The definition of the concept of a criminal offense in criminal law has important socio-political, moral-ethical, practical and scientific significance. This issue is especially relevant during the reform of the criminal legislation of Ukraine. Therefore, the study of the scientific work on this issue of the outstanding criminologist Professor V. Stashis is of great importance for the modern solution of this issue.

The purpose of the proposed article is to analyze the views of Prof. V. Stashis on the problem of the signs of a crime (criminal offense), which should be defined in the future Criminal Code, in comparison with modern approaches that exist in the domestic science of criminal law.

Two fundamentally different approaches to determining the list of signs of a criminal offense, which need to be fixed in the new Criminal Code of Ukraine, are analyzed. The position of the members of the working group on the development of criminal law of the Commission on Legal Reform, which in the draft of the new Criminal Code of Ukraine developed by it, defined a criminal offense as an unlawful act that corresponds to the signs of the composition of a crime or fault provided for by the Criminal Code, is substantiated.

Bibliography

Authored books

1. Ponomarenko Yu, Zahalna teoriia vyznachennia karanosti kryminalnykh pravoporushen (Pravo 2020) (in Ukrainian). Edited books

2. Baulin Yu, Khavroniuk M (red), Proiekt novoho Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy: peredumovy rozrobky, kontseptualni zasady, osnovni polozhennia (VAITE 2024) (in Ukrainian).

3. Petryshyn O (red), Zahalna teoriia prava: pidruchnyk (Vyd. 2-he, vyprav. y pererob., Pravo 2025) (in Ukrainian).

4. Pravova doktryna Ukrainy: u 5 t. T. 1: Zahalnoteoretychna ta istorychna yurysprudentsiia (O Petryshyn (red), Pravo 2013) (in Ukrainian).Journal articles

5. Azarov D, ‘Rozuminnia suspilnoi nebezpeky zlochynu (za rezultatamy sotsiolohichnoho eksperymentu)’ [2019] 3 Naukovi zapysky NaUKMA Yurydychni nauky 3–18 (in Ukrainian).

6. Kelman M, Kelman R, ‘Zaborona yak predmet doslidzhennia pravoznavtsiv’ [2023] 1 Visnyk Natsionalnoho universytetu “Lvivska politekhnika”. Seriia: Yurydychni nauky 89 (in Ukrainian).

7. Kozhevnikova V, ‘Spivvidnoshennia pravovoi katehorii “obmezhennia” z inshymy pravovymy katehoriiamy u pravi’ [2018] 1 Pidpryiemnytstvo, hospodarstvo i pravo 20 (in Ukrainian).

8. Panov M, Kharytonov S, ‘Suspilna nebezpechnist diiannia v systemi oznak poniattia “kryminalne pravoporushennia”’ [2019] 10 Yurydychna Ukraina 15–16 (in Ukrainian). 45 Пономаренко (н 41) 230–233.

9. Radanovych N, ‘Predmetna sfera zahalnodozvilnoho typu yurydychnoho rehuliuvannia v Ukraini’ [2023] 78(1) Naukovyi visnyk Uzhhorodskoho natsionalnoho universytetu. Seriia: Pravo 66 (in Ukrainian).

10. Serpak O, ‘Zaborony u kryminalnomu pravi’ [2024] 164 Problemy zakonnosti 232 (in Ukrainian).

11. Stashis V, Bazhanov M, ‘Shliakhy onovlennia kryminalnoho zakonodavstva Ukrainy’ [1993] 1 Visnyk Natsionalnoi akademii pravovykh nauk Ukrainy 117 (in Ukrainian). Conference papers

12. Kyrychko V, ‘Katehoriia “suspilna nebezpechnist” v novii redaktsii Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy’, Kontseptualni zasady novoi redaktsii Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy: materialy mizhnar. nauk. konf., m. Kharkiv, 17–19 zhovt. 2019 r. (V Tatsiy (holov. red.) Pravo 2019) 236 (in Ukrainian).

13. Fris P, ‘Sotsialna obumovlenist neobkhidnosti stvorennia novoho Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy’, Kontseptualni zasady novoi redaktsii Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy: materialy mizhnar. nauk. konf., m. Kharkiv, 17–19 zhovt. 2019 r. (V Tatsiy (holov. red.) Pravo 2019) 56 (in Ukrainian).

14. Shablystyi V, ‘Nova redaktsiia KK Ukrainy i rudymenty radianskoi pravovoi spadshchyny’, Kontseptualni zasady novoi redaktsii Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy: materialy mizhnar. nauk. konf., m. Kharkiv, 17–19 zhovt. 2019 r. (V Tatsiy (holov. red.) Pravo 2019) 98 (inUkrainian). Websites

15. Tekst proiektu novoho Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy (accessed 27.11.2025) (in Ukrainian).