Chapter 1 Summary Penalty Order Procedure, Contravention Procedure |
Section 1 Summary Penalty Order Procedure |
Art. 352 Requirements
1 If the accused has accepted responsibility for the offence in the preliminary proceedings or if his or her responsibility has otherwise been satisfactorily established, the public prosecutor shall issue a summary penalty order if, having taken account of any suspended sentence or parole order that must be revoked, it regards any of the following sentences as appropriate:
2 Any of these sentences may be combined with a measure in accordance with Articles 66 and 67e–73 SCC176.177 3 Sentences in accordance with paragraph 1 letters b–d may be combined with each other provided the total sentence imposed corresponds to a custodial sentence of no more than 6 months. A fine may always be combined with any another sentence. 175 Repealed by Annex No 3 of the FA of 19 June 2015 (Amendments to the Law of Criminal Sanctions), with effect from 1 Jan. 2018 (AS 2016 1249; BBl 2012 4721). 177 Amended by Annex No 5 of the FA of 20 March 2015 (Implementation of Art. 121 para. 3–6 Federal Constitution on the expulsion of foreign nationals convicted of certain criminal offences), in force since 1 Oct. 2016 (AS 2016 2329; BBl 2013 5975). |
Art. 353 Content and notice of the summary penalty order
1 The summary penalty order contains:
2 If the accused has accepted the civil claims of the private claimant, this shall also be recorded in the summary penalty order. Claims that are not accepted shall be referred for civil proceedings. 3 Immediate written notice of the summary penalty order shall be given to persons and authorities who are entitled to reject the order. 178 Inserted by Annex 1 No 2 of the FA of 17 Dec. 2021, in force since 1 Aug. 2023 (AS 2023 309; BBl 2021 44). |
Art. 354 Rejection
1 A written rejection of the summary penalty order may be filed with the public prosecutor within 10 days by:
2 A rejection other than that made by the accused must be accompanied by a statement of grounds. 3 Unless a valid rejection is filed, the summary penalty order becomes a final judgment. |
Art. 355 Procedure for rejection
1 If a rejection is filed, the public prosecutor shall gather the additional evidence required to assess the rejection. 2 If the person filing the rejection fails to attend an examination hearing without an excuse despite being served with a summons, the rejection is deemed to have been withdrawn. 3 After taking the evidence, the public prosecutor shall decide to either:
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Art. 356 Procedure before the court of first instance
1 If the public prosecutor decides to stand by the summary penalty order, it shall send the files immediately to the court of first instance for the conduct of the main hearing. The summary penalty order constitutes the indictment. 2 The court of first instance shall decide on the validity of the summary penalty order and its rejection. 3 The rejection may be withdrawn at any time prior to the conclusion of the party submissions. 4 If the person filing the rejection fails to attend the main hearing without excuse or being represented, the rejection is deemed to have been withdrawn. 5 If the summary penalty order is invalid, the court shall revoke it and refer the case back to the public prosecutor for new preliminary proceedings to be conducted. 6 If the rejection relates only to costs and damages or other incidental legal orders, so the court shall decide in written proceedings, unless the person filing the rejection expressly requests a hearing. 7 If summary penalty orders have been issued to two or more persons in relation to the same act, Article 392 applies mutatis mutandis. |
Chapter 3 Procedure for Separate Subsequent Court Decisions |
Art. 363 Jurisdiction
1 The court that issued the first instance judgment shall also take any separate subsequent decisions delegated to a judicial authority unless the Confederation or cantons provide otherwise. 2 If the public prosecutor issued the decision in summary penalty order proceedings or the authority responsible for prosecuting contraventions issued the decision in contravention proceedings, these authorities shall also take the subsequent decisions. 3 The Confederation and the cantons shall specify the authorities responsible for making subsequent decisions that are not made by the court. |
Art. 364 Procedure
1 The competent authority shall begin proceedings to issue a subsequent judicial decision ex officio unless federal law provides otherwise. It shall submit the relevant files and its application to the court. 2 In all other cases, the person convicted or any other entitled persons may request proceedings be initiated by filing a written and justified application. 3 The court shall examine whether the requirements for the subsequent judicial decision are fulfilled, and shall if necessary add to the files or arrange for further enquiries to be carried out by the police. 4 It shall give the persons and authorities concerned the opportunity to comment on the intended decision and to submit applications. |
