NCJ Number
146331
Journal
European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 143-166
Date Published
1993
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article examines the disestablishment of the communist system of government in Poland and the introduction of a system based on Western-style democracy, above all, the Rule of Law and separation of powers.
Abstract
The article begins with a look at the Stalinist epoch, including Soviet concepts infused into the Polish criminal justice system. There is a longer section on the post-Stalinist period, including Polish efforts at reckoning with the communist past. These efforts included rehabilitating and compensating the victims of communist persecution, and punishing the perpetrators of communist-sponsored atrocities. There is a separate section on Poland's criminal justice system in the period of democratic reforms, which includes discussions of substantive criminal law, law of criminal procedure, and law on the execution of penalties. There is a section concerning current activities in preparing new criminal codes. The Polish Parliament faces more urgent tasks than overhauling the country's criminal justice system. In addition, it is quite probable that, if the economic and political situation continues to deteriorate, more authoritarian tendencies in the life of the country will take an upper hand. However, the country may regain its vigor and stamina and complete political and socioeconomic reforms leading eventually to its full integration in the Western Community of Nations. Footnotes