ABSTRACT
In the last third of the twentieth century the legislative fruits of the bicentennial debate on the need to replace short prison sentences began to consolidate, rendering possible the equalization of impact of the penal fine through the implementation of the day-fine system in many European countries. Although common issues and trends are visible, some outcomes and failures were clearly unexpected, thus making the path towards a general implementation of the day-fine system in Europe a bumpy one. The consequence of the different national approaches is twofold. Both countries, Germany and Finland, were able to considerably increase both the number of sentences that are fines and their percentage of total convictions. Both the number of prison sentences and their average lengths were significantly reduced between 1976 and 1991. This development has been correctly defined as a criminal policy triumph.
