Court issues country’s first ever house arrest verdict

A Czech court has issued the first-ever house arrest verdict in the Czech Republic. The ruling is in line with a new criminal code, effective as of this year, which introduces house arrest as an alternative form of punishment for light offenders. The 12-month house arrest sentence was handed to a 46-year-old man for attacking and injuring another man under the influence of alcohol. The victim had to be hospitalized. The verdict means that the offender will be able to continue working but is not allowed to leave his house between 8pm and 5am for a year. If he violates these conditions he will be sent to prison for eight months.

The introduction of this alternative form of punishment is complicated but the fact that the authorities do not have functioning electronic tags at their disposal. Until they do so, probation officers will check on the offender several days a week.