PENALTY TO FIT CRIMINAL IN NEW JUGO-SLAV CODE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6886, 16 April 1929, Page 3

PENALTY TO FIT CRIMINAL IN NEW JUGO-SLAV CODE

BELGRADE, March 9. Punishment adapted to the criminal and not to the crime, and the reduction of the number of cases for capital punishment, are features of the new criminal law promulgated by the Government pf Jugo-Slavia. Judges are given a great deal of latitude in the imposing of punishments and havo a large number of measures to choose from. In case a condemned person shows exemplary conduct while serving his sentence and indicates that ho has a sincere desire to reform, his sentence may be shortened and his civil rights restored. Debauched persons may be kept in custody or under supervision or on parole, so as to preserve society from their contaminating influence. One section of the new - law deals with crimes connected with modern means of transportation, such as automobiles and airplanes. Sentences of capital punishment will be executed by hanging and not, as heretofore, by shooting. The most important feature of the law is that it will be applied throughout the whole kingdom and represents (he first part of a complete new law code for all of Jugo-Slavia, which will replace the seven systems now in force. This is the most important achievement of permanent value which the nc-w government has wrought so far. In the treatment of ordinary criminals it tends to be lenient, but in the treatment of insurgents and social reformers it is very severe. Agitation against the present form of government or against the dominant economic or social group is made a criminal offence.

Juvenile offenders are divided into three categories, according to their ages: Those under 14, those between 14 and 17, and those between 17 and 2.1. .Only the last are subject to all the rigours of the law ,and then only in cases of persons with plain criminal proclivities. Capital punishment is never to be applied to persons under 21 years of age. Most juvenile offenders are to be reprimanded, supervised or placed in homes of correction. In all eases they are to be. kept apart from hardened criminals.