Chapter 7 Punishment

Article 42

Imprisonment

(1) Imprisonment may not be shorter than thirty days or longer than twenty years.

(2) For the gravest forms of serious criminal offences perpetrated with intent, imprisonment for a term of twenty to forty-five years may be exceptionally prescribed (long-term imprisonment).

(3) Long-term imprisonment may never be prescribed as the sole principal punishment for a particular criminal offence.

(4) Long-term imprisonment cannot be imposed on a perpetrator who has not reached twenty- one years of age at the time of perpetrating the criminal offence.

(5) Juvenile imprisonment may be imposed under the conditions prescribed by Chapter X (Rules Relating to Correctional Recommendations, Correctional Measures and Punishing Juveniles) of this Code. Juvenile imprisonment is in its purpose, nature, duration and manner of execution a special punishment of deprivation of liberty.

(6) Imprisonment shall be imposed in full years and months; however, the punishment of imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months may also be measured in full days. Long-term imprisonment shall be imposed only in full years.