Abstract
Suspended sentences are the most common sanctions imposed in the Czech Republic. Given their dominant role in the penal system, a coherent explanation for their wide use would be expected.
This article in detail describes the development of this institute in the Czech Republic since its inception in 1919 and presents how its use has changed over time. Originally, suspended sentences were supposed to replace short prison sentences in a period when prison sentences were abundant due to unavailability of any alternative sanctions save fines.
However, in 2021, there are many alternatives to imprisonment and virtually no short prison sentences are imposed; yet suspended sentences still dominate Czech penal landscape. The article documents that current situation is not based on any elaborated conception and discusses various problems linked to suspending (especially long) prison sentences.