SELAK: CLEARLY DEFINED CONDITIONS FOR REPLACING PRISON SENTENCES WITH FINES

BANJA LUKA, DECEMBER 4 /SRNA/ – The Government of Republika Srpska has adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code of Republika Srpska, under an expedited procedure, enabling convicted persons to replace prison sentences of up to one year with a fine or community service, thereby introducing a fairer and more flexible approach to sentencing, Minister of Justice Goran Selak told SRNA.

Selak stated that the amendments were adopted in order to enforce a decision of the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska and to eliminate identified shortcomings in the implementation of the law. "It has been specified which circumstances the court must particularly take into account when making decisions, including the defendant's attitude toward the victim, willingness to compensate damages, and to return any financial gain acquired through the criminal offense," Selak explained. According to him, the amendments also introduce the option of replacing a prison term with community service, in order to prevent discrimination between those who are able to pay a fine and those who are not, but otherwise meet the conditions for substitution. "Criminal offenses for which substitution is not permitted have been clearly defined, particularly offenses against children and abuse of vulnerable persons," Selak noted. Selak emphasized that these legal solutions represent an important step toward a more modern, efficient, and fair criminal justice system in Republika Srpska.