The subject of the paper is the general and specific purpose of criminal sanctions in the law of the Republic of Serbia, with a brief overview of certain characteristics of criminal sanctions, and in order to better understanding them. Achieving the purpose of prescribing and imposing criminal sanctions contributes to the realization of the basic function of criminal law, which is aimed at combating crime. Reducing crime is necessary, but as it is a complex phenomenon, achieving this goal is not easy, and understanding the purpose of criminal sanctions can contribute to a more successful application of criminal law and, to that end, to more successfully counteract of this negative phenomenon.
