The Croatian government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, has approved a package of amendments to the Criminal Code that would introduce life imprisonment and create new criminal offenses related to environmental pollution and animal abuse.
Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Minister Damir Habijan said the proposed changes are partly aimed at aligning Croatian legislation with EU law, while also responding to cases and challenges identified within the country’s criminal justice system.
Under the proposal, life imprisonment would be introduced from January 1, 2027, and would apply to the most serious offenses currently punishable by long-term imprisonment.
These would include genocide, aggression, crimes against humanity, war crimes, terrorism, human trafficking resulting in the death of a child, aggravated murder, the aggravated killing of a woman, child abuse resulting in death, attacks on ships, aircraft or fixed platforms resulting in intentional killing, participation in a criminal organization, actions by elected officials against the state, and the killing of internationally protected persons.
Conditional release after 25 years
Under the proposed legislation, prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment would be eligible to apply for conditional release after serving 25 years.
Habijan stressed that reaching the 25-year threshold would not guarantee release.
“The court will decide on the request, and a request submitted before 25 years have elapsed will not even be considered,” he said, noting that several other EU countries allow applications for conditional release earlier.
The government is also proposing a special system of supervision for high-risk offenders who have completed their prison sentences but have been denied conditional release.
The measure would apply to individuals for whom rehabilitation and resocialization measures have not been effective and where indicators suggest a high probability that they could commit another serious criminal offense.
Supervision would last between one and five years, while cases involving the most serious offenses committed against children could be subject to supervision lasting between one and 10 years, according to Habijan.
The package would also introduce new criminal offenses concerning ecocide and animal abuse, expanding the scope of criminal-law protection for the environment and animals.
The proposed amendments will now proceed through Croatia’s legislative process, with the government aiming for the new life-imprisonment provisions to take effect at the beginning of 2027.
