Day Fines in Europe
Assessing Income-Based Sanctions in Criminal Justice Systems

The first comprehensive analysis of income-dependent fines (day fines), which can improve criminal sentencing by reducing inequality and short-term imprisonment.

Elena Kantorowicz-Reznichenko (Edited by), Michael Faure (Edited by)

9781108490832, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 1 July 2021

400 pages
23.5 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.75 kg

Day fines, as a pecuniary sanction, have a great potential to reduce inequality in the criminal sentencing system, as they impose the same relative punishment on all offenders irrespective of their income. Furthermore, with correct implementation, they can constitute an alternative sanction to the more repressive and not always efficient short-term prison sentences. Finally, by independently expressing in the sentence the severity and the income of the offender, day fines can increase uniformity and transparency of sentencing. Having this in mind, almost half of the European Union countries have adopted day fines in their criminal justice system. For the first time, this book makes their findings accessible to a wider international audience. Aimed at scholars, policy makers and criminal law practitioners, it provides an opportunity to learn about the theoretical advantages, the practical challenges, the successes and failures, and ways to improve.

1. Introduction Elena Kantorowicz-Reznichenko and Michael Faure
2. Theoretical Perspectives on Day Fines Elena Kantorowicz-Reznichenko
3. Day Fines in Finland Raimo Lahti
4. Day Fines in Sweden Jacob Öberg
5. Day Fines in Denmark Thomas Elholm
6. Day Fines in Germany Hans-Joerg Albrecht
7. Day Fines in Austria Christopher Kahl and Verena Weinberger
8. Day Fines in Hungary Csaba Gy?ry
9. Day Fines in France Bruno Deffains and Jean-Baptiste Thierry
10. Day Fines in Portugal Maria Fernanda Palma and Helena Morão
11. Day (Unit) Fines in England and Wales Valsamis Mitsilegas and Foivi Sofia Mouzakiti
12. Day Fines in Slovenia Mitja Kovac
13. Day Fines in Spain Jesús Barquín Sanz
14. Day fines in Poland Dawid M. Marko and S?awomir Steinborn
15. Day Fines in Croatia Maja Munivrana Vajda
16. Day Fines in Switzerland Martin Killias and Lorenz Biberstein
17. Day Fines in Czech Republic Ji?í Kindl and Jan Kup?ík
18. Day Fines in Romania Mihail Udroiu
19. Comparative Law and Economics Perspective on Day Fines Elena Kantorowicz-Reznichenko and Michael Faure.

Subject Areas: Social law [LNT], Criminal procedure [LNFX], Criminal justice law [LNFB], Criminal law & procedure [LNF], EU & European institutions [JPSN2]