Criminal
The Criminal Code with prosecutor-led investigation and plea agreements
The Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code govern offences and process. The 2011 procedural code shifted the investigation to the public prosecutor, and negotiated guilty pleas are widely used.
Key rules
- The public prosecutor conducts the investigation, replacing the former investigating judge.
- Agreements on admission of guilt are permitted and must be approved by the court.
- Special prosecution offices handle organised crime and corruption.
Governing law
- Criminal Code (Krivični zakonik)
- Criminal Procedure Code (Zakonik o krivičnom postupku) (2011)
Penalties and consequences
- Imprisonment, including life imprisonment introduced for the gravest offences.
- Fines, community service, house arrest and suspended sentences.
In practice
Life imprisonment was introduced in 2019 for certain aggravated offences, with parole excluded for some of them.