Code of Criminal ProcedureCódigo de Procedimientos Penales

This last prohibition does not include cases in which the previous jurisdictional proceeding had not been initiated or the exercise of the action had been suspended due to a formal obstacle.

Temporal Scope

Restrictive Interpretation

Practical Norms

Actions

Criminal Action Action Prosecutable on Court's Own Motion (de oficio)

Its exercise may not be suspended, interrupted, nor terminated, except by express legal provision to the contrary.

( Thus amended by Article 2 of Law No. 6259 of July 3, 1978) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in crimes against national security, public tranquility, the public powers, the constitutional order, the environment, the maritime-terrestrial zone (zona marítimo-terrestre), and the public treasury, the Attorney General's Office of the Republic (Procuraduría General de la República) may also directly exercise that action, without being subordinated to the actions and decisions of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público). In matters initiated by action of that Attorney General's Office, it shall be considered a party and may exercise the same remedies that this Code grants to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público).

(Thus amended by Article 3 of Law No. 7455 of November 29, 1994) Action Dependent on Private Instance

Whoever has, for any reason, the care of the minor shall be considered a guardian (guardador).

The private instance (instancia privada) extends by right to all participants in the crime.

The private action shall be exercised by means of a private complaint (querella), in the special form that this Code establishes (Article 428 et seq.).

Obstacles

Jurisdictional Orbit

Subjects

Exercise by the Public Prosecutor's Office

• 1)When the holder of the action, without becoming a civil plaintiff (actor civil), delegates its exercise to it; 2) When the holder of the action is incapable of asserting their rights and has no one to represent them, without prejudice to the intervention of the National Child Welfare Agency (Patronato Nacional de la Infancia). In these cases, the defendants may only object during the trial (debate) (Article 389).

Opportunity

Subsequent Exercise

Courts

Jurisdiction Scope and Character

These courts shall also hear crimes committed outside the national territory, in the cases indicated in Articles 5, 6, and 7 of the Penal Code.

The competence of criminal courts is non-extendable (improrrogable).

Competence

Material Competence Determination

Lack of Competence (Incompetencia)

The court that declares it shall forward the proceedings (actuaciones) to the one it considers competent and shall place at its disposal any detainees it may have.

However, once the date for the trial (debate) has been set without the objection (excepción) of lack of competence (incompetencia) having been raised, the Trial Court (Tribunal de Juicio) shall try the crimes of inferior competence.

Nullity

This provision shall not apply when a judge of superior competence has acted in a case attributed to another of inferior competence.

Territorial Competence Main Rules

In case of attempt (tentativa), that of the place where the last act of execution was carried out; in the case of a continued (continuado) or permanent (permanente) crime, that of the place where the continuation or permanence ceased.

Subsidiary Rule

Lack of Competence

Nullity for Failure to Observe the Rules on Territorial Competence

Competence by Connection Cases of Connection

• 1)If the crimes charged (delitos imputados) were committed simultaneously by several persons gathered together; or even if committed in different places or times, when there was an agreement among them; 2) If a crime was committed to perpetrate or facilitate the commission of another, or to procure for the guilty party or others profit or impunity; 3) When a person is charged with several crimes even if committed in different places or are of different gravity, provided that it does not involve an act of special competence.

Effects of Connection

• 1)The court competent to try the most serious crime; 2) If the crimes are punishable with the same penalty, the court competent to try the one committed first; 3) If the acts were simultaneous or it is not duly established which was committed first, the court that first took cognizance (previno); 4) In the last case, the one indicated by the court of appeals (tribunal de apelación) or the Criminal Court of Cassation (Sala de Casación Penal), as appropriate.

Despite the joinder, the summary proceedings (actuaciones sumariales) shall be compiled separately, unless it is inconvenient for the investigation (instrucción), because they involve acts attributed solely to one accused (imputado).

Exception to Joinder

If it is appropriate to unify the penalties, the court shall do so when issuing the last judgment.

Questions of Competence Competent Court

Promotion

Motion Challenging Competence (Declinatoria)

Effects

However, if they arise before the setting of the hearing for the trial (debate), they shall suspend the proceeding until the decision on the incident, without prejudice to the court ordering a supplementary investigation (instrucción suplementaria) (Article 353).

Validity of Acts

Disqualification (Inhibición), Recusal (Recusación), and Excuses Grounds for Disqualification

• 1)When in the same proceeding he has pronounced or concurred in pronouncing a judgment (sentencia), or has intervened as an official of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), defender, agent (mandatario), complainant (denunciante), or private complainant (querellante), or has acted as an expert (perito) or knew the investigated act as a witness; 2) If he is the spouse, relative within the third degree of consanguinity or second of affinity, of any interested party, or if the latter lives or has lived at his expense; 3) When he, his spouse, or any of his relatives within the aforementioned degrees have an interest in the proceeding; 4) If he is or has been the guardian (tutor) or curator (curador), or has been under the guardianship (tutela) or curatorship (curatela) of any of the interested parties; 5) When he, his spouse, or his relatives, within the referred degrees, have a pending lawsuit initiated previously, or a partnership or community with any of the interested parties, except a stock corporation (sociedad anónima); 6) If he, his spouse, parents, or children, or other persons living at his expense, are creditors, debtors, or guarantors of any of the interested parties, except when dealing with Banks of the National Banking System or constituted by stock corporations (sociedades anónimas); 7) When before the commencement of the proceeding he had been a complainant (denunciante) or accuser of any of the interested parties, or denounced or accused by them, unless subsequent circumstances demonstrate harmony between them; 8) If he has given advice or expressed extrajudicially his opinion on the proceeding; 9) When he is a relative to the fourth degree by consanguinity, a co-brother-in-law (concuñado), has close friendship (amistad íntima), or manifest enmity (enemistad manifiesta) with any of the interested parties; 10) If he, his spouse, parents, or children, or other persons living at his expense, have received or receive significant benefits from any of the interested parties, or if after the proceeding has commenced, he has received presents or gifts (dádivas) even if of little value; 11) When a relative of his within the second degree of consanguinity has intervened or intervenes as a judge in the case.

