DETERMINATION OF THE NOTION OF CRIMINAL OFFENCE ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL CODE OF SERBIA

Miroslav Vrhovšek

Authors

Miroslav Vrhovšek Prorektor Samostalnog i nedržavnog Univerziteta Privredna akademija u Novom Sadu

Keywords:

definition of the concept of crime, new Serbian Criminal Code, differences between the concepts of criminal act today and before

Abstract

The new Criminal Code of the Republic of Serbia introduces a new general notion of criminal offence. From the moment of entering into force of the new Criminal Code until present date, many comments have been made in our professional literature with reference to new general notion of criminal offence. Those comments were under consideration and were not accepted, due to reasons set forth in this article.

Legislator opted for objectively-subjectively general notion of criminal offence, unlike previous criminal legislation which opted for the definition of criminal offence more in material and formal terms and defined criminal offence as „anti-social behavior, set forth by the law as criminal offence“. Subjective element of culpability was omitted.

New objectively-subjectively general notion of criminal offence is correct and acceptable due to many reasons. First of all, it is in line with current criminal theory dominant in many European Union member states.

Secondly, Article 14 of the new Serbian Criminal Code comprises four necessary elements of general notion of criminal offence, and, at the same time, put them in a hierarchy that is accepted in judicial practice in resolving concrete criminal cases. Lastly, it is in line with EU theory and practice to omit previously recognized element of criminal offence – anti-social behavior.

Due to given reasons, new definition of general notion of criminal offence is included and recognized correctly in new Criminal Code of Serbia, and, for sure, will make contributions to future development of judicial practice. It has already, in a very short period of its implementation, given satisfactory results.

References

Ljubiša Jovanović, Određivanje pojma krivičnog dela, Jugoslovenska revija za kriminologiju i krivično pravo, br. 3/1087, str. 53.

Ljubiša Lazarević, Kritički osvrt na neka rešenja u Krivičnom zakoniku Srbije, Pravni život, Beograd, br. 9/2006, str. 6.

Ljubiša Lazarević, Komentar Krivičnog zakonika Republike Srbije, Savremena administracija, Beograd, 2006. str. XXII;

Bora Čejović, Načelo legaliteta u Krivičnom zakoniku Srbije, Intermex, 2004, str. 89.

Krivični zakonik Republike Srbije, Sl. Gl. RS., br. 85/05 od 14.10.05. stupio na snagu 01.01.2006. godine.

Zoran Stojanović, Krivično pravo opšti deo, IX izdanje, Beograd, 2005, str. 95.

Dragan Jovašević, Osnovne karakteristike novog krivičnog zakonodavstva Republike Srbije, časopis Sudska praksa, Beograd, br. 10–11/05, str. 46.

Zoran Stojanović, Nove tendenciji u savremenoj nauci krivičnog prava i neka pitanja našeg materijalnog krivičnog zakonodavstva, Intermex, Beograd, 2005, str. 21.

Marinka Cetinić, Dva sistema krivičnog prava, Evro-kontinentalno, Anglosakasonskopravo, Pravni život, Beograd, br.9/06. str. 335.

Zoran Stojanović, tendencije u savremenoj nauci krivičnog prava i neka pitanja našeg materijalnog krivičnog zakonodavstva, Intermex, Beograd, str. 22.

Bora Čejović, Osnovi isključenja protivpravnosti krivičnog dela, Intermex, Beograd, 2005, str. 89.

Zoran Stojanović, Osnovne karakteristike Predloga krivičnog zakonika Srbije, Savetovanje Srpskog udruženja za krivično pravo, Kopaonik, 2004. god. Materijali sa savetovanja, str. 10.

Dragan Jovašević, Krivica u novom Krivičnom zakoniku Republike Srbije, Sudska praksa, Beograd, br. 7–8/06. str. 3.

Novica Peković, Opšti pojam krivičnog dela u novom Krivičnom zakoniku i sudska praksa, Bilten sudske prakse Vrhovnog suda Srbije, br.3, Beograd, 2007, str. 128.

Lubo Bavcon, Uvodna pojasnila, KZ RS (1994), str. 39.

Matijaš Ambrož, Predmet svesti o protivpravnosti i njezino mesto u okviru krivice Intermex 2005. str. 352.