SENTENCING SCOPES (RANGES) IN THE CRIMINAL CODE OF MONTENEGRO AND THE SENTENCING POLICY

Abstract

The fixing of sentence is one of the most important issues in both criminal law theory and practice. In a certain sense, all provisions of the criminal legislation are embodied precisely in the fixing of sentence. The fixing of sentence depends on the manner in which the legal sentencing scopes have been set normatively. This paper is dedicated to the analysis of the sentencing ranges in the Criminal Code of Montenegro. It first discusses the three systems of imposition of a sentence of imprisonment, and then the different models of sentencing scopes (closed, open and semi-open). This is followed by a presentation of the prevalence of said models in the criminal legislation of Montenegro in terms of the normative determination of individual sanctions in a separate part of the Criminal Code and its practical application. There is also an examination of the relationship between the legislative sentencing policy and the judicial sentencing policy.