For the purposes of this article, the accused (imputado), the offended party (ofendido), the injured party (damnificado), and the civilly liable party are considered interested parties, even if the latter two do not formally become a party to the proceeding, as well as their representatives, defenders, and agents (mandatarios).

Timing of Disqualification and Objection

The interested parties may request that he continue hearing the matter, provided that the stated ground is not provided for in any of the first five subparagraphs of the cited article.

In this case, he shall rule within twenty-four hours, declaring himself competent (hábil), and no remedy whatsoever shall lie against that ruling.

Competent Court

The Investigating Judge (Juez de Instrucción) shall decide that of the Mayors (Alcaldes) who act in proceedings where the former is competent; and the Collegiate Courts (Tribunales Colegiados) that of their members.

Procedure for Disqualification

The incident shall be resolved without a formal proceeding.

When a judge who is part of a Collegiate Court (Tribunal Colegiado) recognizes a ground for disqualification, he shall request that his separation be ordered.

Recusants

Time and Manner of Recusal

However, a recusal that is based on a ground produced or learned of after the aforementioned deadlines, may be filed within 24 hours from the occurrence or knowledge thereof.

Additionally, in case of a subsequent integration of the court, the recusal (recusación) may be filed within 24 hours of the order that ordered it.

Procedure for Recusal

Otherwise, he shall forward the written recusal and his report to the competent court (31), so that the incident may be processed in a separate file, or if the judge is a member of a collegiate court, he shall request the rejection of the recusal.

After a hearing where evidence is received and the parties present their arguments, the competent court shall resolve the incident within 48 hours, with no remedy whatsoever.

Recusal Not Admitted

Recusal of Clerks (Secretarios)

Effects

The intervention of the new officials shall be definitive, even if the grounds giving rise to the recusal subsequently disappear.

Public Prosecutor's Office and Judicial Police

Public Prosecutor's Office Function

The representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) shall state their requests and conclusions in a reasoned and specific manner; they may never refer to the statements of the judge; they shall proceed orally in trials (debates) and in writing in other cases.

Powers of the Prosecutor (Fiscal)

• 1)When dealing with a complex matter, to provide him with information or assist him, including during the trial (debate); 2) If he is in fundamental disagreement with the prosecutorial request (requerimiento fiscal) or it is impossible for him to act, so that the attorney may maintain the accusation orally.

Powers of the Prosecuting Attorney

Coercive Power

Disqualification and Recusal

The recusal (recusación) shall be decided by the court before which the recused official acts, and during the preliminary summary investigation (información sumaria) by the Investigating Judge (Juez de Instrucción). Regarding the procedure, the provisions concerning judges shall be applied to the extent possible.

Judicial Police Functions

It shall function under the name "Judicial Investigation Agency (Organismo de Investigación Judicial)".

In its actions, the provisions of this Code shall apply, and, supplementarily, what its Organic Law provides.

Parties and Defenders

Accused

General Principles Quality of Instances

When imprisoned, the accused (imputado) may make his requests before the official in charge of custody, who shall communicate them immediately to the corresponding judge.

Identification

If they refuse to give this data or give it falsely, identification by witnesses shall be carried out, in the manner prescribed for identifications (reconocimientos) (255 et seq.), or by other means deemed useful.

Physical Identity

Presumed Unimputability

(Thus amended by Article 5 of the Law Reforming the Protective Jurisdiction for Minors No. 7383 of March 16, 1994) Supervening Incapacity

This shall prevent the statement of the accused (imputado) and the trial, but not the investigation of the act or the continuation of the procedure with respect to co-accused (coimputados).

The commitment of the incapacitated person to a suitable establishment shall also be ordered, whose director shall report semi-annually on the mental state of the patient; their release may be ordered, leaving them in the care of their parents, guardian (tutor), or guardian (guardador), when there is no danger that they may harm themselves or others. In this case, the patient shall be examined quarterly by a specialist from the Department of Legal Medicine of the Judicial Investigation Agency (Organismo de Investigación Judicial), and if that is not possible, by the expert (perito) designated by the Judge.

Mandatory Mental Examination

Default Cases Where It Proceeds

Declaration

Effects on the Proceeding

If declared during the trial, the trial shall be suspended with respect to the defaulter (rebelde) and shall continue for the other accused (imputados) present.

Once default is declared, the proceedings (actuaciones) and the evidence, instruments, or pieces of conviction that are indispensable shall be preserved.

When the defaulter appears, the case shall continue according to its stage.

