The sentencing practice of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in Hungary

Abstract

Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole is the most severe sanction in Hungarian criminal law, introduced after the abolition of the death penalty. This study is the first comprehensive empirical research that systematically analyses all available TÉSZ judgments. Its aim is not only to map sentencing practices statistically but also to explore the personal, social, and psychological characteristics that define the profile of those sentenced to TÉSZ. The analysis covers 89 first-instance decisions, along with available appellate and Supreme Court rulings, and includes data on mortality, appeals, and clemency petitions. The study also examines the geographical and temporal distribution of the judgments, the types of crimes committed, and the recurring patterns in the offenders’ backgrounds, motivations, and judicial assessments.