The highest prosecuting authority in Finland is the Prosecutor General (valtakunnansyyttäjä), who is appointed by the President. As the director of the prosecution service, the Prosecutor General manages and supervises its operation and work.

The State Prosecutors (valtionsyyttäjä) who work in the Office of the Prosecutor General, appraise the evidence and decide whether charges should be brought in cases with wider national significance. The State Prosecutors have the right to act throughout the country. They are appointed by the Government.

The local prosecuting authorities are in Finland District Prosecutors (kihlakunnansyyttäjä). They are appointed by the Prosecutor General.

The prosecutors make their decisions to bring charges on the basis of preliminary investigations carried out by the police; it is their duty to appraise the available evidence and determine whether there is a prima facie case. If not, the prosecutor will make a decision not to prosecute. Prosecution may similarly be refused e.g. in cases in which the alleged offence is of minor significance.

Finland is a member of Eurojust, established by the European Union Member States in 2002 to support cooperation between prosecuting authorities and investigation of serious international crimes.