Effects on Release from Prison

Justification

Civil Plaintiff Constitution as a Party

Persons who do not have the capacity to be a party in court may not act if they are not represented or assisted in the manner prescribed by civil law.

( Thus amended by Law No. 6259 of July 3, 1978, Art. 2) Requirements

Defendants

If there are several accused (imputados) and civilly sued parties in the proceeding, the claim for damages (pretensión resarcitoria) may be directed against one or more of them.

When the plaintiff does not mention any accused (imputado), it shall be understood that it is directed against all of them.

Opportunity

When proceeding by direct summons (citación directa), the request must be submitted before the respective prosecutorial request (requerimiento) (412), and the Prosecuting Attorney (Agente Fiscal) may only request the seizure of assets (524 and 525). The request shall be considered by the court, which shall order the corresponding notifications (60) in the order for the summons to trial (auto de citación a juicio).

Notification

In the case provided for by the first part of Article 58, the notification shall be made as soon as the accused (imputado) is individualized.

Opposition in the Investigation

Procedure

Opposition in Case of Direct Summons

The acceptance or rejection of the civil plaintiff (actor civil) may not be discussed again at the trial.

Rejection and Exclusion on Court's Own Motion.

The ruling of the Investigating Judge (Juez de Instrucción) shall be appealable before the Court of Appeals (Tribunal de Apelaciones).

Effects of the Ruling

Powers

Duty to Testify

Withdrawal (Desistimiento)

The action shall be considered withdrawn (desistida) when the civil plaintiff (actor civil), duly summoned, does not appear at the first hearing of the trial (debate), or does not present conclusions, or leaves the hearing without having formulated them in a timely manner (389).

Effects of Withdrawal

Civil Defendant Forced Intervention

The request must be made in the manner and deadlines prescribed by Articles 57 and 59, with an indication of the name and domicile of the defendant (demandado) and their legal relationship with the accused (imputado).

Ruling for Summons

The ruling must be notified to the accused (imputado) and their defender.

Nullity

The nullity shall not influence the progress of the proceeding nor prevent the subsequent exercise of the action before the civil jurisdiction.

Default

Only if they were summoned by edicts (edictos) shall a public defender (defensor público) be appointed as their representative and for the duration of their absence.

Spontaneous Intervention

This participation must be requested, under penalty of inadmissibility, in the manner prescribed by Article 57, insofar as it is applicable. The resolution granting it shall be notified to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), when it exercises the civil action, to the parties, and to their defenders.

Opposition

This incidental matter shall be raised and processed in the manner, opportunity, and periods established by Articles 61, 62, and 63.

Capacity and Exclusion

When their exclusion has been requested by the civil plaintiff (actor civil), the latter may not bring the action against the former.

Powers and Guarantees

Defenders and Representatives Right of the Accused

They may also defend themselves personally provided that this does not harm the efficiency of the defense and does not obstruct the normal substantiation of the proceeding.

Number of Defenders

When defenders intervene, notification made to one of them shall be valid for both, and the substitution of one for the other shall not alter proceedings or periods.

Mandatory Nature

Ex Officio Defense

Subsequent Appointment

Common Defender

If this incompatibility is noticed, the court shall provide, even ex officio, for the necessary substitutions, in accordance with Articles 83 and 189.

Representative of the Accused

The court, however, may require their personal appearance.

Other Defenders and Representatives

Substitution

In the event of abandonment of the defense, the substituting lawyer shall assume the obligations of the defender and shall not have the right to an extension of periods or hearings.

Abandonment

When the abandonment occurs shortly before or during the trial, the new defender may request a maximum extension of three days for the hearing.

The trial may not be suspended again for the same cause. The intervention of another private defender shall not exclude that of the public defender.

The abandonment by the defenders or representatives of the civil parties shall not suspend the proceeding.

Sanctions

1059 at 4:00 p.m. on September 4, 1990).

Procedural Acts

General Provisions Language

Date

The time shall be indicated only when the law so requires.

If the date is required under penalty of nullity, this nullity may only be declared when the date, by virtue of the elements of the act or other connected acts, cannot be established with certainty.

Day and Time of Performance

To continue the trial without prejudicial delays, the court may enable the days and hours it deems necessary.

Oath

The declarant shall promise to tell the truth in everything they know and are asked, using the formula "I swear" ("Lo juro").

If the deponent refuses to take an oath by virtue of religious or ideological beliefs, they shall be required to make a promise to tell the truth, warning them that if they breach it, they shall be sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code (Código Penal).

Orality

First, the declarant shall be invited to state everything they know about the matter in question, and afterward, if necessary, they shall be interrogated.

The questions asked shall not be misleading or suggestive.

When proceeding in writing, the questions and answers shall be recorded using the expressions of the person questioned. The statements may be recorded stenographically or by any other means.

Special Statements

If such persons do not know how to read or write, a teacher of the deaf-mute shall be appointed as interpreter, or in their absence, someone who knows how to communicate with the person interrogated.

Records General Rule

The judge and the mayor shall be assisted by the clerk or two witnesses; the prosecutor by the clerk or an assistant or an officer of the judicial police; the police officers and assistants, by two witnesses.

Content and Formalities

If one of the persons is blind or illiterate, they shall be informed that the record can be read and signed by a person of their confidence, which shall be recorded under penalty of nullity.

