Consequences of introducing the possibility of imposing an irreducible life sentence into the criminal code with regard to extradition and the execution of the european arrest warrant

The Act of 7 July 2022, amending the Act – Criminal Code and certain other acts, introduced the possibility of imposing a sentence of life imprisonment without parole into the Criminal Code. The legislator provided for two grounds for the optional imposition of an irreducible life imprisonment sentence. The first (Article 77 § 3 of the Criminal Code) is based on formal grounds: a previous conviction for a specific type of crime (against life and health, freedom, sexual freedom, public security, or of a terrorist nature) to life imprisonment or imprisonment for a term of not less than 20 years. The second ground (Article 77 § 4 of the Criminal Code) operates on a substantive condition: the nature and circumstances of the act and the personal characteristics of the perpetrator indicate that the perpetrator’s remaining at liberty would pose a permanent danger to the life, health, freedom, or sexual freedom of others. This article posits that the provisions of Article 77 § 3 and 4 of the Criminal Code are incompatible with Article 3 of the ECHR, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. As a result of the introduction of this type of punishment in Polish law, we may unfortunately realistically expect other states to refuse to hand over individuals prosecuted for crimes punishable by such punishment or those already sentenced to such punishment.