NCJ Number
154620
Journal
European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (1994) Pages: 291-306
Date Published
1994
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article provides an overview of developments in criminal law in Europe between 1989 and 1992/93.
Abstract
This overview is part of the authors' "Developments in Criminal Law in Europe 1989-1992 -- Observations and Trends" and is meant to be used in connection with this main work. In addition to the radical political and economic changes that have occurred in the post-socialist countries during the previous report, significant changes in criminal policy in Eastern Europe emerged as well. Preparations for comprehensive and fundamental reform begun in 1986-88 were continued in Russia and Estonia as well as in Croatia and Slovenia through the drafting of new criminal codes. Elsewhere, in Hungary and the Czech Republic, for example, as well as in Slovakia, the socialist criminal law remains in force. With the recognition of international human rights documents, however, these laws underwent numerous changes intended to bring them into compliance with European human rights standards, that, as a rule, have been incorporated into the countries' new constitutions. During the period under review, criminal policymakers in eastern countries focused on the creation of a response to the so-called new forms of crime. In this effort, there has been some increase in the use of repression rather than a focus on effective crime prevention. Still, there have been some efforts to decrease the use of incarceration and increase victim services, restitution, and the reform of sex offense laws. There is growing acceptance of the fact that antidrug laws, despite the use of massive economic and legal resources, cannot solve the drug problem. 119 footnotes