INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
WHO GOES TO PRISON:

International Developments in Structuring and Restricting the Use of Custody

28 and 29 May 2025 (morning – late afternoon),
Prague, Faculty of Law

Introduction

One of the most important question judges face is whether they should impose a prison sentence or not. Legislative bodies and sentencing commission typically guide judges, often restricting the use of custody. The scholarship on this question is underdeveloped.

If use of custody belongs to your interests, you are very warmly welcome to attend international seminar „Who goes to prison“ organized by Jakub Drápal (Charles University) and Julian V. Roberts (Oxford University).

This workshop will explore the principles governing who should be incarcerated and their practical applications. The issues can be explored via doctrinal, comparative and empirical perspectives, yet each perspective should advance the principled sentencing debate. The workshop is not limited to a single jurisdiction or to discussing either continental and common law experiences: Both are welcome and the multi-jurisdictional ones even more.

Join our workshop

We carefully selected 15 papers by top scholars from universities worldwide, covering topics such as sentencing thresholds and policies, the impact of imprisonment, alternatives to incarceration, and more. Each paper will be discussed in a 45-minute session.

We would like to invite all interested scholars to register bellow and join the discussion. The workshop is available for everyone without charge.

Registration closes on May 11, 2025. For registration after May 11, please contact Tomáš Knap at the following email address: tomas.knap@prf.cuni.cz

How to get around Prague?

Prague offers convenient and efficient public transportation that will get you to the workshop quickly and easily.

  • Metro: Three lines – A (green), B (yellow), and C (red). The nearest station to the workshop is Staroměstská on A (green) line.
  • Trams and buses: We recommend using the Právnická fakulta stop.
  • Tickets: Available from ticket machines, at stops, or via the PID Lítačka app. A single ticket starts at 30 CZK and is valid for all types of transport. For easy trip planning, we recommend using the PID Lítačka app or Google Maps.

How to get to Prague

Prague is easily accessible from all over the world:

  • By Air: Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) offers direct connections to many cities. From the airport to the city center, you can take:
    • Bus 119 → transfer to Metro (green) A line at Nádraží Veleslavín station.
    • Uber (official taxi service for Václav Havel Airport Prague).
  • By Train or bus: Direct train connections from cities such as Vienna, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Brussels, Amsterdam, Warszawa. The Main Train Station is located right in the city center.

Organizers

Jakub Drápal (Charles University) and Julian V. Roberts (Oxford University)

Contact

If you have any question, reach out to Jakub Drápal: drapalja@prf.cuni.cz or Tomáš Knap: tomas.knap@prf.cuni.cz