Czech government sets criminal policy priorities for prosecutors

The Czech government has approved a set of criminal policy priorities it wants state prosecutors to take into account. Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc (ANO) said prosecutors should appeal against disproportionately lenient sentences for violent crimes and animal abuse, while pursuing fewer cases involving controversial speech. The priorities also call for quicker handling of cases involving self-defence and greater use of electronic monitoring for prisoners released on parole. Tejc said the government cannot instruct prosecutors how to act in individual cases but can set broader criminal policy goals. The priorities will be communicated to prosecutors through Supreme State Prosecutor Lenka Bradáčová.