The Explanation of the Main Characteristics of Penal Populism and Examples of Penal Populism in Some Criminal Law Provisions and Planned Amendments of the Criminal Code of Serbia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5937/crimen2501003SKeywords:
Penal Populism, Criminology, Criminal Law, Criminal Code, Amendments, PunishmentAbstract
The article explains the main characteristics of penal populism as one very interesting criminological phenomenon and the basic manifestations of penal populism in some amendments and provisions of the Criminal Code of Serbia. This is especially reflected in some areas of criminal-justice legislation: 1) Introducing the prohibition of mitigating the penalty for certain types of criminal offences; 2) Introducing the institute of multiple recidivism; 3) Significant limitation on possibilities of suspended sentencing; 4) Prescribing a lifetime imprisonment, in combination with introducing a legal prohibition on release on parole for certain categories of offenders sentenced to this penalty.
The paper also explains that the current Criminal Code of Serbia has been frequently amended and supplemented by numerous amendments. Some of these amendments of the Criminal Code of Serbia, culminating in the amendments from 2019, also contain elements of penal populism. The authors present an argumentative critique of the superfluous elements of penal populism within the Serbian Criminal Code, which are also evident in some of the proposed amendments. That tendency is also not in accordance with the prevailing understandings of modern criminal law, criminology, penology, or criminalistic doctrine, nor, more importantly, is such an approach of the legislator in line with the current state of crime rates and the need to respond to it in an adequate manner.
The article explains that populist penal provisions prescribed in the Serbian Criminal Code, as well as in the proposed amendments to the country’s criminal legislation, directly contradicts Serbia’s official efforts to strengthen the system of alternative criminal sanctions aimed at reducing prison overcrowding. Moreover, in certain respects, it conflicts with the restorative justice framework that Serbia has adopted. These contradictions provide a compelling reason to reconsider several provisions of the Criminal Code.
Authors especially conclude that a judge in a country characterized by the rule of law must still have the strength to resist such “public expectations” and to make his decision in accordance with the law and according to his free conviction and of course, the judge must also resist the influence of criminal populism promoted in the media or by some politicians, even other public figures/persons, etc., but a special problem arises when elements of criminal populism penetrate in the criminal legislation.
Downloads
References
Aleksić, Živojin, and Milan Škulić. 2020. Kriminalistika (Criminalistics). Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.
Bazemore, Gordon, and Mara Schiff. 2005. Juvenile Justice Reform and Restorative Justice: Building Theory and Policy from Practice. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.
Blumstein, Alfred. 2004. "Restoring Rationality in Punishment Policy." In The Future of Imprisonment, edited by Michael Tonry, 61–80. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195161632.003.0003
Bottoms, Anthony E. 1995. "The Philosophy and Politics of Punishment and Sentencing." In The Politics of Sentencing Reform, edited by Chris Clarkson and Rod Morgan, 1–22. Oxford: Clarendon Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198258728.003.0001
Cambell, C. Michael. 2012. "Homicide and Punishment in Europe: Examining National Variation." In Handbook of European Homicide Research: Patterns, Explanations, and Country Studies, edited by Marieke C. A. Liem and William A. Pridemore, 273–284. New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0466-8_17
Cavadino, Michael, and James Dignan. 2006. "Penal Policy and Political Economy." Criminology and Criminal Justice 6 (4): 435–456. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895806068581
Ćopić, Sanja, Ivana Stevanović, and Nikola Vujičić. 2024. Kvalitet života u zatvorima u Srbiji: norma, praksa i mere unapređenja. Beograd: Institut za kriminološka i sociološka istraživanja. https://doi.org/10.47152/PrisonLIFE.D4.9
Dikaeva, S. Milana. 2020. "Penal Policy in the Russian Federation: Trends and Perspectives." Archiwum Kryminologii XLII (1): 23–44.
Đokić, Ivan. 2020. "Preventivno zatvaranje učinilaca opasnih po društvo – višestruki povrat i mere bezbednosti." In Kaznena reakcija u Srbiji, X deo, edited by Đorđe Ignjatović, 1–25. Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.
Elliot, Catherine, and Frances Quinn. 2012. Criminal Law. Edinburgh: Pearson.
Fletcher, Marie, Robin Lööf, and Bill Gilmore. 2008. EU Criminal Law and Justice. Cheltenham: Elgar European Law. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781848443884
Frister, Helmut. 2020. Strafrecht – Allgemeiner Teil. 9th ed. München: C.H.Beck.
