Council Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA of 27 November 2008 on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to judgments in criminal matters imposing custodial sentences or measures involving deprivation of liberty for the purpose of their enfor

This framework decision seeks to extend the application of the principle of mutual recognition, whereby EU countries agree to recognise one another’s laws or decisions, to judgments in criminal matters imposing prison sentences.

The framework decision describes how EU countries recognise and enforce each other’s judgments in regard to criminal matters. The aim is to help convicted persons to better reintegrate in society.

It allows an EU country to enforce a prison sentence imposed by another EU country against a person who resides in its territory.

It sets up a system for the transfer of convicted prisoners back to the EU country of which they are nationals (or normally live) or to another EU country with which they have close ties so that they serve their prison sentence there.