Koherenstraf

Koherenstraf is a term used in certain legal systems, particularly in some European countries, to describe a penalty imposed for a criminal offense that is considered to be closely linked or related to a previously committed offense for which the individual is already serving a sentence or is subject to a penalty. The concept aims to ensure that the cumulative punishment reflects the overall criminality of an individual's actions, especially when offenses occur in close temporal or thematic proximity.

The rationale behind koherenstraf is to prevent offenders from receiving disproportionately lenient sentences for subsequent crimes when their existing penalty does not adequately account for their continued criminal behavior. It acknowledges that a series of related offenses may represent a greater degree of culpability or societal harm than each offense considered in isolation. The specific application and calculation of koherenstraf can vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction's penal code and judicial practice. It may involve adding a portion of the new penalty to the existing one, or reassessing the total sentence based on the combined offenses. The focus is generally on ensuring proportionality and preventing the evasion of justice through successive, but seemingly separate, criminal acts.