The main objective of the course is to introduce students to Croatian criminal justice system. It aims exclusively at foreign exchange students, who will get the opportunity for the first time at the Faculty of Law in Zagreb to learn about Croatian criminal justice in a comprehensive and integrated manner. Throughout the course, the students learn about the basic concepts of Croatian substantive criminal law, general principles of criminal liability, justifications and other grounds of impunity, various types of criminal offences and the sanctioning system, Croatian criminal procedure, including judicial organisation, stages of penal process, powers, rights and duties of different subjects, legal remedies, as well as about the prison system and execution and extinction of sentences in general. The course is unique in a sense that it combines substantive criminal law, criminal procedure and penitentiary law (execution of sentences), and thus enable students to get an overview and understand how Croatian criminal justice system functions as a whole, from the moment when the criminal offence is committed or learned about, through criminal proceedings and, finally, execution of sentence. Although the focus of this course is naturally on Croatian institutions, legal rules and their implementation in practice, this course has a strong comparative prong. Learning about a foreign system helps students understand their own legal systems in a more profound manner. In addition, content of the course is offered through comparative lenses and the focus is on basic concepts, principles and reasons that led to particular solutions, and not on detailed analysis of legal articles and particular provisions.
Introduction to Croatian Criminal Justice System
Literature
MANDATORY LITERATURE
Maja Munivrana Vajda; Elizabeta Ivičević Karas; International Encyclopaedia of Laws, Criminal Law – Croatia; Wolters Kluwer (2016), str. 223
Learning outcomes
Understand basic characteristics and trends within Croatian criminal justice system.
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CONTRIBUTES TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES AT THE LEVEL OF THE STUDY PROGRAM
1. Identifying historical, political, economic, European, international, or
other social factors relevant for the construction and application of law.
2. Define basic concepts and institutes and basic doctrines and principles of
individual branches of law.
3. Explain the position and importance of legal science and the relationship
to other scientific disciplines. -
COGNITIVE AREA OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Understanding
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SKILLS
Information management skills, ability to learn, research competences,
presentation and communication skills (clear, understandable and precise
written and oral expression). -
LEARNING CONTENT
Lecture units:
1. Basic features of Croatian political, administrative and judicial system;
2. Overview of Croatian criminal justice system – the police, the
prosecution service, the judiciary, prison system, the bar;
3. Trends within Croatian Criminal justice, phenomenology and statistical
overview;
4. Sources of (criminal) law. -
TEACHING METHODS
Lectures, guided discussions, independent close read of the class material.
Demonstrate the ability to interpret general principles of Croatian substantive criminal law and apply the norms to simple factual circumstances.
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CONTRIBUTES TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES AT THE LEVEL OF THE STUDY PROGRAM
5. Explain the institutes of substantive and procedural law.
6. Apply appropriate legal terminology (in Croatian and one foreign
language) in clear and reasoned oral and written expression.
7. Use information technology and legal databases (eg legislation, case
law, legal journals and other e-resources).
11. Analyse relevant case law. -
COGNITIVE AREA OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Applying
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SKILLS
Ability to solve problems, ability to criticise and self-criticise, research
competences, learning capabilities, presentation and communication
skills. -
LEARNING CONTENT
Lecture units:
1. General Principles of Substantive Criminal Law and Criminal
Liability;
2. Justification, Excuse and Other Grounds of Impunity;
3. Incomplete or Partly Perpetrated Criminal Offences;
4. Classification of Criminal Offences. -
TEACHING METHODS
Lectures, guided discussions, independent close reading of the class
material, case study.
Demonstrate the ability to interpret general principles of Croatian procedural criminal law and to apply procedural norms.
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CONTRIBUTES TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES AT THE LEVEL OF THE STUDY PROGRAM
5. Explain the institutes of substantive and procedural law.
6. Apply appropriate legal terminology (in Croatian and one foreign
language) in clear and reasoned oral and written expression.
7. Use information technology and legal databases (eg legislation, case
law, legal journals and other e-resources).
11. Analyse relevant case law. -
COGNITIVE AREA OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Applying
-
SKILLS
Ability to solve problems, ability to criticise and self-criticise, research
competences, learning capabilities, presentation and communication
skills. -
LEARNING CONTENT
Lecture units:
1. Principles, Institutions and Stages of Criminal Procedure;
2. Powers, Rights and Duties in Pre-trial Proceedings;
3. The Inquiry in Court. -
TEACHING METHODS
Lectures, guided discussions, independent close read of the class material,
case study.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the sanctioning system from the legislative and practical point of view.
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CONTRIBUTES TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES AT THE LEVEL OF THE STUDY PROGRAM
8. Develop ethical, legal and socially responsible behaviour.
12. Evaluate legal institutes and principles in their development dimension
and in relation to the modern legal system.
15. Propose a solution to a legal problem with the aim of drafting a legal
opinion. -
COGNITIVE AREA OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Evaluating
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SKILLS
Ability to solve problems, ability to criticise and self-criticise, research
competences, learning capabilities, ability to create new ideas,
presentation and communication skills. -
LEARNING CONTENT
Lecture units:
1. Classification of criminal sanctions;
2. Execution of prison sentence;
3. A visit to a prison (if possible)/alternative film-screening about
conditions in a Croatian prison. -
TEACHING METHODS
Lectures, guided discussions, debriefing, independent reading of the class
material.
Evaluate Croatian criminal justice system (strong and weak points) in comparative perspective.
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CONTRIBUTES TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES AT THE LEVEL OF THE STUDY PROGRAM
9. Analyze various aspects of the legal system of the Republic of Croatia,
including a comparative perspective.
12. Evaluate legal institutes and principles in their development dimension
and in relation to the modern legal system.
14. Compare different judicial systems. -
COGNITIVE AREA OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Evaluation
-
SKILLS
Ability to solve problems, ability to criticise and self-criticise, research
competences, learning capabilities, presentation and communication
skills. -
LEARNING CONTENT
1. Basic features of Croatian political, administrative and judicial system;
2. Overview of Croatian criminal justice system – the police, the
prosecution service, the judiciary, prison system, the bar;
3. Trends within Croatian Criminal justice, phenomenology and statistical
overview;
4. Sources of (criminal) law;
5. General Principles of Substantive Criminal Law and Criminal Liability;
6. Justification, Excuse and Other Grounds of Impunity;
7. Incomplete or Partly Perpetrated Criminal Offences;
8. Classification of Criminal Offences;
9. Principles, Institutions and Stages of Criminal Procedure;
10. Powers, Rights and Duties in Pre-trial Proceedings;
11. The Inquiry in Court;
12. Classification of criminal sanctions;
13. Execution of prison sentence;
14. A visit to a prison (if possible)/alternative film-screening about
conditions in a Croatian prison. -
TEACHING METHODS
Lectures, guided discussions, debriefing, independent reading of the class
material.