Without Crime) is a Finnish nonprofit foundation (säätiö sr) headquartered in Helsinki, founded in 2001 with institutional roots dating back to 1869. It operates as a nationwide expert organization providing free-of-charge services to people who have committed crimes, their families, and the professionals who work with them. Core service lines include supported housing (approximately 100 studio and one-bedroom apartments in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa under the RETS-kodit brand), peer support communities (Redis and Raittila), women-specific reintegration services, youth activities, learning coaching for clients with neurodevelopmental challenges, an Ombudsman service that helps clients navigate social welfare and Kela benefits, and housing guidance coordinated with prisons and municipalities. Two development projects are active: the HOOK employment accelerator (2024-2027, ESF+-funded, co-implemented with Kuntoutussäätiö) and the REILI youth mentoring project (Ministry of Justice-funded).

The organization runs three national professional networks (VAT, OVA, RAILI) that coordinate housing, learning, and reintegration specialists across Finland. Its digital infrastructure is a WordPress-based website (rets.fi) hosting an extensive material bank, supplemented by Intercom Messenger for web support, video conferencing for remote client meetings, and an active multi-platform social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn with sub-brand-specific accounts. Content products include the 'Tukea rikoksettomaan elämään' magazine distributed to all Finnish prison libraries and the 'Arki haltuun!' podcast on neurodiversity.

RETS generates no commercial revenue from clients. Operating costs are funded primarily through grants from the Finnish Ministry of Justice (Oikeusministeriö), EU structural funds (ESF+/ESR) channeled via the Häme ELY Centre as managing authority, and payment commitments from municipal social services (sosiaalitoimi) at wellbeing areas (hyvinvointialueet) for supported housing. The organization is currently undergoing a major structural change, with the announced termination of its RETS-kodit supported housing service during 2026 amid changing wellbeing-area contract terms, while it simultaneously invests in new project-based growth (HOOK, REILI, Kouvola expansion).

Name

RETS

Legal name

Rikoksettoman elämän tukisäätiö sr

Website

https://rets.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

RETS – Rikoksettoman elämän tukisäätiö is a Finnish nonprofit foundation founded in 2001 (roots to 1869) that provides free nationwide services — supported housing, peer communities, housing guidance, women's and youth programs, and Ombudsman support — to people with criminal backgrounds and their families, funded by government grants, EU structural funds, and wellbeing-area payment commitments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Criminal Justice Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN), Workforce Reentry Programs (Justice-Involved) (EDAAAOAG)

Keywords

• Criminal rehabilitation services
• Peer support communities
• Supported housing services
• Prison reintegration support
• Family counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Project Funding: RETS operates as a non-profit foundation (säätiö) primarily funded through government grants, most notably from the Ministry of Justice (Oikeusministeriö). Development projects are co-funded by the European Union (ESR+/ESR), with the Häme ELY Centre serving as the managing authority. Revenue supports operational costs, project staffing, and service delivery.
2. Social Services Payment Commitments: Supported housing services are funded through payment commitments from social services (sosiaalitoimi) at wellbeing areas (hyvinvointialueet). Individual clients receive services free of charge, with costs covered by public sector agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RETS is a Finnish nonprofit foundation that delivers free rehabilitation, housing, and peer support services to people with criminal backgrounds and their families nationwide. It operates approximately 100 supported apartments in Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa, runs peer community spaces (Raittila, Redis), and provides specialized services including ombudsman support, women-specific programs, youth activities, learning coaching, and housing guidance. The foundation also coordinates national development networks (VAT, OVA, RAILI) and implements EU-funded innovation projects (HOOK, REILI).

Product overview

RETS – Rikoksettoman elämän tukisäätiö is a nationwide nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that provides a comprehensive portfolio of support services for people who have committed crimes and their families. The organization operates multiple interconnected service lines: direct client services (child and family support, ombudsman services, women-specific services, youth activities, peer communities like Raittila and Redis, learning coaching, supported housing through RETS-kodit, and housing guidance), alongside development projects (REILI youth mentoring, HOOK employment support), and educational content (the 'Tukea rikoksettomaan elämään' magazine and Arki haltuun! podcast). All services are provided free of charge. The organization functions as an expert in rehabilitation, advocate for clients, and provider/developer of support services, coordinating national development networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Raittila: A substance-free peer community offering peer support, discussion groups, creative activities, exercise, and various workshops in the evenings and weekends in Sörnäinen, Helsinki.
• Redis
• RETS Homes (RETS-kodit)
• RETS Kouvola
• HOOK-hanke
• REILI-hanke