Witnesses to Proceedings

Nullity

Judicial Acts and Resolutions Coercive Power

Special Power

Acts Outside the Seat

Assistance of the Clerk

Decisions

It shall issue a judgment (sentencia) to put an end to the proceeding; an order (auto), to resolve an incidental matter or an interlocutory question; and decrees (providencias), when they are merely procedural.

Reasoning

Signature

The lack of a signature shall produce the nullity of the act, except as provided in Article 395, subsection 5).

Term

Material Errors

Clarification and Addition

The parties or the Prosecutor may exercise the same right within three days after notification.

The request for clarification or addition shall suspend the period for filing the appropriate appeals.

Complaint for Delay in Proceedings

Complaint for Delays in the Trial Court or the Criminal Cassation Chamber

Final Resolution

A final judgment (sentencia firme) is one against which no ordinary or extraordinary appeal lies, except for review.

Authenticated Copy

To this end, the court shall order whoever has the copy to deliver it to the Secretariat, without prejudice to the right to obtain another free of charge.

Restitution and Renewal

When this is not possible, it shall order their renewal, prescribing the manner of doing so.

Copies, Reports, or Certifications

New Crime

Letters Rogatory, Letters of Request, Orders, and Official Communications General Rules

Said communications may be made using any means that guarantees their authenticity.

Direct Communication

Letters Rogatory to Foreign Courts

Letters of Request from Abroad

Delay

Notifications, Summonses, and Hearings General Rule

Persons Authorized to Notify

(Repealed by Article 20, subsection d), of the Notifications Law (Ley de Notificaciones) No. 7637 of October 21, 1996) Place of the Act

(Repealed by Article 20, subsection d), of the Notifications Law No. 7637 of October 21, 1996) Place for Notifications

Notifications to Defenders or Representatives

Manner of the Act

If dealing with reasoned resolutions, the copy shall be limited to the heading and operative part.

Personal Notification

The notifier and the person in charge of the proceeding shall sign.

(Thus amended by Article 19, subsection f), of the Notifications Law No. 7637 of October 21, 1996) Notification at the House, Office, or Workplace

(Repealed by Article 20, subsection d), of the Notifications Law No. 7637 of October 21, 1996) Notification by Edicts

Discrepancy Between Original and Copy

Nullity of Notification

• 1)If there was an error regarding the identity of the person notified; 2) If the resolution was notified in an incomplete form; 3) If the date is not stated in the proceeding, or when appropriate, the delivery of the copy; 4) If any of the prescribed signatures is missing; and 5) In the case of discrepancy provided for in the preceding article, provided it causes defenselessness.

Summons

This shall be carried out in accordance with the forms prescribed for notification, except as provided in the following article.

Special Summons

In such case, they shall be informed of the purpose of the summons and the proceeding in which it was ordered, and they shall be warned that if they do not obey the order, without prejudice to the corresponding criminal liability, they shall be brought by the public force and shall incur the costs caused, unless they have a legitimate impediment communicated without any delay to the court.

The warning shall be made effective immediately.

Hearings to the Parties

If the law does not set a period, this shall be three days.

Notification

The period shall run from the working day following the last notification.

The interested party may withdraw photocopies of the proceedings from the secretariat, upon payment of the costs they generate.

Nullity of Hearings

Periods General Rule

These shall run: if they are individual, from the notification to the interested party; and if they are common, from the last notification made to the interested parties.

Beginning and End

Calculation

Non-extendibility

Waiver or Abbreviation

Nullity General Rule

Generic Warning

• 1)The appointment, capacity, and constitution of judges or courts; 2) The intervention of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) in the proceeding, and its participation in acts in which it is mandatory; and 3) The intervention, assistance, and representation of the accused (imputado), in the cases and forms established by law.

Declaration

If it does not do so, it may declare the nullity at the request of a party.

Only the nullities provided for in the preceding article, which imply a violation of constitutional norms, or when it is expressly established, must be declared ex officio, at any stage and degree of the proceeding.

Who May Raise It

Opportunity and Manner of Opposition

• 1)Those produced in the preliminary investigation (instrucción), during it or in the period of summons to trial (349 or 416); 2) Those occurring in the preliminary acts of the trial, immediately after the reading with which the trial is opened (370), or of the intimation provided for in Article 418; 3) In the trial, those produced before or immediately after the act that may cause it is performed; and 4) Those produced during the processing of an appeal before the Court of Appeals (Tribunal de Alzada), immediately after the opening of the hearing prescribed by Articles 469 or 470, or in the written pleading.

The petition for nullity shall be reasoned, under penalty of inadmissibility, and the incident shall be processed by hearing the interested parties for a period of three days, unless it is raised in the pleading, according to the last part of subsection 4) of this article.

Manner of Rectifying It

Nullities shall be rectified:

• 1)When the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) or the parties do not raise them in a timely manner (148); 2) When those who have the right to raise them have expressly or tacitly accepted the effects of the act; and 3) If, despite its irregularity, the act has achieved its purpose with respect to all interested parties.

Effects

When declaring it, the court shall also establish which prior or contemporaneous acts the nullity reaches due to their connection with the annulled act.

The court that declares it shall order, when necessary and possible, the renewal or rectification of the acts of the annulled resolution.

Sanctions

BOOK TWO PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

Initial Acts

Complaint Power to File a Complaint

In this case, only the person who has the power to bring the instance, according to Article 6, may file the complaint.

