The Swiss Criminal Code (StGB) is the central law that regulates criminal acts and the corresponding penalties in Switzerland. It covers a wide range of criminal offenses, ranging from theft to assault and fraud. The Criminal Code also establishes the principles of criminal liability, such as, for example, guilt and punishability. It also regulates the various types of penalties that can be imposed, such as fines, imprisonment or community service. The Criminal Code serves as the basis for criminal prosecution and case law in Switzerland.
The articles StGB
| Art. 1 Part One: Felonies and MisdemeanourTitle One: Scope of Application1. No penalty without a law |
| Art. 2 2. Commencement of applicability of the Code |
| Art. 3 3. Territorial scope of applicationFelonies or misdemeanours in Switzerland |
| Art. 4 Felonies or misdemeanours against the state committed abroad |
| Art. 5 |
| Art. 6 Offences committed abroad prosecuted in terms of an international obligation |
| Art. 7 Other offences committed abroad |
| Art. 8 Place of commission |
| Art. 9 4. Personal scope of application |
| Art. 10 Title Two: Criminal Liability1. Felonies and misdemeanoursDefinition |
| Art. 11 Commission by omission |
| Art. 12 2. Intention and negligenceDefinitions |
| Art. 13 Error of fact |
| Art. 14 3. Lawful acts and guiltAct permitted by law |
| Art. 15 Legitimate self-defence |
| Art. 16 Mitigatory self-defence |
| Art. 17 Legitimate act in a situation of necessity |
| Art. 18 Mitigatory act in a situation of necessity |
| Art. 19 Absence of legal responsibility due to a mental disorder and diminished responsibility |
| Art. 20 Doubt as to legal responsibility |
| Art. 21 Error as to unlawfulness |
| Art. 22 4. AttemptsCriminal liability for attempts |
| Art. 23 Withdrawal and active repentance |
| Art. 24 5. ParticipationIncitement |
| Art. 25 Complicity |
| Art. 26 Participation in a special offence |
| Art. 27 Personal circumstances |
| Art. 28 6. Criminal liability of the media |
| Art. 28a Protection of sources |
| Art. 29 7. Agency relationships |
| Art. 30 8. Criminal complaintRight to file a complaint |
| Art. 31 Time limit for filing a complaint |
| Art. 32 Indivisibility |
| Art. 33 Withdrawal of a complaint |
| Art. 34 1. Monetary penaltyAssessment |
| Art. 35 Execution |
| Art. 36 Alternative custodial sentence |
| Art. 3739 2. ... |
| Art. 40 3. Custodial sentenceTerm |
| Art. 41 Custodial sentence instead of a monetary penalty |
| Art. 42 Section Two: Suspended and Partially Suspended Sentences1. Suspended sentences |
| Art. 43 |
| Art. 44 3. General provisionsProbationary period |
| Art. 45 Successful completion of probation |
| Art. 46 Breach of probation |
| Art. 47 Section Three: Determination of the Sentence1. Principle |
| Art. 48 2. Mitigation of the sentenceGrounds |
| Art. 48a Effect |
| Art. 49 3. Concurrent sentencing |
| Art. 50 4. Obligation to justify |
| Art. 51 5. Taking account of time spend on remand |
| Art. 52 |
| Art. 53 Reparation |
| Art. 54 Effect on the offender of his act |
| Art. 55 2. General provisions |
| Art. 55a |
| Art. 56 Therapeutic Measures and Indefinite Incarceration |
| Art. 56a Concurrent measures |
| Art. 57 Relationship between measures and penalties |
| Art. 58 Implementation |
| Art. 59 2. In-patient therapeutic measuresTreatment of mental disorders |
| Art. 60 Treatment of addiction |
| Art. 61 Measures for young adults |
| Art. 62 Parole |
| Art. 62a Breach of probation |
| Art. 62b Final release |
| Art. 62c Termination of a measure |
| Art. 62d Consideration of release and the termination of measures |
| Art. 63 3. Out-patient treatmentRequirements and implementation |
| Art. 63a Termination of the measure |
| Art. 63b Execution of the suspended custodial sentence |
| Art. 64 4. Indefinite incarcerationRequirements and execution |
| Art. 64a Revocation and release |
| Art. 64b Consideration of release |
| Art. 64c Consideration of release from lifelong incarceration and parole |
| Art. 65 5. Modification of the sanction |