Art. 364a Preventive detention with a view to a separate subsequent court decision 179
1 The authority responsible for initiating the proceedings to issue a separate decision ex officio may order the arrest of the convicted person if it is seriously to be expected that:
2 The procedure is governed by analogy by Articles 222–228. 3 The competent authority shall submit the relevant files and its application to the court responsible for the separate subsequent decision as quickly as possible. 179 Inserted by No I of the FA of 25 Sept. 2020 (Preventive Detention in the Procedure for Separate Subsequent Decisions), in force since 1 March 2021 (AS 2021 75; BBl 2019 6697). |
Art. 364b Preventive detention during the court proceedings 180
1 The director of proceedings may order the arrest of the convicted person subject to the requirements of Article 364aparagraph 1. 2 It shall conduct detention proceedings by analogous application of Article 224 and request the compulsory measures court or the director of appellate proceedings to order preventive detention. The procedure is governed by analogy by Articles 225 and 226. 3 If preventive detention has already been ordered, the procedure is governed by analogy by Article 227. 4 Articles 222 and 230–233 also apply by analogy. 180 Inserted by No I of the FA of 25 Sept. 2020 (Preventive Detention in the Procedure for Separate Subsequent Decisions), in force since 1 March 2021 (AS 2021 75; BBl 2019 6697). |
Chapter 4 Procedure in the Absence of the Accused |
Chapter 5 Separate Measures Procedures |
Section 1 Good Behaviour Bond Order |
Art. 372 Requirements and jurisdiction
1 If it is not competent to order a good behaviour bond in terms of Article 66 SCC181 in the course of the criminal proceedings against the accused, separate proceedings shall be held. 2 If the accused is in detention due to a risk that he or she will commit a threatened felony or misdemeanour or that he or she will commit that felony or misdemeanour again, a good behaviour bond order is not competent. 3 The application to begin separate proceedings must be submitted to the public prosecutor in the place where the threat was made or the intention was expressed to commit the offence again. |
Art. 373 Procedure
1 The public prosecutor shall question the persons involved and then pass the files to the compulsory measures court. The court shall order the measures mentioned in Article 66 SCC182. The person concerned may file an objection against an order of detention with the objections authority. 2 The person threatened has the same rights as a private claimant. He or she may where this is justified be required to lodge security for the costs of the proceedings and for damages. 3 The person alleged to have made the threat has the rights of an accused. 4 Where money bail in accordance with Article 66 paragraph 3 SCC is forfeited to the state, a ruling thereon shall be issued in application of Article 240. 5 If a person threatens immediate danger, the public prosecutor may place this person provisionally in detention or take other protective measures. The public prosecutor shall bring the person immediately before the competent compulsory measures court; this court shall decide on whether to order detention. |
Section 2 Procedure where the Accused is not legally responsible due to a Mental Disorder |
Art. 374 Requirements and procedure
1 If an accused is not legally responsible due to a mental disorder and if the application of Article 19 paragraph 4 or 263 SCC183 is not an option, the public prosecutor shall make a written application to the court of first instance for a measure in accordance with Articles 59–61, 63, 64, 67 or 67b or 67e SCC, without abandoning the proceedings beforehand due to the accused not being legally responsible due to a mental disorder.184 2 The court of first instance may in consideration of the accused's state of health or to protect the accused's privacy:
3 It shall give any private claimant the opportunity to comment on the application made by the public prosecutor and on his or her civil claim. 4 The provisions on the main proceedings at first instance otherwise apply. 184 Amended by Annex No 1 of the FA of 13 Dec. 2013 on Activity Prohibition Orders and Contact Prohibition and Exclusion Orders, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 2055; BBl 20128819). |
Art. 375 Decision
1 The court shall order the measures requested or other measures if it is satisfied that the accused committed the act but is not legally responsible due to a mental disorder and that measure is required. It shall decide on any civil claims at the same time. 2 The order in respect of the measure and the decision on the civil claims are issued in a judgment. 3 If the court is satisfied that the accused has the mental capacity to be legally responsible or that he or she committed the offences while lacking such mental capacity, it shall reject the application made by the public prosecutor. When this decision becomes legally binding, the preliminary proceedings against the accused shall be continued. |
