Criminal defence, white-collar crime, regulatory investigations and extradition matters for foreigners.
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Yes — in all EU countries you have the right to legal representation from the moment of arrest. You also have the right to an interpreter if you do not speak the local language.
Contact an English-speaking criminal defence lawyer immediately. Do not answer police questions without a lawyer present.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across Poland's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsPolish criminal law is governed by the Kodeks karny (KK) (Penal Code, Dz.U. 1997 Nr 88 poz. 553, consolidated 2024) and procedural rules by the Kodeks postępowania karnego (KPK) (Code of Criminal Procedure, Dz.U. 1997 Nr 89 poz. 555). The KK distinguishes between zbrodnia (serious crime, minimum 3 years imprisonment) and występek (lesser felony, minimum fine/restriction/1yr imprisonment) and wykroczenie (misdemeanour, up to 30 days detention or fine — governed by Kodeks wykroczeń KW).
| Right | KPK Provision | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Right to lawyer (obrońca) | art. 6, 244 §5 | Immediate; police must inform of right; obrońca z urzędu if cannot afford |
| Right to silence (prawo do milczenia) | art. 175 §1 | Suspect may refuse to answer any question; silence cannot be used against them |
| Right to be informed of charges | art. 313 | Written statement of charges (postanowienie o przedstawieniu zarzutów) required before interrogation as suspect |
| Maximum police detention | art. 248 | 48 hours max (police); Sąd Rejonowy may then issue pre-trial detention (tymczasowe aresztowanie) for further 3 months, extendable |
| Interpreter (tłumacz) | art. 72 §1 | Free interpreter if does not understand Polish; all procedural acts |
| Notify family/consulate | art. 245 | Right to contact family member/employer or consular post of home country |
| Medical examination | art. 15a KW; art. 74 KPK | Right to medical exam if arrested; custody must arrange |
| Court | Jurisdiction | Typical Sentence Range |
|---|---|---|
| Sąd Rejonowy (District Court) | Wykroczenia; występki punishable up to 2 years; most criminal cases | Fines, restriction of liberty, up to 2yr custody |
| Sąd Okręgowy (Regional Court) | Zbrodnie; serious występki (above 2yr); appeal from Sąd Rejonowy (KPK art. 24–25) | 2yr to life imprisonment |
| Sąd Apelacyjny (Court of Appeal) | Appeals from Sąd Okręgowy (KPK art. 26) | Reviews of fact and law |
| Sąd Najwyższy (Supreme Court) | Cassation (kasacja); extraordinary appeals; legal questions | Point of law only |
The right to a court-appointed defence lawyer (obrońca z urzędu) is guaranteed under KPK art. 78 §1 for those who cannot afford to pay. In practice, a declaration of financial circumstances is filed; the court grants legal aid if the income is insufficient. In the most serious cases (kara śmierci or life imprisonment), defence is mandatory (KPK art. 79 §1). The piket prawniczy (duty solicitor scheme) is available 24/7 via the Ministry of Justice phone line for detainees at police stations.
Piotr was charged with oszustwo (fraud, KK art. 286 §1) involving 890,000 PLN of investor funds. The offence carries 6 months to 8 years (or up to 10yr for "large value" fraud — mienie znacznej wartości). Sąd Okręgowy jurisdiction (value exceeds 200 × minimum wage threshold for significant property). Defence: lack of intent (dolus directus not proven); partial repayment evidence. Prosecutor sought 5 years. Defence (adwokat, private) argued suspended sentence based on family circumstances and cooperation. Sentence: 2 years and 6 months, suspended for 4 years (KK art. 69). Compensation order (naprawienie szkody): 450,000 PLN. Adwokat fees: approximately 80,000 PLN for full trial representation.
