Analysis of sentencing policies in Poland’s criminal justice system

Abstract

This paper focuses on criminal policy in Poland, and its impact on the justice system. It includes a comprehensive analysis of the types of penalties, penal measures, and general directives concerning punishment in the Polish legal system, particularly from the perspective of the latest amendment to the criminal law. The aim is to illustrate the development of criminal policy in Poland and understand its influence on criminal justice. The paper will analyse various types of penalties, ranging from fines to custodial sentences, as well as penal measures, which constitute a key element of the legal system. Directives determining how penalties are imposed - and the goals that should be achieved through the criminal system in Poland - will also be scrutinised. Through the analysis of statistical data, this paper will provide an overview of the actual sentencing by courts and the execution of sentences in Poland, including data on the average length of imprisonment in relation to custodial sentences. Trends in sentencing over the years will be examined, and the latest changes (introduced as part of recent reforms to improve the effectiveness and fairness of the criminal system) will be analysed. In examining the formation of criminal policy in Poland, the paper will also consider potential controversies, challenges, and future perspectives influencing the development of the criminal system. This analysis will help understand how the approach to criminal matters in Poland is changing, and the consequences of these changes for the administration of justice and society.