Galliher, John F. 1989. Criminology: Human Rights, Criminal Law, and Crime. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. https://doi.org/10.17104/9783406763069
Hagan, Frank E. 2008. Introduction to Criminology: Theories, Methods, and Criminal Behavior. Thousand Oaks: SAGE.
Hall, Stuart. 1988. The Hard Road to Renewal: Thatcherism and the Crisis of the Left. London: Verso.
Ignjatović, Đorđe. 2017. "Kazneni populizam (Penal Populism)." In Kaznena reakcija u Srbiji, VIII deo, edited by Đorđe Ignjatović, 1–20. Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.
Ignjatović, Đorđe. 2023. Kriminologija. Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.
Lacey, Nicola. 2008. The Prisoners’ Dilemma: Political Economy and Punishment in Contemporary Democracies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511819247
Lackner, Karl, Kristian Kühl, and Martin Heger. 2018. Strafgesetzbuch – Kommentar. München: C.H.Beck.
Lukić, Natalija. 2024. "Kazna zatvora u Srbiji – trendovi i odlike zatvoreničke populacije." Revija za kriminologiju i krivično pravo 62 (2): 135–160. https://doi.org/10.47152/rkkp.62.2.6
McAlhone, Christina, and Rebecca Huxley-Binns. 2010. Criminal Law: The Fundamentals. London: Sweet & Maxwell.
Newburn, Tim. 2007. Criminology. London: Willan Publishing.
Newburn, Tim. 2017. Criminology. 3rd ed. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315629513
Pailli, G., and A. Butelli. 2024. "Penal Populism in Italy: A Few Examples from the Last 20 Years." In Penal Populism and Impact on the Work of Institutions, edited by Marina Matić Bošković and Jelena Kostić, 1–20. Beograd: Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research.
Pepinsky, Hal. 1993. "Norwegian and Polish Lessons from Keeping Down Prison Populations." Humanity & Society 17 (1): 70–89. https://doi.org/10.1177/016059769301700105
Platek, Monika. 2013. "Poland: The Political Legacy and Penal Practice." In Punishment in Europe, edited by Vincenzo Ruggiero and Mick Ryan, 183–202. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137028211_9
Pratt, John. 2006. Penal Populism. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203963678
Rengier, Rudolf. 2020. Strafrecht – Allgemeiner Teil. München: C.H.Beck. https://doi.org/10.17104/9783406752025
Roxin, Claus, and Luis Greco. 2020. Strafrecht – Allgemeiner Teil, Band 1: Grundlagen – Der Aufbau der Verbrechenslehre. München: C.H.Beck. https://doi.org/10.17104/9783406758010
Ruddell, Rick, and Martin Guevara Urbina. 2007. "Weak Nations, Political Repression, and Punishment." International Criminal Justice Review 17 (2): 84–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/1057567707302536
Rusche, Georg, and Otto Kirchheimer. 2003. Punishment and Social Structure. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.
Scheb, John M., and John M. Scheb II. 1999. Criminal Law and Procedure. Belmont: West/Wadsworth.
Schönke, Adolf, and Horst Schröder, eds. 2019. Strafgesetzbuch – Kommentar. München: C.H.Beck.
Schünemann, Bernd. 2007. "Die Zukunft des Strafverfahrens – Abschied vom Rechtsstaat?" Zeitschrift für die gesamte Strafrechtswissenschaft 119 (4): 945–958. https://doi.org/10.1515/zstw.119.4.945
Simões, Agapito L., M. de Alencar e Miranda, and T. Felippe Xavier Januário. 2024. "Is Penal Populism a Species of Political Populism? Latin American Perspective." In Penal Populism and Impact on the Work of Institutions, edited by Marina Matić Bošković and Jelena Kostić, 1–20. Beograd: Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research.
Soković, Snežana. 2013. "Penal Populism: Causes, Characteristics, and Consequences." In Penal Policy: Law and Practice, edited by Stanko Bejatović, 185–232. Beograd.
Stojanović, Zoran. 2011. "Preventivna funkcija krivičnog prava (The Preventive Function of Criminal Law)." Crimen – Časopis za krivične nauke 2: 3–25.
Stojanović, Zoran. 2023a. Politika suzbijanja kriminaliteta. Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.
