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No. XLVII/2 (2025)
Articles

Toughening of criminal law and its influence on sentencing

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  • Sebastian Gölly
Sebastian Gölly
University of Graz
Bio

Published 2026-06-03

Keywords

  • sentencing,
  • criminalization,
  • tightening of criminal law,
  • criminal law developments,
  • sentencing practice,
  • Austrian criminal law
    • ...More
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sebastian Gölly

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

“Toughening of criminal law and its influence on sentencing: Zaostrzenie prawa karnego i jego wpływ na wymiar kar” (2026) Archives of Criminology, (XLVII/2), pp. 175–196. doi:10.7420/AK2025.20.
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Abstract

The development of criminal law in German-speaking countries has been characterised by a tendency towards strictness and criminalisation in recent years. In light of this, the question arises as to how this toughening of the law affects actual judicial sentencing practice. This article aims to summarise these developments in the toughening of criminal law, using Austria as an example. It also examines whether corresponding tendencies can be found in Austrian judicial sentencing practice, and whether the legislative toughening of Austrian criminal law can be regarded as a decisive factor in any harshening of Austria’s judicial sentencing practice.

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References

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