When a complaint is received for sexual crimes or injuries, even in the degree of attempt, and when the circumstances of the first subsection of Article 112 of the Penal Code (Código Penal) concur in the victim and the accused, and it is verified that the accused is not detained and cohabits with the victim, the corresponding authority shall order the accused to immediately leave the domicile.

Simultaneously, it shall order the deposit of a sum of money, which it shall fix prudently and which the accused must pay within a period of eight days, in order to cover the housing and food expenses of the members of the family group who depend on them economically. This obligation shall be governed by the norms proper to alimony (pensiones alimenticias) and, therefore, the physical coercion of the obligor may be ordered in the event of non-compliance. The precautionary measure must be established for a minimum period of one month, but it may be interrupted when there is reconciliation between the victim and the accused, provided that this circumstance is expressly stated by the victim before the jurisdictional authority.

To lift the precautionary measure, the accused must give a sworn undertaking (caución juratoria) that they will not repeat the same acts. In the event of convincing and reasonable indications of recidivism, the corresponding judicial authority shall order the preventive detention of the accused.

(Thus added by Article 30 (now 33) of Law No. 7142 of March 8, 1990).

Form

In the latter case, the power of attorney must be attached.

When it is verbal, a record shall be drawn up in accordance with Articles 97, 98, and 99.

In both cases, the official shall verify and record the identity of the complainant.

Content

When the complaint is filed by the holder of the civil action, it may also contain the statement provided for in subsection 1) of Article 10.

Prohibition on Filing a Complaint

(The Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional), through resolution No. 1151 of March 1, 1994, interpreted this article to the effect that: ".the guarantee to abstain from testifying against the 'spouse' contained herein must be understood to cover the companion in a common-law union (unión de hecho).") Obligation to File a Complaint. Exception

• 1)Public officials or employees who learn of them in the exercise of their functions; 2) Doctors, midwives, pharmacists, and other persons who practice any branch of the art of healing, who learn of such acts when providing the aid of their profession, unless the knowledge acquired by them is protected by law under professional secrecy.

Liability

Complaint Before the Investigating Judge

Within a period of 24 hours, unless the urgency of the case requires the former to set a shorter one, the Prosecutor shall formulate a request in accordance with Article 170, or request that the complaint be dismissed or referred to another jurisdiction.

It shall be dismissed when the facts on which it is based do not constitute a crime or when proceedings cannot be initiated. If the Prosecutor requests that the complaint be dismissed and the Judge does not agree, the procedure set forth in Article 347 shall be followed.

Complaint Before the Judicial Prosecutor

Complaint Before the Judicial Police

Acts of the Judicial Police Function

If the crime is one of private prosecution (acción privada), it shall proceed only upon receiving an order from the judge. But if it is one of private instance (instancia privada), it shall act upon complaint from the person indicated in Article 6.

Composition

Administrative police officers shall also be considered officers of the Judicial Police when they perform the functions established by this Code; and its employees, auxiliaries.

The administrative police shall act whenever the judicial police cannot do so immediately, but once the latter intervenes, the administrative police shall be its auxiliary.

Subordination

The officers and agents of the administrative police, in performing acts of the judicial police, shall in each case be under the authority of the judges and prosecutors, without prejudice to the general administrative authority to which they are subject.

Powers

• 1)To receive complaints; 2) To ensure that the body and the traces of the crime are preserved and that the state of things is not altered until the judge or the prosecuting agent arrives at the scene; 3) If there is a risk that any delay will compromise the success of the investigation, to record the state of persons, things, and places by means of inspections, plans, photographs, technical examinations, and other operations recommended by scientific policing; 4) To proceed with the entry-and-search measures (allanamientos) indicated in Article 212 and with urgent personal searches (requisas) in accordance with Article 215; 5) To order, if indispensable, the closure of the premises where it is presumed, by strong indications, that a serious crime has been committed, or to proceed in accordance with Article 266; 6) To question witnesses presumably useful for discovering the truth; 7) To summon and apprehend the presumed culprit in the cases and manner authorized by this Code (264-272) and to order their incommunicado detention (incomunicación) when the requirements of Article 197 are met, for a maximum term of two hours, which may not be extended for any reason without an order from the Examining Magistrate (Juez de Instrucción), but if said officials are not present at the place of detention or it is impossible to request the order, the incommunicado detention may last the time necessary for the police authority to contact said official, without in any case exceeding 48 hours (Article 44 of the Political Const.); in these cases, these circumstances shall be recorded in the preliminary investigation file (sumario); 8) To take the statement of the accused in the manner and with the guarantees established in Articles 189 and following, the chosen defense counsel of trust being able to attend the proceeding; and 9) To use public force to the extent necessary.

The auxiliaries of the Judicial Police shall have the same powers in urgent cases or when executing orders from judges or prosecutors.

Seizure of Correspondence

139-94 of 15:48 hours on January 11, 1994).

Information and Procedures

When the judge or the prosecuting agent does not intervene immediately, as corresponds to formal preliminary investigation (instrucción) or direct citation (citación directa), said officers shall conduct a preliminary investigation; they shall observe, to the extent possible, the rules of the formal preliminary investigation, with the exception of the following article.

Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 272, the proceedings and the seized items shall be sent to the competent judge within three days of commencing the investigation; but said official may extend this period for an equal term when the investigation is complex or insurmountable obstacles exist.

