Life Sentence and the Right to Life

Igrački, Jasmina (2024) Life Sentence and the Right to Life. In: The right to life and body integrity. Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research ; Bar Association of Vojvodina, Belgrade ; Novi Sad, pp. 371-394. ISBN 978-86-80756-70-7; 978-86-905844-1-3

Text jasminaigracki.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (566kB)

Abstract

In modern criminal legislation, life imprisonment is, after the death penalty, the most severe sanction imposed on persons for the most serious crimes. In the legislation of many countries, it was introduced precisely as a “humane” substitute for the death penalty, because after it, it theoreti-cally assumes the most effective means of special prevention, i.e. prevent-ing a convicted person from repeating criminal acts. On the other hand, many legislations have introduced options that allow convicts to be re-leased, most often in the form of parole, in addition to life imprisonment. In the second half of the 20th century, life imprisonment in many countries, similar to the death penalty, came under the attack of critics who consider it “inhumane” and ineffective, given that life imprisonment by the imposi- tion of that sentence is considered to be permanently expelled from society, i.e. they lose any interest in rehabilitation. In recent decades, international standards in the field of prisoner protection have insisted on creating con-ditions under which prisoners have access to human rights during the pro-cess of execution of the sentence, especially by meeting the requirements for health care of prisoners serving life imprisonment. Those sentenced to life imprisonment have needs and interests as a natural entity, because they are human beings and enjoy natural and objective rights, and the state has the responsibility to ensure such rights, regardless of the extent to which they committed the crime.

Actions (login required)

View Item