Criminal Law Instruments to Counter Corporate Crimes in Poland
The aim of study was to analyze the functioning the
new model of criminal corporate responsibility in Poland. The need
to introduce into the Polish legal system liability of corporate
(collective entities) has resulted, among others, from the Polish
Republic's international commitments, in particular related to
membership in the European Union. The study showed that responsibility of collective entities under
the Act has a criminal nature. The main question concerns the ability
of the collective entity to be brought to guilt under criminal law
sense. Polish criminal law knows only the responsibility of individual
persons. So far, guilt as a personal feature of action, based on the
ability of the offender to feel in his psyche, could be considered only
in relation to the individual person, while the said Act destroyed this
conviction. Guilt of collective entity must be proven under at least
one of the three possible forms: the guilt in the selection or
supervision and so called organizational guilt. In addition, research in
article has resolved the issue how the principle of proportionality in
relation to criminal measures in response of collective entities should
be considered. It should be remembered that the legal subjectivity of
collective entities, including their rights and freedoms, is an
emanation of the rights and freedoms of individual persons which
create collective entities and through these entities implement their
rights and freedoms. The whole study was proved that the adopted Act largely reflects
the international legal regulations but also contains the unknown and
original legislative solutions.
[1] J. Makarewicz, “Prawo karne. Wykład porównawczy z uwzględnieniem
prawa obowiązującego w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Criminal law.
Comparative studies taking into account the legislation in force in the
Republic of Poland)”, Lviv-Warsaw, 1924, pp. 111.
[2] O. Górniok, “Przestępczość przedsiębiorstw i karanie jej sprawców
(Crime and punishment of its perpetrators)”, Warsaw 1995, pp. 63.
[3] P. Witkowski, “Pojęcie i istota odpowiedzialności karnej –
problematyka odpowiedzialności karnej podmiotów zbiorowych w dobie
reformy prawa karnego (The concept and the essence of criminal
liability-the issue of criminal liability of collective entities in the era of
reform of criminal law)”, (w:) Polska lat dziewięćdziesiątych. Przemiany
państwa i prawa ((in:) Poland of the 1990s. Transformation of state and
law), Lublin 1997, vol. 3, pp. 430.
[4] J. Garus-Ryba, “Osoba prawna jako podmiot przestępstwa – modele
odpowiedzialności karnej podmiotów zbiorowych (A legal person as a
crime-model of collective criminal liability)” Prokuratura i Prawo,
2003, no 2, pp. 47-48.
[5] G. Rejman, “Odpowiedzialność karna osób prawnych (Criminal liability
of legal persons)”, Edukacja Prawnicza, 1995, no 2, pp. 29.
[6] A. Brands, “Problem odpowiedzialności karnej przedsiębiorstw (The
Problem of criminal liability of corporations)”, Prokuratura i Prawo,
1995, no. 5, pp. 28.
[7] ALCE (Act of 28 October 2002 on Liability of Collective Entities for
acts prohibited under penalty) Dz.U.(Journal of Laws) from 2012 r.,
item 768 with further changes, single text. 3
[8] W.Wróbel, A. Zoll, ”Polskie prawo karne. Część ogólna (Polish criminal
law, General part)”, Cracow 2010, pp.177.
[9] B. Nita, ”Model odpowiedzialności podmiotów zbiorowych za czyny
zabronione pod groźbą kary (A model of collective responsibility for
acts prohibited under penalty)”, Państwo i Prawo, 2003, no 6, pp. 17.
[10] Judgment of Constitutional Tribunal from 3rd November 2004, files no
K 18/03.
[11] Judgment of Constitutional Tribunal from 8th July 2003, files no
P 10/02, OTK ZU no 6/A/2003, pos. 62.
[12] D. Habrat, ”Ustawa i odpowiedzialności podmiotów zbiorowych za
czyny zabronione pod groźbą kary. Komentarz (Act and liability of
collective entities for acts prohibited under penalty. Commentary)”,
Warsaw 2014, pp. 36-37.
[13] M Słupska., T Sroka, Commentary to the judgment of 3th November
2004, K 18/03, Państwo i Prawo, 2005, with 8, pp. 123-124.
[14] T Razowski, “Odpowiedzialność podmiotów zbiorowych po
nowelizacji. (Liability of collective entities after revision)”, Prokuratura
i Prawo (2006), no. 9, pp. 132-133.
[15] D. Habrat, ”Materialnoprawne aspekty odpowiedzialności podmiotów
zbiorowych za czyny zabronione pod groźba kary (Substantive law
aspects of liability of collective entities for acts prohibited under the
threat of penalty)”, Torun 2008, pp. 99-101.
[16] B. Namysłowska-Gabrysiak, Ustawa o odpowiedzialności podmiotów
zbiorowych za czyny zabronione pod groźbą kary. Komentarz (The act
on liability of collective entities for acts prohibited under penalty.
Commentary) Cracov 2004, pp. 131-132.
[17] Wala K., Commentary the Supreme Court judgment of 6th April 2011
(V KK 15/11), Przegląd Sądowy, 2012, no. 9, pp. 147.
[18] K 18/03, OTK-A, No 10, item 103.
[19] Dz. U. from 2005, No 180, item 1492.
[20] Dz. U. from 2011, No 191, item 1135.
[21] Elaborated of the basis on the Polish Ministry of Justice data
(http://isws.ms.gov.pl/pl/baza-statystyczna/)
[1] J. Makarewicz, “Prawo karne. Wykład porównawczy z uwzględnieniem
prawa obowiązującego w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Criminal law.
