Types of Punishment and Crime

Crimes are classified according to their gravity. Punishment: a coercive measure of the court: it is applied to the guilty person by a court verdict on behalf of the state (Criminal Code, Article 42).

Types of crimes (Criminal Code, Article 15)

For intentionally committed crimes, the categories are as follows:

Category	Deprivation of liberty provided for by law
Crimes not posing a great social danger	up to 3 years
Less grave	more than 3 years, up to 5 years
Grave	more than 5 years, up to 10 years
Especially grave	more than 10 years or life

• There are 4 categories in total.
• Grave up to 10 years, especially grave: more than: 10 years is precisely the upper limit of a grave crime.
• Crimes committed through negligence fall only into the first two categories: if up to 5 years, not posing a great social danger; if more than that, less grave.

Types of punishment (Article 43)

Principal punishments: a fine, deprivation of a certain right, compulsory community service, corrective labor, restriction of military service, restriction of liberty, assignment to a disciplinary unit, deprivation of liberty, and life imprisonment.

• Restriction of military service and assignment to a disciplinary unit are applied only to military servicemen.
• Additional punishment: deprivation of a military or special rank. Deprivation of a certain right can also be an additional punishment.
• The death penalty was abolished: January 1, 2008. Today Article 25 of the Constitution prohibits the death penalty.
• Life: woman, under 18, over 60: life imprisonment is not imposed on a woman, on a person who committed a crime before reaching the age of 18, or on a man over the age of 60 (Article 51).
• A fine: a type of punishment, whereas a warning letter or a reprimand is not a criminal punishment.

Purposes of punishment (Article 42)

• the moral correction of the convict;
• preventing him from continuing criminal activity;
• preventing the convict and other persons from committing a new crime.

1. A crime is committed
2. The court issues a verdict
3. Punishment is imposed
4. Purpose: correction, prevention of continuation, prevention of new crimes