Cases of Direct Citation

After being read, the record shall be signed by the officer and, to the extent possible, by the other persons who have intervened.

Sanctions

The Executive Branch may impose the pertinent sanctions on the officers and agents of the administrative police.

Acts of the Public Prosecution Service Formal Preliminary Investigation or Summary Information

Prosecutorial Request

• 1)The personal details of the accused, or if unknown, the descriptions or data that can best identify them; 2) A detailed account of the act, indicating, if possible, the time and manner of execution and the criminal provision it deems applicable; and 3) The indication of the proceedings useful for ascertaining the truth.

Obstacles Founded on Constitutional Privilege Applicable Provisions

Criminal Action

If it concerns a crime subject to private prosecution, such action shall be brought exclusively by the offended party, or in the event that the latter dies after its initiation, by their legitimate heirs.

Summary Information

Possible Detention

Request for Impeachment Proceeding

Archiving or Trial

Otherwise, it shall send its resolution to the Supreme Court, so that it may proceed with the trial of the accused.

Multiple Accused Persons

(The Constitutional Chamber, by resolution No. 419 of January 26, 1993, interpreted this article to mean that: "... the Supreme Court of Justice must only hear cases in which subjects protected by constitutional privilege intervene; and consequently, the ordinary courts are competent to continue hearing the cases pursued against the other persons").

Formation of Cause

Opening of the Debate

Acquittal

The decision shall be published in the "Judicial Bulletin (Boletín Judicial)".

Conviction

Joinder and Final Judgment

Otherwise, the judgment of the Trial Court does not bind the Supreme Court in any way. There is no appeal whatsoever against the judgment of the Supreme Court of Justice.

(The Constitutional Chamber, by resolution No. 419 of January 26, 1993, interpreted this article to mean that: "... the Supreme Court of Justice must only hear cases in which subjects protected by constitutional privilege intervene; and consequently, the ordinary courts are competent to continue hearing the cases pursued against the other persons").

On the Liability of Other Officials who Administer Justice Crimes Specific to Other Officials

SINGLE CHAPTER General Provisions On Judicial Formal Preliminary Investigation General Rule

Purpose

• 1)To verify whether a criminal act exists, through all proceedings conducive to the discovery of the truth; 2) To establish the circumstances that qualify the act, aggravate, mitigate, or justify it in terms of punishability; 3) To determine its perpetrators, accomplices, and instigators; 4) To verify the age, education, habits, living conditions, means of subsistence, and antecedents of the accused; the state and development of their mental faculties, the conditions under which they acted, the motives that may have determined them to commit the crime, and other circumstances revealing their greater or lesser dangerousness, all in accordance with Article 71 of the Criminal Code; and 5) To ascertain the extent of the damage caused by the crime, even if the action for damages has not been brought.

Direct Investigation

When it is necessary to conduct proceedings outside their judicial district, they shall entrust them to the corresponding judicial authority.

Initiation

Rejection or Archiving

The resolution shall be appealable by the Public Prosecution Service.

Defender and Address

Non-observance of this precept shall render null the acts mentioned in Article 191.

In the same proceeding, the accused who is at liberty must designate a place within the jurisdiction where they can be summoned by the court.

Participation of the Public Prosecution Service

If the Prosecuting Agent has expressed the intention to attend a proceeding, they shall be notified verbally in sufficient time and this shall be recorded; but the proceeding shall not be suspended or delayed due to absence. When attending, they shall have the duties and powers prescribed in Article 194.

Right to Attend and Judicial Power

The judge may permit the attendance of the accused or the offended party when it is useful for establishing the facts or necessary due to the nature of the act.

The parties may attend domiciliary registers.

Notification Extremely Urgent Cases

However, it may be proceeded without notification or before the established time, when the act is of the utmost urgency or the illness or impediment of the witness is not known before the statements mentioned in the preceding article. In the first case, the reasons shall be recorded, under penalty of nullity.

Possibility of Attendance

The resolution shall be unappealable.

Duties and Powers of Attendees

The resolution shall always be unappealable. The parties, officials, employees, and other persons intervening in the trial must maintain secrecy regarding the acts and records of the formal preliminary investigation.

Nature of the Proceedings

Secrecy may not last more than ten days and shall be decreed only once, unless the gravity of the act or the difficulty of its investigation require that it be extended for an equal period.

The preliminary investigation file shall always be secret to outsiders, with the exception of lawyers who have some legitimate interest.

(Partially annulled by Resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 1331-90 of 14:30 hours on October 23, 1990.

Note: The annulled phrase stated the following: "after the statement of the accused") Proposing Proceedings

The judge shall carry them out when they are pertinent and useful; their resolution shall be unappealable.

Incommunicado Detention

Absolute incommunicado detention may not last more than ten days and in no case shall it prevent the judicial inspection from being carried out (Political Constitution, Article 44).

The person held incommunicado shall be permitted the use of books or other objects, provided they cannot serve to evade incommunicado status or attempt against their life or that of others. Likewise, they shall be authorized to perform urgent civil acts that do not harm the purposes of the formal preliminary investigation, at the judge's discretion and in their presence, or that of their delegate.

Rule on Evidence

Duration and Extension

If this proves insufficient, the judge shall request an extension from the Court of Appeal, which may grant it for an equal period, depending on the reasons for the delay and the nature of the investigation. In cases of extreme gravity and very difficult investigation, the extension may exceptionally exceed said term, but may not exceed another two months.