Title 9 Appellate Remedies |
Chapter 1 General Provisions |
Art. 381 Rights of the public prosecutor
1 The public prosecutor may seek an appellate remedy for the benefit or to the detriment of an accused or a person convicted. 2 If the Confederation or cantons provide for a chief prosecutor or an attorney general, they shall specify which public prosecutor is entitled to seek an appellate remedy. 3 They shall specify which authorities may seek an appellate remedy in contravention proceedings. 4 The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland may seek an appellate remedy in respect of cantonal decisions if:
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Art. 382 Rights of other parties
1 Any party with a legitimate interest in the quashing or amendment of a decision may seek an appellate remedy. 2 A private claimant may not contest a decision on a sanction that has been imposed. 3 In the event of the death of the accused, the person convicted or a private claimant the next-of-kin in terms of Article 110 paragraph 1 SCC185 and in accordance with their ranking under the law of succession may seek an appellate remedy or continue the appellate proceedings provided their legitimate interests are affected. |
Art. 383 Payment of security
1 The director of appellate proceedings may require the private claimant to lodge security within of a time limit to cover any costs and damages. Article 136 remains reserved. 2 If the security is not paid in time, the appellate authority shall not consider the appellate remedy. |
Art. 384 Commencement of the period for requesting the appellate remedy
The period for requesting an appellate remedy begins:
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Art. 385 Statement of the grounds and form
1 If this Code requires that the appellate remedy be accompanied by a statement of the grounds, the person or the authority seeking the appellate remedy must indicate precisely:
2 If the submission fails to satisfy these requirements, the appellate authority shall return the same and fix a short additional period within which it may be amended. If the submission still fails to satisfy the requirements after this additional period, the appellate authority shall not consider the appellate remedy. 3 The incorrect designation of an appellate remedy does not adversely affect its validity. |
Art. 386 Waiver and withdrawal
1 Any person with a right to seek an appellate remedy may waive this right by making a written or oral declaration to the authority issuing the decision on receiving notice of the contestable decision. 2 Any person who has requested an appellate remedy may withdraw the same:
3 Waiver and withdrawal are final unless the party has been induced to make his or her declaration by deception, an offence or incorrect official information. |
Art. 388 Measures directing proceedings and preliminary measures
The director of appellate proceedings shall take the required measures directing proceedings and preliminary measures that cannot be delayed. He or she may in particular:
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Art. 389 Additional evidence
1 The appellate proceedings are based on the evidence that was taken in the preliminary proceedings and in the main proceedings before the court of first instance. 2 Evidence taken by the court of first instance shall only be taken again if:
3 The appellate authority shall take the required additional evidence ex officio or at the request of a party. |
Art. 390 Written procedure
1 Any person who wishes to request an appellate remedy for which this Code stipulates a written procedure must file the relevant petition. 2 If the appellate remedy is not obviously inadmissible or unjustified, the director of proceedings shall send the petition to the other parties and the lower court to obtain their response. If the petition cannot be sent to a party or if a party fails to respond, the proceedings shall nevertheless be continued. 3 The appellate authority shall if necessary order a second exchange of written submissions. 4 It shall make its decision by way of circulation or by deliberating in camera based on the files and any additional evidence taken. 5 It may order a hearing ex officio at the request of a party. |
Art. 391 Decision
1 In making its decision, the appellate authority is not bound by:
2 It may not amend decisions to the prejudice of an accused or person convicted if the appeal was filed solely for that person's benefit. However, it may impose a more severe penalty where facts have come to light that the court of first instance could not have known. 3 It may not amend decisions on civil matters to the prejudice of a private claimant if this is the only person to request an appellate remedy. |
