| Abstract [eng] |
This master’s thesis seeks to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of alternatives to imprisonment in Lithuania, analyses the concept and objectives of the custodial sentence, revealing that Lithuanian criminal policy is oriented towards the relative theory of punishment, the essence of which is not merely to punish a person, but also to rehabilitate them and prevent reoffending. The thesis examines both international legal acts – the Tokyo, Beijing, Bangkok and Riyadh Rules – and national legislation establishing the grounds and limits for the application of alternatives to imprisonment. Four main alternatives to imprisonment provided for in the Lithuanian Criminal Code are reviewed: community service, a fine, restriction of liberty and suspension of sentence, revealing the possibilities and limitations of applying each of them to both adult and juvenile offenders. The topic is developed by reference to foreign best practice, particularly the Scandinavian prison model, which illustrates how a humane approach to punishment contributes to lower rates of imprisonment and recidivism. The social, economic and criminological advantages of alternatives to imprisonment are analysed, substantiating that properly applied alternative sanctions demonstrate greater of equivalent effectiveness in reducing recidivism, preserve the convicted person’s social ties and are considerably less costly to the state than imprisonment. The thesis also critically examines the disadvantages and practical challenges of alternatives to imprisonment – the lack of institutional capacity, funding and workload problems within probation services, the unequal impact of the fine on persons of different financial means, the administrative difficulties of community service, and the insufficient number of specialists working with juvenile offenders. |
