Abstract

Suspended sentences are a legal institution that reflects the modern trend toward the humanization and individualization of punishment. While Vietnamese law treats suspended sentences as a conditional exemption from serving a custodial sentence, Nordic countries design suspended sentences and comparable measures on a restorative justice basis, supported by professional probation systems and risk-of-reoffending assessment mechanisms. Through a comparative analysis of criminal policy and legal frameworks on suspended sentences in Viet Nam and selected Nordic jurisdictions, this article highlights fundamental differences in underlying penal philosophies and proposes directions for reforming Vietnamese law to strengthen crime prevention and support social reintegration.

Keywords: Criminal policy, Nordic countries, non-custodial penalties, restorative justice, suspended sentences