Art. 392 Extending the application of successful appellate remedies
1 Where only certain individual suspects or person convicted in the same proceedings have requested an appellate remedy and if this appellate remedy is granted, the contested decision shall also be quashed or amended in favour of the persons who did not request an appellate remedy if:
2 Before making their decision, the appellate authority shall if necessary hear the accused or person convicted who have not requested an appellate remedy, the public prosecutor and the private claimant. |
Chapter 3 Appeals |
Section 2 Procedure |
Art. 403 Decision to consider the substance of the appeal
1 The court of appeal shall decide in written proceedings whether it should consider the substance of the appeal where the director of proceedings or a party claims:
2 It shall give the parties opportunity to comment. 3 If it decides not to consider the substance of the appeal, it shall give notice of its decision and the grounds therefor to the parties. 4 The director of proceedings shall otherwise and without any further formalities make the required arrangements for conducting the appellate proceedings. |
Art. 405 Oral procedure
1 The oral appeal hearing is governed by the provisions on the main hearing in the first instance. 2 If the accused or the private claimant filed the appeal or cross-appeal, the director of proceedings shall summon him or her to the appeal hearing. In simple cases, he or she may, if requested, be granted dispensation not to attend and be permitted to submit and justify their applications in writing. 3 The director of proceedings shall summon the public prosecutor to the hearing:
4 If the public prosecutor is not summoned, it may submit written applications and a written statement of the grounds or appear personally in court. |
Art. 406 Written procedure
1 The court of appeal may deal with the appeal in written proceedings if:
2 With the consent the parties, the director of proceedings may also order written proceedings if:
3 The director of proceedings shall fix a time limit within which the party filing the appeal must submit a written statement of the grounds. 4 The subsequent proceedings are governed by Article 390 paragraphs 2–4. |
Art. 407 Default by the parties
1 The appeal or cross-appeal is deemed to have been withdrawn if the party that has filed it:
2 If the public prosecutor or the private claimant has filed an appeal against the verdict or the sentence and the accused fails without excuse to attend the hearing, so proceedings in absentia shall be held. 3 If the private claimant has limited his or her appeal to the civil aspect and the accused fails without excuse to attend the hearing, the court of appeal shall decide as on the basis of the findings made in the main hearing before the court of first instance and the other files. |
Chapter 4 Review |
Art. 410 Admissibility of and grounds for a review
1 Any person who is adversely affected by a legally binding final judgment, a summary penalty order, a subsequent judicial decision or a decision in separate proceedings on measures may request a review of the case if:
2 The review of a case due to a violation of the Convention of 4 November 1950187 for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) may be requested if:
3 The review of a case for the benefit of the person convicted may also be requested after the case becomes time-barred. 4 Is the review of a case is limited to civil claims, it shall be admissible only if the civil procedure law applicable at the place of jurisdiction would allow a review of a case. 188 Amended by Annex No 3 of the FA of 1 Oct. 2021, in force since 1 July 2022 (AS 2022 289; BBl 2021300, 889). |
Art. 411 Form and time limit
1 Applications for the review of a case must be submitted to the court of appeal in writing and include a statement of the grounds. The application must indicate and substantiate the grounds for the review. 2 Applications in terms of Article 410 paragraph 1 letter b and 2 must be filed within 90 days of receiving notice of the decision concerned. In other cases, applications for the review of a case are not subject to a time limit. |
Art. 412 Preliminary examination and decision to consider the substance of the case
1 The court of appeal shall conduct a preliminary examination of the application for a review in written proceedings. 2 If the application is clearly in admissible or unjustified or if an application on the same grounds has already been made and rejected, the court shall not consider the substance of the case. 3 The court shall otherwise request the other parties and the lower court to comment in writing. 4 It shall decide on the required additions to the evidence and files as well as on preliminary measures, unless this is the responsibility of the director of proceedings in accordance with Article 388. |
Art. 413 Decision
