The environment and criminal law instruments of protection: The norm and praxis of the Republic of Croatia

The paper provides a concise presentation of the main features of Croatian substantive criminal law as an instrument of social protection. The author describes the most important determinants of the general and special part of the Croatian Criminal Code, analyses the most important case law examples, points out selected theoretical controversies and positions of primarily Croatian but occasionally foreign theorists, and on such a basis expresses his opinions on the observed problems. On this foundation, the author draws a conclusion about how and to what extent Croatian criminal substantive law fulfils its social role in the context of existing social circumstances and needs.