Wincentego Skrzetuskiego poglądy na prawo karne
Opinions on penal law by Wincenty Skrzetuski

Summary/Abstract: The analysis of opinions on penal law by Wincenty Skrzetuski proves that he was one of the first in the Stanisławski times to encourage to respect the law thoroughly, emphasizing the necessity to form just laws annotated by useful punishment and the one commensurate with the crime committed. Skrzetuski, criticizing the already existing law system, encouraged to liquidate severe punishment, and instead, proposed to create the conditions guaranteeing inevitability of their execution. This educated piar, as many contemporary humanitarians, was in favour of crime prevention, which he considered to be the best way of eliminating crime acts. According to the Enlightenment postulates, he encouraged to write laws which are short, commonly understood and free from contradictions. The speech Wincenty Skrzetuski made before the beginning of the deputation parliamentary session in 1773 published in “Mowy o główniejszych materiach politycznych” was one of the first Polish voices calling to possibly the best and unconditioned liquidation of tortures. A large part of arguments presented by Skrzetuski almost directly refers to “O przestępstwach i karach”, a work by Cezary Beccarii. Opinions on penal law by Skrzetuski should be treated as yet another voice in a discussion on the necessity to reform the law in the gentry republic, which, especially in Poland, strongly referred to the progressive slogans of the 18th century humanitarian school in the penal law shaping at that time.

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