Political prisoners in Yugoslavia were held throughout both systems of government of the former country.
Most political prisoners in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1941) were communists, whereas the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1992) primarily incarcerated real and alleged Stalinists during and after the Informbiro period, anti-communists, nationalists and dissidents (including those driving for regional autonomy or independence), all of which were perceived as a threat to the system.
Croatia's political prisoners' law recognizes those who were imprisoned during the period between December 8, 1918 (the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes) and October 8, 1991 (the day Croatia severed all ties to Yugoslavia).
[6] Former political prisoners receive compensation for time spent in jail and subsequent time spent unable to secure a job.
[6] Political prisoners are organized into the Croatian Society of Political Prisoners (Hrvatsko društvo političkih zatvorenika).