Evolution of Penal Policies in the Former Socialist Countries in Europe

• In Event: Global Patterns and Shifting Institutions: Comparative Justice and Crime Trends

Abstract

After the collapse of socialist regimes in European countries in the 1990s, significant changes occurred that affected all segments of societies of Central, Southeastern and Eastern European countries, including crime and punishment trends. While crime rates significantly increased in all former socialist countries in the first decade after the fall of the authoritarian regimes, the development of penal policies differed significantly. By analysing data from the European Sourcebook on Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics, the Council of Europe annual reports on penal statistics – SPACE I, as well as national databases, we present the evolution as well as similarities and differences in penal policies in former socialist countries through the prism of the broader sociopolitical, economic, and legal changes. Findings show that crime and punishment trends are relatively independent of each other, and profound differences have existed in penal policies among Central, Southeastern, and Eastern European countries during socialist times, as well as after the implementation of changes in the era of democratisation.

Authors

• Rok Hacin, University of Maribor

• Marcelo F. Aebi, University of Lausanne

• Benjamin Flander, University of Maribor

• Gorazd Meško, University of Maribor