Social Reintegration and Rehabilitation of Prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

A Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Execution of Criminal Sanctions, Detention and Other Measures was made at the state level in Bosnia and Herzegovina („Official Gazette of BH“, number 13/05), which was amended in 2007, 2009 and 2013 and published in „Official Gazette of BH“ nos. 53/07, 97/07, 37/09 i 103/13. Having in mind that these amendments had over 40 new legal norms which were very significant and introduced new prison standards in the sphere of execution of criminal sanctions, it was decided to make a „Revised text“ of this Law which was established by the Parliamentary Assembly of BH and published in „Official Gazette of BH“ number 22/16 of 29 March 2016.
Applicable Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Execution of Criminal Sanctions, Detention and Other Measures is harmonized with new European Prison Rules issued by the European Committee of Ministers of State Members of the Council of Europe - Recommendation number (2006)2 of 11 January 2006, European Convention on Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Punishments or Treatment, Recommendation of the European Committee for Prevention of Torture - CPT, European Convention of Human Rights from Strasbourg, Maltese Declaration of World Medical Association on Ethic Actions of Medial Personnel in Prisons Towards Persons on Hunger Strike in Custody, as well as Recommendation of the Council of Europe in the field of health care, women’s rights, election right, risk assessment, supervision measures, prohibition or limitation of use of benefits and independent tracking of conditions of stay in prisons and treatment towards and respect of human rights of persons which were imposed criminal sanctions or other measures in accordance with the law. It is a modern Law containing necessary international standards and recommendations.
The Paper further gives an overview of legal norms from this law regulating the field of social reintegration and rehabilitation of prisoners.