| Art. 66 Section Two: Other Measures1. Good behaviour bond |
| Art. 66a 1a. Expulsion.a. Mandatory expulsion |
| Art. 66abis b. Non-mandatory expulsion |
| Art. 66b c. Common provisions. Repeat offence |
| Art. 66c d. Time of enforcement |
| Art. 66d e. Deferring enforcement of mandatory expulsion |
| Art. 67 2. Prohibition from carrying on an activity, contact prohibition and exclusion ordera. Prohibition from carrying on an activity, requirements |
| Art. 67a Content and scope |
| Art. 67b b. Contact prohibition and exclusion order |
| Art. 67c c. Common provisionsEnforcement of prohibition orders |
| Art. 67d Modification of a prohibition order or subsequent imposition of a prohibition order |
| Art. 67e 3. Disqualification from driving |
| Art. 67f |
| Art. 68 4. Publication of the judgment |
| Art. 69 5. Forfeiturea. Forfeiture of dangerous objects |
| Art. 70 b. Forfeiture of assetsPrinciples |
| Art. 71 Equivalent claim |
| Art. 72 Forfeiture of assets of a criminal or terrorist organisation |
| Art. 73 6. Use for the benefit of the person harmed |
| Art. 74 Execution of Custodial Sentences and Custodial Measures |
| Art. 75 2. Execution of custodial sentencesPrinciples |
| Art. 75a Special security measures |
| Art. 76 Place of execution |
| Art. 77 Normal execution |
| Art. 77a Day release employment and external accommodation |
| Art. 77b Semi-detention |
| Art. 78 Solitary confinement |
| Art. 79 |
| Art. 79a Community service |
| Art. 79b Electronic monitoring |
| Art. 80 Other forms of sentence execution |
| Art. 81 Work |
| Art. 82 Basic and advanced training |
| Art. 83 Wages |
| Art. 84 Relations with the outside world |
| Art. 85 Searches and inspections |
| Art. 86 Parolea. Granting of parole |
| Art. 87 b. Probationary period |
| Art. 88 c. Successful completion of probation |
| Art. 89 d. Breach of probation |
| Art. 90 3. Execution of measures |
| Art. 91 4. General provisionsDisciplinary regulations |
| Art. 92 Interruption of execution |
| Art. 92a Right to information |
| Art. 93 Probation Assistance, Conduct Orders and Voluntary Social Supervision |
| Art. 94 Conduct orders |
| Art. 95 General provisions |
| Art. 96 Social assistance |
| Art. 97 Title Six: Statute of Limitations1. Limitation of prosecution rightsPeriods |
| Art. 98 Commencement |
| Art. 99 2. Limitation period for the execution of a sentencePeriods |
| Art. 100 Commencement |
| Art. 101 3. Exclusion from limitation |
| Art. 102 Title Seven: Corporate Criminal LiabilityLiability under the criminal law |
| Art. 102a |
| Art. 103 Part Two: ContraventionsDefinition |
| Art. 104 Application of the provisions of the First Part |
| Art. 105 No or conditional applicability |
| Art. 106 Fines |
| Art. 107 |
| Art. 108 |
| Art. 109 Limitation |
| Art. 110 Part Three: Terms and Definitions |
| Art. 111 Title One: Offences against Life and Limb1. HomicideIntentional homicide |
| Art. 112 Murder |
| Art. 113 Manslaughter |
| Art. 114 Homicide at the request of the victim |
| Art. 115 Inciting and assisting suicide |
| Art. 116 Infanticide |
| Art. 117 Homicide through negligence |
| Art. 118 2. AbortionIllegal abortion |
| Art. 119 Legal abortion |
| Art. 120 Contraventions by physicians |
| Art. 121 |
| Art. 122 3. AssaultSerious assault |
| Art. 123 Common assault |
| Art. 124 Female genital mutilation |
| Art. 125 Assault through negligence |
| Art. 126 Acts of aggression |
| Art. 127 4. Endangering the life or health of anotherAbandonment |
| Art. 128 Failure to offer aid in an emergency |
| Art. 128bis False alarm |
| Art. 129 Endangering life |
| Art. 130132 |
| Art. 133 Brawling |
| Art. 134 Attack |
| Art. 135 Representations of acts of violence |
| Art. 136 Administering substances capable of causing injury to children |
| Art. 137 1. Offences against propertyUnlawful appropriation |
| Art. 138 Misappropriation |
| Art. 139 Theft |
| Art. 140 Robbery |
| Art. 141 Removal of property |
| Art. 141bis Unlawful use of financial assets |
| Art. 142 Unlawful abstraction of energy |
