Public officials’ liability: a case study on Poland

Performing the role of a public official entails the necessity of accepting a certain responsibility. This results from the fact that officials handle various tasks of great significance to both the state and its citizens. The duties should be carried out in a professional, upright and lawful manner. Otherwise, it is essential to hold public officials responsible and bring them to justice. This article will focus on the basic issues concerning one particular type of responsibility, which is a financial liability for a serious breach of the law. A particular emphasis will be put on the specification of the subjective and objective scope of the said responsibility.Points for practitioners The research provides public administration practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of issues related to the liability of administration employees for serious breaches of the law. Officials should be aware that the tasks they perform should be carried out thoroughly and in accordance with the law due to their significance to the state and citizens. Otherwise, it is necessary to hold officials accountable and liable. The article demonstrates how the regulations are practically implemented in the Polish legal system, whether officials are held liable and various relevant issues.