PRISON SENTENCES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA WITH AN ANALYSIS OF COURT PRACTICE

Abstract

The paper gives an overview of the hindermost reform of criminal legislation from May 2019 in relation to imprisonment in the Republic of Serbia. From a theoretical point of view, the legal provisions of imprisonment and life imprisonment for the most serious crimes in the criminal legislation of the Republic of Serbia have been analyzed. Along with arduous debate in scientific and professional circles, the amendment to the Criminal Code of the Republic of
Serbia from December 1, 2019, introduced a life sentence for perpetrators of serious crimes. In this way, the previous long-term prison sentences of 30 to 40 years in prison are included in the sentence of life imprisonment. In relation to imprisonment, the Criminal Code prescribes a special minimum sentence of imprisonment which may not be less than thirty days and a special maximum sentence of imprisonment which may not exceed twenty years. The paper
also contains an analysis of court practice regarding the pronouncement of prison sentences (prison and life imprisonment) as well as unconditional and conditional prison sentences for the convicted in the last seven years (2014-2020). Based on the conducted research and theoretical analysis, possible proposals were pointed out de lege ferenda.