| Art. 143 Unauthorised obtaining of data |
| Art. 143bis Unauthorised access to a data processing system |
| Art. 144 Criminal damage |
| Art. 144bis Damage to data |
| Art. 145 Misappropriation and removal of property subject to a pledge or lien |
| Art. 146 Fraud |
| Art. 147 Computer fraud |
| Art. 148 Misuse of a cheque card or credit card |
| Art. 148a Unlawful claim for social insurance or social assistance benefits |
| Art. 149 Making off from a hotel, restaurant or bar without payment |
| Art. 150 Obtaining a service without payment |
| Art. 150bis Production and marketing of equipment for the unauthorised decoding of encoded services |
| Art. 151 Maliciously causing financial loss to another |
| Art. 152 False statements about commercial business |
| Art. 153 False statements to the commercial register authorities |
| Art. 154 Criminal liability of members of the board of directors and the executive board of companies whose shares are listed on a stock exchange |
| Art. 155 Counterfeiting of goods |
| Art. 156 Extortion |
| Art. 157 Profiteering |
| Art. 158 Criminal mismanagement |
| Art. 159 Misuse of salary deductions |
| Art. 160 Handling stolen goods |
| Art. 161 |
| Art. 161bis |
| Art. 162 2. Breach of manufacturing or trade secrecy |
| Art. 163 3. Bankruptcy and debt collection felonies or misdemeanoursFraudulent bankruptcy and fraud against seizure |
| Art. 164 Reduction of assets to the prejudice of creditors |
| Art. 165 Mismanagement |
| Art. 166 Failure to keep proper accounts |
| Art. 167 Undue preference to creditors |
| Art. 168 Subornation in enforcement proceedings |
| Art. 169 Disposal of seized assets |
| Art. 170 Obtaining a judicial composition agreement by fraud |
| Art. 171 Judicial composition agreement |
| Art. 171bis Revocation of bankruptcy |
| Art. 172 4. General provisions |
| Art. 172bis |
| Art. 172ter Minor offences against property |
| Art. 173 1. Offence against personal honourDefamation |
| Art. 174 Wilful defamation |
| Art. 175 Defamation of a deceased person or of a person missing presumed dead |
| Art. 176 General provision |
| Art. 177 Insult |
| Art. 178 Limitation |
| Art. 179 Breach of the privacy of a sealed document |
| Art. 179bis Listening in on and recording the conversations of others |
| Art. 179ter Unauthorised recording of conversations |
| Art. 179quater Breach of secrecy or privacy through the use of an image-carrying device |
| Art. 179quinquies Legal recordings |
| Art. 179sexies Marketing and promotion of devices for unlawful listening or sound or image recording |
| Art. 179septies Misuse of a telecommunications installation |
| Art. 179octies Official surveillance, exempted acts |
| Art. 179novies Obtaining personal data without authorisation |
| Art. 180 Title Four: Felonies and Misdemeanours against LibertyThreatening behaviour |
| Art. 181 Coercion |
| Art. 181a Forced marriage, forced registered partnership |
| Art. 182 Trafficking in human beings |
| Art. 183 False imprisonment and abduction |
| Art. 184 Aggravating circumstances |
| Art. 185 Hostage taking |
| Art. 185bis Enforced disappearance |
| Art. 186 Unlawful entry |
| Art. 187 1. Endangering the development of minorsSexual acts with children |
| Art. 188 Sexual acts with dependent persons |
| Art. 189 2. Offences against sexual liberty and honourIndecent assault |
| Art. 190 Rape |
| Art. 191 Sexual acts with persons incapable of judgement or resistance |
| Art. 192 Sexual acts with persons in institutional care, prisoners and persons on remand |
| Art. 193 Exploitation of a person in a position of need or dependency |
| Art. 194 Indecent conduct |
| Art. 195 3. Exploitation of sexual actsEncouraging prostitution |
| Art. 196 Sexual acts with minors against payment |
| Art. 197 4. Pornography |
| Art. 198 5. Contraventions against sexual integritySexual harassment |
| Art. 199 Unauthorised practice of prostitution |
| Art. 200 6. Joint commission |
| Art. 201212 |
| Art. 213 Title Six: Felonies and Misdemeanours against the FamilyIncest |