Products and services

• Lapsi- ja lähestyö (Support for Children & Families) Provides guidance and emotional support to individuals who have committed crimes and to their loved ones, helping navigate challenges related to parenting, relationships, and family life. Services include individual support, relationship counseling, peer support events, family events, and volunteer-based peer support.
• Asiamiestoiminta (Ombudsman Services) Provides advice, help, and support to offenders and their families, especially when they face difficulties in getting services or benefits. Assists with social security, Kela benefits, child protection, child visitation arrangements, access to social services, healthcare, and rehabilitation.
• Naiserityinen työ (Women-Specific Services) Supports women being released from criminal sanctions or recently released. Provides professional guidance and peer-based conversations to strengthen rehabilitation, psychological wellbeing, and stability in everyday life. Available in Helsinki metropolitan area and remotely nationwide.
• Nuorten toiminta (Youth Activities) Offers a substance-free community, meaningful activities, and a safe environment for young people aged 15-29 with backgrounds in crime or substance use, providing both peer-based and professional support.
• Raittila (Peer Community) A substance-free peer community in Helsinki offering peer support in a safe setting, discussion groups, creative activities, exercise, and workshops during evenings and weekends.
• Vertaistuki Redis (Peer Support) Provides both peer-based and professional support for adults recovering from substance use disorders and cycles of imprisonment. Offers guidance for housing, finances, benefits, and daily life.
• Oppimisvalmennus (Learning Coaching) Supports employment, education, and everyday functioning of people who have committed crimes by providing suitable support for learning difficulties. Also offers guidance for professionals working with this client group.
• RETS-kodit (RETS Homes) Offers approximately 100 supported apartments in Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa for people who have committed crimes or are being released from prison and need both accommodation and daily-life support. Services scheduled to end during 2026 due to operating environment changes.
• Asumispalveluohjaus (Housing Guidance) Helps individuals being released from prison find suitable accommodation. Housing specialists work together with prisons, municipalities, and NGOs, with planning beginning early before release.
• RETS Kouvola (Community Space) A low-threshold community space in Kouvola offering a safe, substance-free environment for young people and adults with criminal backgrounds, as well as their families.
• REILI-hanke (Youth Mentoring Project) Provides individual and group-based mentoring for young people who have committed offences, used violence, or idealize street violence. Also offers specialized expertise for professionals working with this target group.
• HOOK-hanke (Employment Support Project) Rikostaustaisten työelämäosallisuuden kiihdyttämö (HOOK) project develops a civil society-led cooperation model for Greater Uusimaa that supports persons with criminal backgrounds, professionals, and employers.
• Arki haltuun! -podcast A podcast that helps understand neurodiversity and supports self-esteem and daily life management. Based on the 'Arki haltuun' handbook, the nine episodes cover key neuropsychiatric themes.
• Tukea rikoksettomaan elämään -lehti (Magazine) A magazine providing information, support, help, and inspiration for a life without crime. Distributed to prisons throughout Finland and suitable for prisoners, their loved ones, professionals, and students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of respondents in HOOK survey identified health or functional capacity challenges
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Omnia (Education and Economic Development, Espoo/West Uusimaa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2025Omnia is a vocational education provider in Espoo/West Uusimaa collaborating with the HOOK project to organize development workshops. The next workshop 'Espoo/West Uusimaa service pathways' is planned for September 16, 2025 in Espoo, focusing on improving employment pathways for ex-offenders in the region.
• Kuntoutussäätiö (The Finnish Rehabilitation Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Kuntoutussäätiö is the co-implementer of the HOOK project (Rikostaustaisten työelämäosallisuuden kiihdyttämö HOOK), running from 2024-2027 and funded by ESF+. RETS is responsible for client contact, engagement, and individual guidance, while Kuntoutussäätiö brings rehabilitation expertise. Together they develop a civil-society-led cooperation model for Uusimaa that supports ex-offenders, professionals, and employers.
• Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) conducted a survey of 48 children from 10 countries (including Finland) in February-May 2024 on improving prison visiting conditions for children. RETS translated and published COPE's recommendations in Finnish ('COPE suositukset suomeksi 2024'), distributing them through its material bank. RETS participates in the COPE international network.
• Häme ELY-keskus (Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment)coreOthers · 1 January 2024Häme ELY-keskus serves as the managing authority and funding body for the HOOK project (ESR+ funding). The project (2024-2027) is co-funded by the European Union and national authorities, with Häme ELY-keskus overseeing compliance and disbursement.
• Stadin safka (City of Helsinki Food Aid)minorOthers · 1 January 2024Stadin safka delivers surplus food weekly (Wednesdays) to RETS's community spaces (Redis, Raittila, Youth Activities), which is then distributed to clients or prepared on-site. This addresses food insecurity among vulnerable ex-offender populations in Helsinki.
• Aggredi ryminorOthers · 1 January 2023Aggredi is a Finnish organization providing peer-based support for people who have used violence. After participating in the OMA programme (Omaehtoisen muutoksen ohjelma) in Mikkeli Prison, individuals like Pekka continue their work with Aggredi post-release, demonstrating continuity of support beyond prison walls.