Comparative studies taking into account the legislation in force in the
Republic of Poland)”, Lviv-Warsaw, 1924, pp. 111.
[2] O. Górniok, “Przestępczość przedsiębiorstw i karanie jej sprawców
(Crime and punishment of its perpetrators)”, Warsaw 1995, pp. 63.
[3] P. Witkowski, “Pojęcie i istota odpowiedzialności karnej –
problematyka odpowiedzialności karnej podmiotów zbiorowych w dobie
reformy prawa karnego (The concept and the essence of criminal
liability-the issue of criminal liability of collective entities in the era of
reform of criminal law)”, (w:) Polska lat dziewięćdziesiątych. Przemiany
państwa i prawa ((in:) Poland of the 1990s. Transformation of state and
law), Lublin 1997, vol. 3, pp. 430.
[4] J. Garus-Ryba, “Osoba prawna jako podmiot przestępstwa – modele
odpowiedzialności karnej podmiotów zbiorowych (A legal person as a
crime-model of collective criminal liability)” Prokuratura i Prawo,
2003, no 2, pp. 47-48.
[5] G. Rejman, “Odpowiedzialność karna osób prawnych (Criminal liability
of legal persons)”, Edukacja Prawnicza, 1995, no 2, pp. 29.
[6] A. Brands, “Problem odpowiedzialności karnej przedsiębiorstw (The
Problem of criminal liability of corporations)”, Prokuratura i Prawo,
1995, no. 5, pp. 28.
[7] ALCE (Act of 28 October 2002 on Liability of Collective Entities for
acts prohibited under penalty) Dz.U.(Journal of Laws) from 2012 r.,
item 768 with further changes, single text. 3
[8] W.Wróbel, A. Zoll, ”Polskie prawo karne. Część ogólna (Polish criminal
law, General part)”, Cracow 2010, pp.177.
[9] B. Nita, ”Model odpowiedzialności podmiotów zbiorowych za czyny
zabronione pod groźbą kary (A model of collective responsibility for
acts prohibited under penalty)”, Państwo i Prawo, 2003, no 6, pp. 17.
[10] Judgment of Constitutional Tribunal from 3rd November 2004, files no
K 18/03.
[11] Judgment of Constitutional Tribunal from 8th July 2003, files no
P 10/02, OTK ZU no 6/A/2003, pos. 62.
[12] D. Habrat, ”Ustawa i odpowiedzialności podmiotów zbiorowych za
czyny zabronione pod groźbą kary. Komentarz (Act and liability of
collective entities for acts prohibited under penalty. Commentary)”,
Warsaw 2014, pp. 36-37.
[13] M Słupska., T Sroka, Commentary to the judgment of 3th November
2004, K 18/03, Państwo i Prawo, 2005, with 8, pp. 123-124.
[14] T Razowski, “Odpowiedzialność podmiotów zbiorowych po
nowelizacji. (Liability of collective entities after revision)”, Prokuratura
i Prawo (2006), no. 9, pp. 132-133.
[15] D. Habrat, ”Materialnoprawne aspekty odpowiedzialności podmiotów
zbiorowych za czyny zabronione pod groźba kary (Substantive law
aspects of liability of collective entities for acts prohibited under the
threat of penalty)”, Torun 2008, pp. 99-101.
[16] B. Namysłowska-Gabrysiak, Ustawa o odpowiedzialności podmiotów
zbiorowych za czyny zabronione pod groźbą kary. Komentarz (The act
on liability of collective entities for acts prohibited under penalty.
Commentary) Cracov 2004, pp. 131-132.
[17] Wala K., Commentary the Supreme Court judgment of 6th April 2011
(V KK 15/11), Przegląd Sądowy, 2012, no. 9, pp. 147.
[18] K 18/03, OTK-A, No 10, item 103.
[19] Dz. U. from 2005, No 180, item 1492.
[20] Dz. U. from 2011, No 191, item 1135.
[21] Elaborated of the basis on the Polish Ministry of Justice data
(http://isws.ms.gov.pl/pl/baza-statystyczna/)
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:70783", author = "Dorota Habrat", title = "Criminal Law Instruments to Counter Corporate Crimes in Poland", abstract = "The aim of study was to analyze the functioning the
new model of criminal corporate responsibility in Poland. The need
to introduce into the Polish legal system liability of corporate
(collective entities) has resulted, among others, from the Polish
Republic's international commitments, in particular related to
membership in the European Union. The study showed that responsibility of collective entities under
the Act has a criminal nature. The main question concerns the ability
of the collective entity to be brought to guilt under criminal law
sense. Polish criminal law knows only the responsibility of individual
persons. So far, guilt as a personal feature of action, based on the
ability of the offender to feel in his psyche, could be considered only
in relation to the individual person, while the said Act destroyed this
conviction. Guilt of collective entity must be proven under at least
one of the three possible forms: the guilt in the selection or
supervision and so called organizational guilt. In addition, research in
article has resolved the issue how the principle of proportionality in
relation to criminal measures in response of collective entities should
be considered. It should be remembered that the legal subjectivity of
collective entities, including their rights and freedoms, is an
emanation of the rights and freedoms of individual persons which
create collective entities and through these entities implement their
rights and freedoms. The whole study was proved that the adopted Act largely reflects
the international legal regulations but also contains the unknown and
original legislative solutions.", keywords = "Criminal corporate responsibility, Polish criminal
law. ", volume = "9", number = "6", pages = "2157-4", }