| Art. 214 |
| Art. 215 Bigamy |
| Art. 216 |
| Art. 217 Neglect of duty to support the family |
| Art. 218 |
| Art. 219 Neglect of duties of care, supervision or education |
| Art. 220 Abduction of minors |
| Art. 221 Felonies and Misdemeanours constituting a Public Danger |
| Art. 222 Negligent arson |
| Art. 223 Causing an explosion |
| Art. 224 Misuse of explosives and toxic gases with criminal intent |
| Art. 225 Misuse of explosives or toxic gases without criminal intent or through negligence |
| Art. 226 Manufacture, concealment and transport of explosives and toxic gases |
| Art. 226bis Causing danger by means of nuclear energy, radioactivity or ionising radiation |
| Art. 226ter Preparatory offences |
| Art. 227 Causing a flood, collapse or landslide |
| Art. 228 Criminal damage to electrical installations, and hydraulic or protective structures |
| Art. 229 Violation of construction regulations |
| Art. 230 Removal or non-installation of safety devices |
| Art. 230bis Felonies and Misdemeanours against Public Health |
| Art. 231 Transmission of human diseases |
| Art. 232 Transmission of an epizootic disease |
| Art. 233 Propagation of harmful parasites |
| Art. 234 Contamination of drinking water |
| Art. 235 Production of harmful animal feed |
| Art. 236 Marketing of harmful animal feed |
| Art. 237 Felonies and Misdemeanours against Public TrafficDisruption of public traffic |
| Art. 238 Disruption of rail traffic |
| Art. 239 Disruption of public services |
| Art. 240 Counterfeiting of Money, Official Stamps, Official Marks, Weights and Measures |
| Art. 241 Falsification of money |
| Art. 242 Passing or tendering counterfeit money |
| Art. 243 Imitation of bank notes, coins or official stamps without intent to commit forgery |
| Art. 244 Import, acquisition and storage of counterfeit money |
| Art. 245 Forgery of official stamps |
| Art. 246 Forgery of official marks |
| Art. 247 Counterfeiting equipment and unlawful use of equipment |
| Art. 248 Falsification of weights and measures |
| Art. 249 Forfeiture |
| Art. 250 Foreign currency and stamps |
| Art. 251 Title Eleven: ForgeryForgery of a document |
| Art. 252 Forgery of certificates |
| Art. 253 Obtaining a false certificate by fraud |
| Art. 254 Suppression of documents |
| Art. 255 Official foreign documents |
| Art. 256 Moving of boundary markers |
| Art. 257 Removal of survey points and water level indicators |
| Art. 258 Felonies and Misdemeanours against Public Order |
| Art. 259 Public incitement to commit a felony or act of violence |
| Art. 260 Rioting |
| Art. 260bis Acts preparatory to the commission of an offence |
| Art. 260ter Criminal or terrorist organisation |
| Art. 260quater Endangering public safety with weapons |
| Art. 260quinquies Financing terrorism |
| Art. 260sexies Recruiting, training and travelling with a view to committing a terrorist offence |
| Art. 261 Attack on the freedom of faith and the freedom to worship |
| Art. 261bis Discrimination and incitement to hatred |
| Art. 262 Disturbing the peace of the dead |
| Art. 263 Committing an offence while in a state of voluntarily induced mental incapacity |
| Art. 264 Genocide |
| Art. 264a h. Deportation or forcible transferi. Persecution and apartheidj. Other inhumane acts |
| Art. 264b 1. Scope of application |
| Art. 264c 2. Serious violations of the Geneva Conventions |
| Art. 264d 3. Other war crimesa. Attacks on civilians and civilian objects |
| Art. 264e b. Unjustified medical treatment, violation of sexual rights and human dignity |
| Art. 264f c. Recruitment and use of child soldiers |
| Art. 264g d. Prohibited methods of warfare |
| Art. 264h e. Use of prohibited weapons |
| Art. 264i 4. Violation of a ceasefire or peace agreement. Offences against a peace negotiator. Delayed repatriation of prisoners of war |
| Art. 264j 5. Other violations of international humanitarian law |
| Art. 264k Criminal liability of superiors |
| Art. 264l Acting on orders |
| Art. 264m Acts carried out abroad |
| Art. 264n Exclusion of relative immunity |
