Enforcement of sentences of imprisonment

Latvia

Latvia - Criminal Code 1998 (2013) EN

General Part

Chapter IV
Punishment

Section 38. Deprivation of Liberty

(1) Deprivation of liberty is the compulsory imprisonment of a person.

(2) Deprivation of liberty shall be determined for a term of not less than fifteen days and not exceeding fifteen years, but for especially serious crimes – for a term not exceeding twenty years.

(2 1) In cases specifically provided for in this Law, temporary deprivation of liberty for a term not exceeding three months may be determined for criminal violations and crimes, for which deprivation of liberty for a term not exceeding five years is provided for in this Law.

(3) In cases specifically provided for in this Law, deprivation of liberty may be determined for life (life imprisonment).

(4) The term of deprivation of liberty shall be determined in years and months, but in cases provided for in this Law, also in days.

Latvia - Criminal Procedure Code 2005 (2022) EN

Section 904. Execution of a Convicting Judgment of an International Court
(1) If an international court has determined that a custodial sentence of the convicted person is to be executed in Latvia, the competent authority shall immediately inform the international court of the possibility of the execution of the sentence or also of circumstances that might substantially influence the execution of the sentence in Latvia.

(2) A sentence shall be executed in accordance with the same procedures as the execution of a sentence imposed in criminal proceedings taking place in Latvia. A convicted person has the right to communicate with an international court without hindrance and confidentially, and the international court has the right to perform supervision of the execution of the sentence.

(3) Only an international court shall be permitted to reduce or change the amount of sentence determined by such court.

(4) During the execution of a sentence, the competent authority shall inform an international court at least 45 days in advance of the fulfilment of previously specified conditions and any circumstances that may substantially influence the provisions or period of imprisonment.

(5) If, after serving a sentence, a person does not have rights or is not given permission to remain in Latvia, such person shall be transported to another country that must accept such person or that agrees to accept such person, respecting the choice of the person.

(6) The criminal prosecution, punishing, or extradition to another country of a convicted person regarding an offence that such person committed before being conveyed for serving a sentence in Latvia may take place only with the consent of an international court, except where the person voluntarily remains in Latvia after serving the sentence for more than 30 days, or has left Latvia and then returned to Latvia.

Rome Statute

Article 103 Role of States in enforcement of sentences of imprisonment

1.

(a) A sentence of imprisonment shall be served in a State designated by the Court from a list of States which have indicated to the Court their willingness to accept sentenced persons.

(b) At the time of declaring its willingness to accept sentenced persons, a State may attach conditions to its acceptance as agreed by the Court and in accordance with this Part.

(c) A State designated in a particular case shall promptly inform the Court whether it accepts the Court's designation.

2.

(a) The State of enforcement shall notify the Court of any circumstances, including the exercise of any conditions agreed under paragraph 1, which could materially affect the terms or extent of the imprisonment. The Court shall be given at least 45 days' notice of any such known or foreseeable circumstances. During this period, the State of enforcement shall take no action that might prejudice its obligations under article 110.

(b) Where the Court cannot agree to the circumstances referred to in subparagraph (a), it shall notify the State of enforcement and proceed in accordance with article 104, paragraph 1.

3. In exercising its discretion to make a designation under paragraph 1, the Court shall take into account the following:

(a) The principle that States Parties should share the responsibility for enforcing sentences of imprisonment, in accordance with principles of equitable distribution, as provided in the Rules of Procedure and Evidence;

(b) The application of widely accepted international treaty standards governing the treatment of prisoners;

(c) The views of the sentenced person;

(d) The nationality of the sentenced person;

(e) Such other factors regarding the circumstances of the crime or the person sentenced, or the effective enforcement of the sentence, as may be appropriate in designating the State of enforcement.

4. If no State is designated under paragraph 1, the sentence of imprisonment shall be served in a prison facility made available by the host State, in accordance with the conditions set out in the headquarters agreement referred to in article 3, paragraph 2. In such a case, the costs arising out of the enforcement of a sentence of imprisonment shall be borne by the Court.

Article 105 Enforcement of the sentence

1. Subject to conditions which a State may have specified in accordance with article 103, paragraph 1 (b), the sentence of imprisonment shall be binding on the States Parties, which shall in no case modify it.

2. The Court alone shall have the right to decide any application for appeal and revision. The State of enforcement shall not impede the making of any such application by a sentenced person.