On the Use of Concept of "Judicial Penalty"

Abstract

The essence of the application of the concept of "judicial penalty" is to release a person from criminal liability and oblige to pay a sum of money in the event a person has committed a minor or moderate crime for the first time and has compensated for damage or caused harm. A unique feature of a court penalty is that it is based solely on voluntary payment by the offender. If the offender does not comply with the court decision within the prescribed period, then such a decision is subject to cancellation, and the case is reviewed again but per standard procedure. Resorting to the institution of judicial penalty, the state thereby "gives a chance" to help offenders who have committed crimes of small or medium gravity mend their ways, suffering "minimal losses". The offender does not actually go unpunished, but at the same time does not have a criminal record, is not subject to deprivation or restriction of personal and social rights, which is inherent in the application of the institution of criminal punishment.