1 If the court of appeal rejects the grounds for a review put forward, it shall dismiss the application for a review and cancel any preliminary measures. 2 If the court of appeal accepts the grounds for a review put forward, it shall quash the contested decision in its entirety or in part and:
3 In the event that it remits the case, it shall decide on the extent to which the grounds for a review accepted nullify the legality and enforceability of the contested decision and at what stage the proceedings should be resumed. 4 It may order the accused to be placed temporarily or to remain in preventive detention, if the relevant requirements are fulfilled. |
Art. 414 New proceedings
1 If the court of appeal has remitted the case to the public prosecutor, the public prosecutor shall decide whether to raise a new prosecution, to issue a summary penalty order or to abandon the proceedings. 2 If it has remitted the case to a court, the court shall take any additional evidence required and, following a main hearing, shall issue a new judgment. |
Art. 415 Consequences of the new decision
1 If the new decision imposes a higher sentence on the accused, the portion of the original sentence already served shall be taken into account. 2 If the accused is acquitted or a more lenient sentence is imposed or if the proceedings are abandoned, any fines or monetary penalties that have been overpaid shall be refunded. Claims made by the accused for damages or satisfaction are governed by Article 436 paragraph 4. 3 If a conviction is overturned and an acquittal imposed, the accused or, following his or her death, his or her next-of-kin may demand that the new decision be published. |
Title 10 Procedural Costs, Damages and Satisfaction |
Chapter 2 Procedural Costs |
Art. 422 Definition
1 The procedural costs comprise the charges that cover fees and outlays in a specific criminal case. 2 Outlays are in particular:
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Art. 423 Principles
1 The procedural costs shall be borne by the Confederation or the canton that conducts the proceedings, unless otherwise provided in this Code. 2 and 3 …189 189 Repealed by Annex No II 7 of the Criminal Justice Authorities Act of 19 March 2010, with effect from 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 3267; BBl 2008 8125). |
Art. 426 Liability to pay costs of the accused and parties to separate measures proceedings
1 The accused shall bear the procedural costs if he or she is convicted. Exempted therefrom are the costs of the duty defence lawyer; Article 135 paragraph 4 is reserved. 2 If the proceedings are abandoned or the accused acquitted, all or part of the procedural costs may be imposed on the accused if he or she has unlawfully or culpably caused the proceedings to be initiated or has obstructed their conduct. 3 The accused shall not bear the procedural costs that:
4 The accused shall bear the costs of the private claimant's legal aid representative only if he or she has the financial means to do so. 5 The provisions of this Article apply mutatis mutandis to parties to separate measures procedures if they are unsuccessful. |
Art. 427 Liability to pay costs of the private claimant and the complainant
1 The private claimant may be ordered to pay procedural costs incurred as a result of his or her applications on civil matters if:
2 In the case of offences prosecuted only on complaint, procedural costs may be imposed on the complainant where he or she has wilfully or through gross negligence brought about the proceedings or has obstructed their conduct, or on the private claimant where:
3 If the complainant withdraws the criminal complaint as part of a settlement arranged by the public prosecutor, the Confederation or the canton shall normally bear the procedural costs. 4 An agreement between the complainant and the accused on who is to bear the costs in the event that the criminal complaint is withdrawn requires the approval of the authority that orders the case to be abandoned. The agreement may not prejudice the Confederation or the canton. |
Art. 428 Allocation of costs in appellate proceedings
1 The costs of the appellate proceedings are borne by the parties according to whether they are successful or not. An appellant is also regarded as unsuccessful if the appeal is dismissed without its substance being considered or if the appeal is withdrawn. 2 Where an appellant secures a more favourable decision, he or she may be ordered to pay costs if:
3 If the appellate authority itself issues a new decision, it shall also review the ruling on costs issued by the lower court. 4 If it quashes a decision and remits the case to the lower for a new decision, the Confederation or the canton shall bear the costs of the appellate proceedings, if the appellate authority so decides, those of the lower court. 5 If an application for a review is approved, the criminal justice authority that must subsequently deal with the case shall decide at its discretion on the costs of the first proceedings. |