• Oikeusministeriö (Ministry of Justice of Finland)coreOthers · 1 January 2021The Ministry of Justice (Oikeusministeriö) provides funding for RETS's development projects, including the OMA programme development (2021 onward) and the REILI project (2024-2025) targeting street gang culture and violent radicalism among youth. The Ministry also funds research and development activities in criminal justice reform.
• Rikosseuraamuslaitos (Criminal Sanctions Agency of Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Rikosseuraamuslaitos collaborates with RETS on multiple initiatives: the OMA violence intervention programme (piloted at Mikkeli Prison), prisoner information sessions, housing guidance coordination, and broader reintegration services. The agency is a key partner in developing practices that reduce recidivism.
• Helsingin seurakuntayhtymä (Helsinki Parish Federation)minorOthersHelsinki Parish Federation partners with RETS by providing support for Raittila's peer community activities, contributing to the holistic wellbeing support available at the substance-free community space.
• Helsingin kaupungin psykiatria- ja päihdekeskus (City of Helsinki Psychiatry and Substance Abuse Centre)minorOthersThe City of Helsinki's specialized mental health and substance use services collaborate with RETS's Raittila peer community and Redis services to ensure integrated care pathways for clients with dual diagnoses.
• Irti Huumeista ryminorOthersIrti Huumeista ry (Free from Drugs) partners with RETS Raittila to provide substance-free peer community activities, combining expertise in substance abuse recovery with crime-free life support.
• Sininauhaliitto (Finnish Blue-Collar Church Federation)minorOthersSininauhaliitto is one of the founding member organizations of RETS (originally Kriminaalihuollon tukisäätiö). Continues to partner with RETS on substance-free community activities and broader reintegration support.
• Tampereen yliopisto (University of Tampere)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRETS collaborates with the University of Tampere on the 'Lapset ja vanhemmuus vankilan varjossa' (Children and Parenthood in the Shadow of Prison) research project, contributing expertise on parental imprisonment and child welfare.
• University of LincolnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRETS partners with the University of Lincoln (UK) on the 'Desistance Emotional Work' research project, exploring emotional support mechanisms that help individuals desist from crime.
• Silta-ValmennusyhdistysminorOthersWhen Kriminaalihuoltoyhdistys was nationalized in 2001, Silta-Valmennusyhdistys was established to continue the Tampere office's activities focused on reducing social exclusion, substance dependency and criminality among young people and young adults. It maintains a sibling relationship with RETS stemming from the same organizational lineage.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Silta-Valmennusyhdistys: Finnish organization focused on reducing social exclusion, substance dependency and criminality among young people and young adults. Comparable to RETS because it shares the same organizational lineage (split from Kriminaalihuoltoyhdistys in 2001) and serves overlapping reentry and rehabilitation populations in Finland.
• Kuntoutussäätiö: The Finnish Rehabilitation Foundation, co-implementer with RETS on the HOOK employment project. Comparable as a Finnish nonprofit delivering rehabilitation, employment, and reintegration services to vulnerable populations, including those with criminal backgrounds.
• A-klinikkasäätiö: Finnish substance abuse treatment foundation and one of RETS's founding member organizations. Comparable because it delivers substance-use and addiction services to overlapping populations and shares institutional roots with RETS in Finland's third-sector service ecosystem.
• Aggredi ry: Finnish organization providing peer-based support for people who have used violence. Comparable because it serves ex-offenders with overlapping lived experience, operates peer-led programming, and is a documented RETS network partner.
• Sininauhaliitto: Finnish Blue-Collar Church Federation focused on substance-free community activities and broader reintegration support. Comparable as a founding member of RETS with overlapping reentry, substance recovery, and community support mandates in Finland.
• Irti Huumeista ry: Finnish Free from Drugs organization that partners with RETS Raittila on substance-free community activities. Comparable because it delivers substance-use recovery and peer support to overlapping client populations in Finland.
• NACRO: UK charity working with people in prison and ex-offenders on housing, education, employment and resettlement. Comparable to RETS as a non-statutory reentry charity offering an integrated stack of services to justice-involved populations.
• Unlock: UK charity providing advice, advocacy and practical support to people with criminal convictions and their families. Comparable to RETS because its ombudsman-style advocacy, family-facing services, and policy work closely mirror RETS's Lapsi- ja lähestyö and Asiamiestoiminta functions.
• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): US-based nonprofit providing employment services to people with recent criminal convictions. Comparable to RETS's HOOK project as a reentry employment model with direct employer engagement and structured transitional work.

Regional players

• Kriminalvården (Swedish Prison and Probation Service): Swedish public-sector agency responsible for prisons, probation and reintegration. Comparable to RETS as the Nordic counterpart responsible for reentry and rehabilitation services, though operating as a state agency rather than a civil-society foundation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/retsaatio
• Facebookfacebook.com/RETSaatio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retsaatio
• Instagraminstagram.com/retsaatio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RETS