Croatia: National Regulations in the Shadow of a Common Past

Croatia is relatively small country with population of approx. 4 million inhabitants. It is a European
country, and is part of the Central and Eastern Europe. The area of the state is 56, 594 km2 by land,
and 31,479 km2 by sea (interior waters and territorial sea), in total 88,073 km2 which makes Croatia
one of the medium-sized European countries. It was a part of Yugoslavia till 1991. After its independence,
Croatia shifted from socialist regime to democracy, and the law reform followed. Croatia
has enacted new Constitution in compliance with all international standards, abolishing the death
penalty. In the beginning of its independence, it has taken existing legislature of Yugoslavia, but later
it has been working on its own legislature and reform of the judiciary and (criminal) law system. So,
in past few decades it has gone through a significant law reform, among other law areas criminal law
was also significantly affected and influenced by the state law reform. Many new laws were enacted
regulating area of criminal law, as well as the laws regulating some issues relevant for criminal law
(both substantive or procedural, and penitentiary as well). The main laws in field of criminal law (in
broader sense) are Penal code (subsequently: PC) for Substantive criminal law, Criminal Procedure
Act (subsequently: CPA) for Criminal procedural law and Penitentiary Act (subsequently: PA) for
Penitentiary law.
In this paper (report) will be presented some key information about Croatia, Croatia’s judiciary
system and criminal law system and reform.

KEYWORDS: Croatia, judiciary system, criminal law, criminal procedural law, penitentiary law