Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.30925/zpfsr.46.3.8
Some Legal Issues on the Status of Animals in Criminal Proceedings: Croatian and Comparative Perspective
Maja Pilić
; University of Split, Faculty of Forensic Sciences
*
Petar Lesko
; University of Mostar, Faculty of Law
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The issue of the legal status of animals in criminal proceedings is one of the least researched areas within criminal law science. Despite the growing awareness of animal protection, their position in criminal proceedings remains legally unregulated. This paper analyses the legal status of animals through criminal and criminal procedural law, with a special emphasis on the Croatian legal framework and its limitations. The paper also provides a comparative overview of selected legal systems in which significant strides have been made towards recognizing animals as subjects of criminal law protection. The aim of the paper is to explore the possibilities of redefining the legal concept of a “victim” in criminal proceedings in a direction that would include animals as sentient beings. This recognition of a certain procedural subjectivity for animals would contribute to strengthening their real protection and
open up space for further legislative reforms.
Keywords
animals; killing or torturing animals; criminal procedure; victim; comparative law.
Hrčak ID:
341010
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2025.
Visits: 763 *