NCJ Number
229556
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 2009 Pages: 349-364
Date Published
2009
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This overview of Serbia's criminal justice institutions focuses on the authority and organization of the police, suspects' rights under police procedures, crime issues, the court system, how guilt is determined, and sanctions.
Abstract
Serbia, a country whose economy is in transition, has experienced many changes over the years in terms of its size and composition, along with its government structure, which changed from that of a monarchy to its current status as a republic. The Serbian police are under the command of the Directorate of Police, which is part of the Ministry of Interior. There are 28 Secretariats of Internal Affairs throughout the country. The police execute arrests with a warrant, as is the case in the United States. Police are able to detain an individual at the scene of a crime that has recently occurred. Police may also detain a person if there is evidence that a crime has been committed, in order to prevent suspects from fleeing and to prevent the destruction or removal of evidence. Persons can also be detained for questioning. If there is insufficient evidence to arrest a suspect or not enough suspicion to warrant an interrogation, the individual is released. Crimes are defined in the Criminal Code, which is divided into 35 chapters that contain 432 articles. Regarding crime, one of the major problems is human trafficking, which has become one of the fastest growing transnational crimes. The Ministry of Interior has created a specialized unit to fight human trafficking. The legal system in Serbia consists of one Supreme Court, various district courts, municipal courts, and economic courts. In the administration of justice, there are varying definitions that outline the legal responsibility or culpability based on mental capacity as well as other criminal defenses. 14 notes and 12 references