Journal of Criminology and Criminal Law No. 1/2021

LIFE IMPRISONMENT AND PAROLE WITHIN THE CRIMINAL LAW OF SERBIA: CERTAIN ISSUES AND DILEMMAS

Emir Ćorović

Department of Law Science, State University in Novi Pazar

Received: March 19th 2021

Accepted: April 4th 2021

UDK: 343.261(497.11) 343.265.2(497.11) 343.846(497.11)

Pages: 69-92

doi: doi.org/10.47152/rkkp.59.1.1

Life imprisonment was introduced to Serbian Criminal legislation with the amendments of Criminal Code from 2019. These amendments replaced the former penalty of imprisonment from 30 to 40 years. Special attention was drawn by the fact that the new legislation allows the possibility of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for committing certain crimes. This legal solution is considered not to be in accordance with the Article 3 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Still, the prohibition of parole was introduced to Serbian criminal law in 2013, with the adoption of the Law on the special measures for the prevention of crimes against sexual freedom towards minors. However, at that time the academic community did not give the attention it deserved to the justification of this prohibition, which by itself generates many concerns. That is why, when discussing the problematics of life imprisonment and parole, and its prohibition, one has to bear in mind the previously structured legal frame, as well as the concerns that such a prohibition creates, regardless of whether it not it relates to life imprisonment or timely limited imprisonment.

KEY WORDS: life imprisonment, parole, prohibition of parole.

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