| Art. 265 1. Felonies and misdemeanours against the stateHigh treason |
| Art. 266 Attacks on the independence of the Confederation |
| Art. 266bis Foreign operations and activities directed against the security of Switzerland |
| Art. 267 Diplomatic treason |
| Art. 268 Moving of national boundary markers |
| Art. 269 Violation of Swiss territorial sovereignty |
| Art. 270 Attacks on Swiss national emblems |
| Art. 271 Unlawful activities on behalf of a foreign state |
| Art. 272 2. EspionagePolitical espionage |
| Art. 273 Industrial espionage |
| Art. 274 Military espionage |
| Art. 275 3. Endangering the constitutional orderAttacks on the constitutional order |
| Art. 275bis Subversive propaganda |
| Art. 275ter Unlawful association |
| Art. 276 4. Disruption of military securityIncitement and inducement to violate military duties |
| Art. 277 Forgery of military orders or instructions |
| Art. 278 Disruption of military service |
| Art. 279 Misdemeanours against the Will of the People |
| Art. 280 Attacks on the right to vote |
| Art. 281 Corrupt electoral practices |
| Art. 282 Electoral fraud |
| Art. 282bis Vote catching |
| Art. 283 Breach of voting secrecy |
| Art. 284 |
| Art. 285 Title Fifteen: Offences against Official PowersViolence and threats against public authorities and public officials |
| Art. 286 Prevention of an official act |
| Art. 287 Usurpation office |
| Art. 288 |
| Art. 289 Removal of seized property |
| Art. 290 Breaking the seals |
| Art. 291 Breach of an expulsion order |
| Art. 292 Contempt official orders |
| Art. 293 Publication of secret official proceedings |
| Art. 294 Breach of an activity prohibition order or a contact prohibition and exclusion order |
| Art. 295 Failure to comply with probation assistance or instructions |
| Art. 296 Title Sixteen: Offences detrimental to Foreign RelationsInsulting a foreign state |
| Art. 297 Insulting an international organisation |
| Art. 298 Attacks on the national emblems of a foreign state |
| Art. 299 Violation of foreign territorial sovereignty |
| Art. 300 Hostility towards a country at war or foreign troops |
| Art. 301 Military espionage against a foreign state |
| Art. 302 Prosecution |
| Art. 303 Felonies and Misdemeanours against the Administration of Justice |
| Art. 304 Misleading the judicial authorities |
| Art. 305 Assisting offenders |
| Art. 305bis Money laundering |
| Art. 305ter |
| Art. 306 Perjury by a party to civil proceedings |
| Art. 307 Perjury. Perjury by an expert witness. False translation |
| Art. 308 Mitigation of the sentence |
| Art. 309 Administrative cases and proceedings before international courts |
| Art. 310 Assisting prisoners to escape |
| Art. 311 Prison mutiny |
| Art. 312 Offences against Official or Professional Duty |
| Art. 313 Overcharging of taxes |
| Art. 314 Misconduct in public office |
| Art. 315316 |
| Art. 317 Forgery of a document by a public official |
| Art. 317bis Exempted acts |
| Art. 318 Issuing a false medical certificate |
| Art. 319 Assistance by a public official in the escape of prisoners |
| Art. 320 Breach of official secrecy |
| Art. 321 Breach of professional confidentiality |
| Art. 321bis Breach of professional confidentiality in research involving human beings |
| Art. 321ter Breach of postal or telecommunications secrecy |
| Art. 322 Breach of the media duty to provide information |
| Art. 322bis Failure to prevent an illegal publication |
| Art. 322ter 1. Bribery of Swiss public officialsBribery |
| Art. 322quater Acceptance of bribes |
| Art. 322quinquies Granting an advantage |
| Art. 322sexies Acceptance of an advantage |
| Art. 322septies 2. Bribery of foreign public officials |
| Art. 322octies 3. Bribery of private individualsBribery |
| Art. 322novies Accepting bribes |
| Art. 322decies 4. General provisions |
| Art. 323 Failure of a debtor to comply with the regulations governing Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy proceedings |
