Experts: tenfold fine increase is a harsher punishment, not just an inflation adjustment

Most legal experts polled by "Rzeczpospolita" say a planned tenfold increase in criminal fines goes far beyond inflation adjustment and amounts to a drastic tightening of penal sanctions. Some 64% of those experts predict the change will lead to more prisoners serving substitute sentences for unpaid fines. Critics warn the reform will disproportionately hit the poorest defendants.