Proceedings

Means of Proof

Inspection and Reconstruction Judicial Inspection

Absence of Traces

In case of disappearance or alteration, they shall investigate and record the manner, time, and cause thereof.

Coercive Powers

Those who disobey shall incur the liability of witnesses (232), without prejudice to being compelled by public force.

Corporeal and Mental Inspection

They may order the same measure with respect to another person, with the same limitation, in cases of serious and well-founded suspicion or absolute necessity.

If necessary, the inspection may be conducted with the assistance of experts.

Only a person of trust of the examinee, who shall be warned beforehand of said right, may attend the proceeding.

Identification of Corpses

If identification is not obtained through the indicated means and its condition permits, the corpse shall be exposed to the public for a prudential time in the morgue of the Forensic Medical Organism, so that anyone with data that may contribute to recognition may communicate it to the judge.

Reconstruction of the Act

The accused shall never be forced to participate in the proceeding, which must be conducted with the greatest possible discretion.

Technical Operations

Oath

Register and Search Register

The judge may make use of the administrative police and proceed personally or delegate the proceeding to officials of the Judicial Police.

In this case, the order shall be in writing, stating the place, day, and time when the measure is to be executed and the name of the commissioned official, who shall act in accordance with Articles 97 and following.

Entry and Search of Dwelling

However, it may be proceeded at any hour when the dweller or their representative consents, or in extremely grave and urgent cases, or when public order is endangered.

Entry and Search of Other Premises

In these cases, notice must be given to the persons in charge of the premises, unless this is harmful to the investigation.

Entry and Search Without an Order

• 1)If life of the inhabitants or property is threatened by fire, flood, or similar cause; 2) When it is reported that strangers have been seen entering a premises, with manifest indications of intending to commit a crime; 3) In the event that a person accused of a serious crime who is being pursued for apprehension enters a premises; and 4) If voices coming from a house announce that a crime is being committed therein or cry for help from it.

Formalities for Entry and Search

The person notified shall be invited to witness the register.

When no one is found, this shall be recorded in the record (acta).

Once the register is conducted, its result shall be recorded in the record, with a statement of the circumstances useful for the investigation.

The record shall be signed by those present. If someone does not do so, this shall be recorded.

Order for Personal Search

Before proceeding with the measure, they may be invited to exhibit the object in question.

Search Procedure

If conducted on a woman, they shall be carried out by another woman, unless this entails a delay harmful to the investigation.

The operation shall be recorded in a record (acta) signed by the person searched; if they do not sign it, this shall be indicated in the case file.

Seizure Seizure Order

In urgent cases, this measure may be delegated to an official of the Judicial Police, in the manner prescribed for registers (209).

Order for Presentation Limitations

Custody or Deposit

Otherwise, their deposit shall be ordered.

The obtaining of copies or reproductions of the seized things may be ordered when they may disappear, be altered, are difficult to guard, or this is otherwise convenient for the formal preliminary investigation.

The seized things shall be secured with the court seal and the signature of the judge and secretary, and documents must be signed on each of their pages.

If it is necessary to remove the seals, their identity and integrity shall first be verified.

Once the act is concluded, they shall be replaced and everything shall be recorded.

Interception of Correspondence

Opening and Examination of Correspondence

They shall examine the objects and personally read the content of the correspondence. If they are related to the process, seizure shall be ordered; otherwise, the content shall be kept confidential and delivery shall be ordered to the addressee, their representatives, or close relatives, under record.

Telephone Communications

1261-90 of 15:30 hours on October 9, 1990).

Excluded Documents

Return

This return may be ordered provisionally, as a deposit, and the obligation to exhibit them to the court may be imposed on the possessor.

The stolen effects shall be returned, in the same conditions and as appropriate, to the harmed party or to the good-faith possessor from whose possession they were seized.

Witnesses Duty to Investigate

Obligation to Testify

Capacity to Testify

Power to abstain

(The Constitutional Chamber, through resolutions No. 264 of February 6, 1991, 1151 and 1154 of March 1, 1994, declared that this article is not unconstitutional and its scope is the same as that of Article 36 of the Constitution." and that ".the guarantee to abstain from testifying against the 'spouse' contained herein must be understood to protect the partner in a common-law marriage and that, contrary to the provisions of Article 36 of the Political Constitution, any proceeding conducted with the participation of a relative within the degree established in that norm, without advising them of their right to abstain.").

Other cases

The bond between guardian and ward is equated to the second degree of kinship.

(Text Modified by Resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 264-91 of 2:30 p.m. on February 6, 1991) (The Constitutional Chamber, through resolutions No. 1155 of March 1, 1994, and 6798 of November 23, 1994, established that: "the guarantee of Article 36 of the Constitution must be understood to extend to de facto families, in the same way that it protects those constituted by legal bond"; further noting that: ".the right to abstain from testifying contemplated in this article includes family members, up to and including the third degree, of consanguinity or affinity, whose kinship relationships arise from a de facto relationship that meets the characteristics of stability, publicity, cohabitation, and singularity.").

Duty to abstain

However, these persons may not refuse testimony when the interested party releases them from the duty to maintain secrecy; except for ministers of an admitted religion.

