Crime Proceeds Value Threshold in Extended Confiscation in the Light of the Principles of Legality and Proportionality and Rational Penal Policy

The article discusses the clause provided in the Lithuanian Criminal Code, which limits the court’s extended powers of confiscation in regard of crime proceeds of value less than EUR 12,500. The developing practice of the application of extended powers of confiscation in Lithuania makes this issue...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Skirmantas Bikelis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius University Press 2022-12-01
Series:Kriminologijos studijos
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/kriminologijos-studijos/article/view/29668
_version_ 1797937569242021888
author Skirmantas Bikelis
author_facet Skirmantas Bikelis
author_sort Skirmantas Bikelis
collection DOAJ
description The article discusses the clause provided in the Lithuanian Criminal Code, which limits the court’s extended powers of confiscation in regard of crime proceeds of value less than EUR 12,500. The developing practice of the application of extended powers of confiscation in Lithuania makes this issue not only a matter of principle but also a practical one. The article analyzes to what extent such a precondition is compatible with the principle of legality and in particular the principle that rights do not arise from wrongdoing (Ex iniuria ius non oritur). Further, the author discusses the arguments justifying the discussed limitation to confiscate low-value crime proceeds – rational organisation of law enforcement resources, the principle of proportionality and a requirement of legal systematicity. The article concludes that the latter arguments are not always used accurately. The limitations of law enforcement resources ought to be regarded by providing authorities with discretion, not by limiting confiscation powers. The principle of proportionality and legal systematicity are hardly applicable in the discussion due to the specific legal nature of the confiscation powers. In parallel, the article concludes that the limitation of the minimum value of confiscatable crime proceeds is contrary to the European Union law – Directive 2014/42/EU.
first_indexed 2024-04-10T18:47:31Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d5d5337f651e4ae58fe05457cbadde9a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2538-8754
2351-6097
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-10T18:47:31Z
publishDate 2022-12-01
publisher Vilnius University Press
record_format Article
series Kriminologijos studijos
spelling doaj.art-d5d5337f651e4ae58fe05457cbadde9a2023-02-01T10:06:33ZengVilnius University PressKriminologijos studijos2538-87542351-60972022-12-011010.15388/CrimLithuan.2022.10.2Crime Proceeds Value Threshold in Extended Confiscation in the Light of the Principles of Legality and Proportionality and Rational Penal PolicySkirmantas Bikelis0Law Institute of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences The article discusses the clause provided in the Lithuanian Criminal Code, which limits the court’s extended powers of confiscation in regard of crime proceeds of value less than EUR 12,500. The developing practice of the application of extended powers of confiscation in Lithuania makes this issue not only a matter of principle but also a practical one. The article analyzes to what extent such a precondition is compatible with the principle of legality and in particular the principle that rights do not arise from wrongdoing (Ex iniuria ius non oritur). Further, the author discusses the arguments justifying the discussed limitation to confiscate low-value crime proceeds – rational organisation of law enforcement resources, the principle of proportionality and a requirement of legal systematicity. The article concludes that the latter arguments are not always used accurately. The limitations of law enforcement resources ought to be regarded by providing authorities with discretion, not by limiting confiscation powers. The principle of proportionality and legal systematicity are hardly applicable in the discussion due to the specific legal nature of the confiscation powers. In parallel, the article concludes that the limitation of the minimum value of confiscatable crime proceeds is contrary to the European Union law – Directive 2014/42/EU. https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/kriminologijos-studijos/article/view/29668extended powers of confiscationprinciple of legalityrational penal policyDirective 2014/42/EUproperty value threshold
spellingShingle Skirmantas Bikelis
Crime Proceeds Value Threshold in Extended Confiscation in the Light of the Principles of Legality and Proportionality and Rational Penal Policy
Kriminologijos studijos
extended powers of confiscation
principle of legality
rational penal policy
Directive 2014/42/EU
property value threshold
title Crime Proceeds Value Threshold in Extended Confiscation in the Light of the Principles of Legality and Proportionality and Rational Penal Policy
title_full Crime Proceeds Value Threshold in Extended Confiscation in the Light of the Principles of Legality and Proportionality and Rational Penal Policy
title_fullStr Crime Proceeds Value Threshold in Extended Confiscation in the Light of the Principles of Legality and Proportionality and Rational Penal Policy
title_full_unstemmed Crime Proceeds Value Threshold in Extended Confiscation in the Light of the Principles of Legality and Proportionality and Rational Penal Policy
title_short Crime Proceeds Value Threshold in Extended Confiscation in the Light of the Principles of Legality and Proportionality and Rational Penal Policy
title_sort crime proceeds value threshold in extended confiscation in the light of the principles of legality and proportionality and rational penal policy
topic extended powers of confiscation
principle of legality
rational penal policy
Directive 2014/42/EU
property value threshold
url https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/kriminologijos-studijos/article/view/29668
work_keys_str_mv AT skirmantasbikelis crimeproceedsvaluethresholdinextendedconfiscationinthelightoftheprinciplesoflegalityandproportionalityandrationalpenalpolicy