Most money allocated to hospitals and day care centers (illustration), Photo: Shutterstock
26.04.2026. 7:14 p.m
More than 1.7 million euros were paid for humanitarian purposes through the Institute of Deferred Criminal Prosecution in Montenegro in the period from 2021 to the end of 2025, according to data from the annual reports of the State Prosecutor’s Office, while the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office (VDT) told “Vijesti” that the mechanism achieves a “significant social and financial effect” and announced changes to the rules according to which the money is distributed.
According to the data from those reports, 520,850 euros were paid for humanitarian purposes through that institute in 2021, around 306,000 in 2022, slightly more than 306,000 in 2023, 285,150 euros in 2024, and 322,585.50 euros in 2025. The VDT states that “the largest part of the funds was allocated to hospitals and day care centers, which achieved a direct social benefit”.
At the same time, through the same mechanism, the damage to the injured party was also compensated. In the reports of the prosecution, it is stated that 506,767 euros were paid on this basis in 2021, while in the following years these amounts are many times smaller – 11,784 euros in 2022, 12,510 euros in 2023 and 14,141 euros in 2024.
The data from the report also show that the institute is used in a large number of cases – in 2021, it was applied to 1,488 persons, in 2022 to 853, in 2023 to 722, and in 2024 to 657. The share of these cases in the total number of rejected criminal charges was between 18 and 27 percent.
When it comes to compensation for damages, VDT states that “in 2024, more than 13,000 euros were paid, especially for maintenance obligations”, while “in 2025, 17,740.82 euros were paid to the injured”.
In their response to the “News” from VDT, they also indicate the method of distribution of money, which is also subject to changes.
“At the beginning of each year, the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office establishes a list of humanitarian organizations, funds or public institutions to whose benefit the sums of money will be paid based on the decision”, the answer states.
They also point out that the system is in a phase of change.
“At the beginning of 2025, the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office sent an initiative to amend the Rulebook on deferred prosecution, in order to regulate the methods of determining and spending the paid funds,” said the institution.
They add that on this occasion the Ministry of Justice formed a working group, whose members include state prosecutors.
“This year, the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office made a decision that the selection of humanitarian organizations, funds or public institutions is made through a centralized system, in order to fully ensure equal representation of all organizations,” the answer states.
No trial with fulfillment of obligations
The Institute of Deferred Criminal Prosecution is governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Rulebook on Deferred Criminal Prosecution issued by the Ministry of Justice. According to that rulebook, the prosecutor can decide not to initiate criminal proceedings for crimes for which a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years is threatened, if he judges that it “would not be expedient”, taking into account the nature of the crime, the circumstances under which it was committed, the previous life of the perpetrator and his personal characteristics.
The procedure begins with the prosecutor inviting the suspect to declare whether he accepts certain obligations, and in cases where it is about compensation for damages or similar obligations, the consent of the injured party is requested.
Obligations that the suspect can undertake include compensation for damages, payment of money for humanitarian purposes, support, removal of harmful consequences or performing community service, which can last from 40 to 120 hours.
If the suspect fulfills the assumed obligations within the deadline, the prosecutor makes a decision to reject the criminal report, and if he does not do so – the criminal prosecution continues.
The Rulebook also stipulates that special records are kept on all cases, as well as that the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office determines every year the organizations to which funds are paid.
The data from the report show that this institute is most often used for minor crimes, such as bodily harm, endangering safety, theft, fraud, as well as in cases of non-payment of maintenance and damage to other people’s property.
In such cases, instead of conducting criminal proceedings, the proceedings end with the fulfillment of obligations which, as stated by the prosecution, have both a financial effect and a direct benefit for society.
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