| Art. 324 Failure of third parties to comply with the regulations governing debt collection, bankruptcy and composition proceedings |
| Art. 325 Failure to comply with accounting regulations |
| Art. 325bis Infringement of the regulations on reporting payments to state bodies |
| Art. 325ter Infringement of other reporting obligations |
| Art. 325quater Failure to comply with the regulations governing the protection of tenants of domestic and commercial properties |
| Art. 326 Application to legal entities, trading companies and sole proprietorships Footnote relevant to German text only. 1. ... |
| Art. 326bis |
| Art. 326ter Contravention of the law on business and other names |
| Art. 326quater Provision of false information by an employee benefits institution |
| Art. 327 Violation of obligations to give notice of the beneficial owner of shares or capital contributions |
| Art. 327a Violation of company law obligations on keeping registers |
| Art. 327b Failure to comply with the statutory obligations of associations |
| Art. 328 Reproduction of postage stamps without intent to commit forgery |
| Art. 329 Breach of military secrecy |
| Art. 330 Trading in material requisitioned by the armed forces |
| Art. 331 Unauthorised wearing of the military uniform |
| Art. 332 Failure to report a find |
| Art. 333 Relationship between this Code and other Federal and Cantonal Acts |
| Art. 334 Reference to repealed provisions |
| Art. 335 Cantonal acts |
| Art. 336338 Title Two: ... |
| Art. 339348 Title Three: ... |
| Art. 349a 1. Protection of personal data. a. Legal basis |
| Art. 349b b. Equal treatment |
| Art. 349c c. Disclosure of personal data to a third country or an international body |
| Art. 349d d. Disclosure of personal data by a Schengen State to a third country or an international body |
| Art. 349e e. Disclosure of personal data to a recipient established in a third country |
| Art. 349f f. Accuracy of personal data |
| Art. 349g g. Verification of the legality of the data processing |
| Art. 349h h. Investigation |
| Art. 350 |
| Art. 351 |
| Art. 352 |
| Art. 353 |
| Art. 354 |
| Art. 355 4. ... |
| Art. 355a |
| Art. 355b |
| Art. 355c 5bis. Cooperation under the Schengen Association Agreement. Jurisdiction |
| Art. 355d 5ter. ... |
| Art. 355e 5quater. SIRENE Office |
| Art. 355 |
| Art. 356361 |
| Art. 362 6. Notification in relation to pornography |
| Art. 363 Title Five: ... |
| Art. 364 |
| Art. 365 Title Six: Register of Criminal ConvictionsPurpose |
| Art. 366 Content |
| Art. 367 Processing of and access to data |
| Art. 368 Notice of information subject to registration |
| Art. 369 Removal of entries |
| Art. 369a Removal of convictions involving an activity prohibition order or a contact prohibition and exclusion order |
| Art. 370 Right to inspect |
| Art. 371 |
| Art. 371a Special private extract |
| Art. 372 Execution of Sentences and Measures, Probation Assistance, Institutions and Facilities |
| Art. 373 2. Monetary penalties, fines, costs and forfeituresExecution |
| Art. 374 Right of disposal |
| Art. 375 3. Community service |
| Art. 376 4. Probation assistance |
| Art. 377 5. Institutions and facilitiesDuty of the cantons to establish and operate |
| Art. 378 Cooperation between the cantons |
| Art. 379 Licensing of private institutions |
| Art. 380 Allocation of costs |
| Art. 380a Liability in Cases of Discharge from Lifelong Incarceration |
| Art. 381 Title Eight: Pardons, Amnesties, Re-opening of Cases1. PardonsJurisdiction |
| Art. 382 Pardon petition |
| Art. 383 Effects |
| Art. 384 2. Amnesties |
| Art. 385 3. Re-opening of cases |
| Art. 386 Preventive Measures, Supplementary Provisions and General Transitional Provisions |
| Art. 387 2. Supplementary provisions of the Federal Council |
| Art. 388 3. General transitional provisionsExecution of earlier judgments |
| Art. 389 Limitation |
| Art. 390 Offences prosecuted on complaint |
| Art. 391 4. Cantonal transitional provisions |
| Art. 392 5. Commencement of this Code |
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