Introduction

This chapter introduces the suspended prison sentence as one of the most frequently used yet understudied criminal sanctions in continental Europe. Despite its widespread application – especially in Central and Eastern European countries – it remains poorly theorised and empirically explored. The chapter highlights the conceptual confusion surrounding suspension, its evolving relationship with probation, and the lack of comparative research. It outlines the goals of the book: to examine suspended sentences across post-communist Europe through national case studies, identify common challenges, and propose reform. This introduction situates suspended sentences within broader sentencing systems and explains the structure guiding the country chapters.