GENERAL PART

Chapter Four
PENALTIES

1. Purpose of Punishment, Types of Punishment and Requirements for Imposition thereof

Imprisonment
Article 45

(1) A sentence of imprisonment may not be less than thirty days or more than twenty years.

(2) A sentence of imprisonment referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article is pronounced in full years and months, and if under six months then also in days.

(3) A term of imprisonment from thirty to forty years may exceptionally be pronounced for the most serious criminal offences or the most serious forms of criminal offences together with the penalty referred to in para 1 of this Article. This sentence is pronounced in full years.

(4) A term of imprisonment from thirty to forty years may not be pronounced to a person who at the time of commission of the criminal offence is under twenty-one years of age.

(5) When pronouncing to a perpetrator of a criminal offence a sentence of up to one year of imprisonment, the court may concurrently order its enforcement in the premises wherein he/she lives if in respect to the personality of the perpetrator, his/her previous lifestyle, his/her conduct after commission of the offence, degree of guilt and other circumstances under which the offence was perpetrated it may be expected that in this manner the purpose of punishment will also be achieved.

(6) A convicted person serving a prison sentence in the manner provided under paragraph 5 of this Article may not leave the premises wherein he/she resides, except in cases stipulated by the law governing enforcement of criminal sanctions. If the convicted person wilfully leaves the premises wherein he/she resides for a period exceeding six hours or wilfully leaves the premises wherein he/she resides twice for a period up to six hours, the court shall order remand to a penal institutions to serve the remaining part of the sentence.

(7) Persons convicted of criminal offences relating to marriage and family who live in the same household with the injured party may not be ordered to serve their prison sentences under the terms provided for in paragraph 5 hereof.”.

Release on Parole
Article 46

(1) The court shall release on parole a convicted person who has served two-thirds of his/her prison sentence if during serving of sentence he/she has rehabilitated to such extent that it may be reasonably assumed that he/she shall conduct himself/herself properly at liberty, and particularly that he/she shall not commit a new criminal offence prior to expiry of the time to which he/she was sentenced. In evaluating whether to release a convicted person on parole his/her conduct during serving of sentence, performance of work duties, in respect to his/her working ability, as well as other circumstances indicating that the purpose of punishment in respect to him/her has been achieved, shall be taken under consideration. A convicted person who during serving of sentence has been disciplined twice and had his/her privileges revoked may not be released on parole.

(2) If requirements specified in paragraph 1 of this Article are met the court may release on parole a convicted person :

- serving a prison sentence of 30 to 40 years ;
- convicted for crimes against humanity and other goods protected by international law (Articles 370 through 393a), for criminal offences against gender freedom (Article 178 through 186b), criminal offence of family violence (Article 194 paragraphs 2 through 4), criminal offence of production and putting in circulation of narcotics (Article 246 paragraph 4), criminal offence against the constitutional order and security of the Republic of Serbia (Article 306 through 321), criminal offence of giving bribe (Article 367 and criminal offence of taking bribe (Article 368) ;
- convicted by competent courts and/or their special departments, in proceedings conducted in accordance with jurisdiction defined under the Law on Organisation and Jurisdiction of Government Authorities in Combating Organised Crime, Corruption and other Serious Criminal Offences ;
- finally convicted more than three times to unconditional prison sentence and no expunction was made or there or no conditions to expunge any of the sentences.

(3) In its decision on release on parole, the Court may order that the convicted person must fulfil obligations stipulated in criminal provisions.

In the case referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, if parole is not revoked, it shall be considered that the convicted person has served his sentence.

Revocation of Parole
Article 47

(1) The court shall revoke parole if the convicted person, while on parole, commits one or more criminal offences punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

(2) The court may revoke parole, if a person on parole commits one or more criminal offences punishable by a term of imprisonment of under one year, and/or fails to meet any of the obligations set forth by the court according to Article 46, paragraph 3 hereof. In determining whether to revoke the parole, the court shall particularly take into consideration whether criminal offences are related, motives and other circumstances justifying revocation of parole.

(3) provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall also apply when the paroled person is tried for a criminal offence committed prior to release on parole.

(4) When the court revokes parole it shall pronounce sentence by applying provisions of Article 60 and 62, paragraph 2 hereof, taking the previously pronounced sentence as already established. The part of the sentence served by the convicted person pursuant to previous conviction shall be calculated into the new sentence, whilst time spent on parole shall not be calculated.

(5) If the paroled person is convicted to a term of imprisonment under one year, and the court does not revoke parole, parole shall be extended for the period of imprisonment for such sentence served by the convicted persons.

(6) In cases referred to in paragraphs 1 through 3 of this Article, parole may be revoked not later than two years from the day parole has expired.