Cinayət məsuliyyətindən və cəzadan azad etmənin bəzi aspektləri

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the institutions of early release from criminal liability and punishment as regulated by the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, from the standpoint of legal and social justice. One of the main objectives of criminal law is not limited to imposing punishment but also includes preventing crime, protecting human rights and freedoms, and upholding the principles of humanism and justice. The study evaluates the extent to which these institutions serve these goals and assesses their compliance with the fundamental principles and functions of law. The paper comparatively examines the rule that release from criminal liability may be applied only once, while release from punishment has no such restriction. The legal, social, and practical foundations of this difference are examined, and recommendations for enhancing existing mechanisms are proposed. Furthermore, the research explores the role of these institutions in the rehabilitation, social reintegration, and moral correction of offenders. It is concluded that these legal mechanisms, grounded in the principles of the rule of law and social justice, play an essential role in enhancing the humanistic character of criminal policy and ensuring the individualization of punishment. Keywords: criminal law, exemption from criminal liability, exemption from punishment, penal policy, purpose of punishment, individualization of punishment, principles of law, principle of justice, prevention of crime, legal reforms.