Stojanović, Zoran. 2023b. Komentar Krivičnog zakonika (Commentary on the Criminal Code). Beograd: Službeni glasnik.
Stojanović, Zoran. 2024. Krivično pravo – opšti deo (Criminal Law – General Part). Novi Sad: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Novom Sadu.
Škulić, Milan. 2010. "National Report – Serbia." In Juvenile Justice Systems in Europe – Current Situation and Reform Developments, edited by Frieder Dünkel et al., 3:1195–1243. Greifswald: Forum Verlag Godesberg.
Škulić, Milan. 2015. "National Report – Serbia." In Restorative Justice and Mediation in Penal Matters, edited by Frieder Dünkel et al., 2:803–828. Greifswald: Forum Verlag Godesberg.
Škulić, Milan. 2016. "Uslovni otpust sa stanovišta krivičnog materijalnog i procesnog prava." In Međunarodni naučni tematski skup (Palić, 2–3 jun 2016), 363–385. Beograd: Institut za kriminološka i sociološka istraživanja.
Škulić, Milan. 2019. Krivična dela protiv polne slobode (Criminal Offences against Sexual Freedom). Beograd: Službeni glasnik.
Škulić, Milan. 2020a. "Višestruki povrat u krivičnom zakoniku Srbije: kontroverzne novele i uticaj američke krivičnopravne koncepcije 'tri udarca'." KoPra – kontinentalno pravo 4.
Škulić, Milan. 2020b. "Oštećeni i krivičnopravni elementi zaštite." In Oštećeno lice i krivičnopravni instrumenti zaštite, edited by Stanko Bejatović, 1–30. Zlatibor: Srpsko udruženje za krivičnopravnu teoriju i praksu.
Škulić, Milan. 2023. Krivično pravo Sjedinjenih Američkih Država (Criminal Law of the United States of America). Beograd: Službeni glasnik.
Škulić, Milan. 2024a. Kriminalistika (Criminalistics). Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.
Škulić, Milan. 2024b. "The Manifestations of Penal Populism in Some Amendments/Provisions of the Criminal Code of Serbia." In Penal Populism and Impact on the Work of Institutions, edited by Marina Matić Bošković and Jelena Kostić, 1–20. Beograd: Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research.
Škulić, Milan. 2024c. "Krivično materijalno pravo socijalističke Jugoslavije." In Socijalističko pravo u Jugoslaviji – 1945–1990, edited by Dejan Popović, Boris Begović, and Zoran Milković, 1–30. Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.
Škulić, Milan. 2024d. Komentar Zakona o maloletnim učiniocima krivičnih dela i krivičnopravnoj zaštiti maloletnih lica (Commentary on the Law on Juvenile Perpetrators of Criminal Offences and Criminal-Justice Protection of Minors). Beograd: Službeni glasnik.
Škulić, Milan. 2024e. Krivično procesno pravo (Criminal Procedural Law). Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.
Tibbetts, Stephen G., and Craig Hemmens. 2010. Criminological Theory: A Text/Reader. Thousand Oaks: SAGE.
Tonry, Michael. 2001. "Symbol, Substance, and Severity in Western Penal Policies." Punishment & Society 3 (4): 517–536. https://doi.org/10.1177/14624740122228401
Tonry, Michael. 2003. "Evidence, Elections, and Ideology in the Making of Criminal Justice Policy." In Confronting Crime: Crime Control Policy under New Labour, edited by Michael Tonry, 1–25. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.
Tonry, Michael. 2004. "Has the Prison a Future?" In The Future of Imprisonment, edited by Michael Tonry, 3–26. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195161632.003.0001
Vuković, Igor. 2021. Krivično pravo – opšti deo (Criminal Law – General Part). Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.
Walder, Hans, Thomas Hansjakob, Thomas E. Gundlach, and Peter Straub. 2020. Kriminalistisches Denken. Heidelberg: Kriminalistik.
Walgrave, Lode. 2008. Restorative Justice, Self-Interest, and Responsible Citizenship. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.
Wessels, Johannes, and Werner Beulke. 2003. Strafrecht – Allgemeiner Teil: Die Straftat und Ihr Aufbau. Heidelberg: C.F. Müller.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Milan Škulić, Natalija Lukić
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, allowing others to share the work with proper attribution to the authors and acknowledgment of its original publication in this journal.
