Logo Polskiego Radia

Rules on dangerous criminals are constitutional: Polish court

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 23.11.2016 13:52
Poland’s top court said on Wednesday that key rules allowing the most dangerous criminals to be detained in a special facility after serving a jail sentence are constitutional.
Die neue Regelung soll in den kommenden Monaten in Kraft treten und bezieht sich insgesamt auf 32 Tausend Rentner in PolenDie neue Regelung soll in den kommenden Monaten in Kraft treten und bezieht sich insgesamt auf 32 Tausend Rentner in PolenGlowImages

Polish civil courts can decide to place people who have already served their prison sentence either under preventative supervision or in a special detention centre.

The Constitutional Tribunal said in its ruling that only a clause regarding the release of a criminal from the centre is in breach of the constitution. The clause says only one doctor’s opinion is needed to decide on a criminal’s release.

Critics of the current rules have argued that they are a breach of the so-called principle of double jeopardy, which says that a person cannot be tried again on the same charges following a conviction.

“Placing a person posing a threat at the centre in Gostynin [central Poland] has a therapeutic, not punitive, character,” the Constitutional Tribunal said.

According to data released by Poland’s Ombudsman, currently 32 people are detained at the facility, including one woman.

The rules on the detention centre are part of legislation on mentally disturbed people who pose a threat to the life, health or sexual liberty of others which entered into force in January 2014.

The legislation was adopted amid concerns over public safety as people convicted of serious crimes in Poland were set to be released after serving a 25-year jail sentence.

(ał/pk)

tags: crime
Print
Copyright © Polskie Radio S.A About Us Contact Us