Jail option for fines likely to end

Champ Dollon prison, Geneva (c) WRS

The government has accepted a proposal in principle to end the option of not paying a fine, and going to prison instead.

It’s called an ‘alternative custodial’ sentence.

But a member of parliament, Jessica Jaccoud, has tabled a motion to abolish the option for fines under CHF 5,000. 

Currently, those unable to pay a fine make up over 40% of new prison admissions – when the prisons are already overcrowded.

It’s suggested a fine should be collected in the way of any normal debt, if it’s unpaid.

More from Bitesize News

  • Geneva could foot the G7 bill

    Geneva fears it will be left with the security bill from a G7 summit just across the border in Évian, according to 24 heures.

  • US NGO discovers Swiss child abuse cases

    Switzerland relies too heavily on an American NGO to detect child sexual abuse online, raising questions about the country's ability to protect children on its own.

  • French singer banned by Paleo

    The Paléo Festival in Nyon says it will no longer invite French singer Patrick Bruel, after a former volunteer accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

  • Cars going uninspected

    The cantons are struggling to keep up with mandatory vehicle inspections, leaving more than 550,000 checks overdue nationwide.

  • War may lead to rent rises

    Rents may rise again, says the bank Raiffeisen.

  • Not a heatwave, yet

    Summer has arrived, with temperatures climbing past 30 over the long weekend. Basel reached 31 and Sion hit 32.4, but MeteoSwiss, says this does not yet count as an official heatwave.

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play