If the witness erroneously invokes this duty regarding a fact included in this article, they shall be interrogated.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 7435 of October 3, 1994) Appearance

In urgent cases, however, they may be summoned verbally.

The witness may also appear spontaneously, which shall be recorded.

Residents outside the city

Compulsion

If, after appearing, they refuse to declare, their arrest shall be ordered for twenty-four hours, at the end of which, if they persist in the refusal, criminal proceedings shall be initiated against them in accordance with Article 305 of the Penal Code.

Immediate arrest

This measure shall last for the time indispensable to receive the testimony, which shall never exceed 24 hours.

Form of the declaration

(The Constitutional Chamber, through resolution No. 5630 of September 28, 1994, declared that this article is not unconstitutional, insofar as it is interpreted that: ".the suspect witness cannot be forced to testify against themselves and that the coercive means provided for by legislation to obtain testimonial evidence, by express provision of Article 36 of the Constitution, are not applicable to them.") Immediately thereafter, the judge shall interrogate each witness separately, requesting their first name, surnames, age, marital status, spouse's name, profession, domicile, ties of kinship and interest with the parties, and any circumstance that may serve to assess their veracity.

If the witness could abstain from testifying (227), they must be warned, under pain of nullity, that they enjoy this power, which shall be recorded.

They shall then be interrogated about the fact, if applicable, in accordance with Article 95.

Special treatment

Diplomatic representatives accredited in the country are not obliged to appear and may testify by means of a written report in which they will state that they do so under oath.

However, the indicated witnesses may waive the special treatment.

Interrogation at the domicile

False testimony

Judicial authority and autopsy

In the case of violent or suspicious death suggesting criminality, an autopsy shall be ordered, unless the external inspection clearly reveals the cause that produced it.

Qualifying capacity

Otherwise, persons of manifest suitability must be appointed.

Mandatory nature of the appointment

In this case, they must inform the judge upon being notified of the designation.

Non-official experts shall accept the appointment under oath.

Incapacity and incompatibility

(Thus amended by Article 70 (now 83) of the Law on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities No. 7600 of May 2, 1996) Excuse and recusal

The incident shall be resolved by the judge, after hearing the interested party and following a summary investigation, without any recourse.

Appointment and notification

Before the expert inquiries begin, the judge must notify the Public Prosecutor's Office and the defense counsels, under pain of nullity, unless these inquiries are extremely urgent or extremely simple. In these cases, under the same sanction, they shall be notified that the expert examination was conducted.

Power to propose

When they do not agree, the judge shall designate from among those proposed.

Direction of the expert examination

They may also indicate where it should be conducted and authorize the expert to examine the proceedings or attend specific procedural acts.

Preservation of objects

If it is necessary to destroy or alter the analyzed objects, or if there is disagreement on how to conduct the operations, the experts must inform the judge before proceeding.

Execution

New experts

The experts proposed by the parties may act in the same manner, when they have been appointed after the expert examination has been conducted.

• 1)The description of the person, thing, or fact examined, as they were found; 2) A detailed account of the operations, their result, and the date on which they were performed; and 3) The conclusions formulated by the experts.

Document comparison

To obtain these, the judge may order seizure, unless the holder is a person who must or may abstain from testifying as a witness.

The judge may also order one of the parties to write a body of writing in their own hand in their presence. The refusal shall be recorded.

Reserve and substitutions

The judge may substitute the experts in case of poor performance of their duties.

When the expert's actions constitute a punishable act, they must inform the Public Prosecutor's Office, for what concerns them.

Fees

The expert appointed at the request of a party may always charge fees, prior to issuing the report, unless the expert is a member of the Forensic Medical Agency.

Interpreters Designation

During the investigation, the deponent may write their statement, which shall be attached to the minute.

Applicable rules

Line-ups Cases

Prior interrogation

The declarant shall take an oath, with the exception of the accused.

Manner of conducting the lineup

In the presence of these persons, or from a point where they cannot be seen, as the judge deems appropriate, the deponent shall state whether the person they referred to is there, inviting them, in the affirmative case, to designate them clearly and precisely.

The proceeding shall be recorded in a minute, where all useful circumstances shall be noted, including the name and, if possible, the domicile of those who formed the group.

Plurality of lineups

When one person must identify several persons, the recognition of all of them may be conducted in a single act.

Photo lineup

In all other respects, the preceding provisions shall be observed.

Recognition of objects

In all other respects and as far as possible, the preceding rules shall apply.

Confrontations Appropriateness

The accused's defense counsel may attend the accused's confrontation.

Oath

Manner

To carry it out, the statements deemed contradictory shall be read, as pertinent, and the attention of those confronted shall be drawn to the discrepancies, so that they may attempt to reach agreement. A record shall be made of any ratification or rectification that results, as well as of any recriminations made by those confronted and of everything that occurs during the act; but no reference shall be made to the judge's impressions regarding the attitude of those confronted.

Intervention of Communications (NOTE: this Chapter was added by Article 30 of the Law on the Registration of Private Documents and Intervention of Communications No. 7425 of August 9, 1994)

They must act according to the procedure and in the cases provided for in the law governing the matter.

(Thus added by Article 30 of the Law on the Registration of Private Documents and Intervention of Communications No. 7425 of August 9, 1994)

Situation of the Accused

Presentation and Appearance Spontaneous presentation

If the statement is received in the manner prescribed for the accused's statement, it shall be valid as such for all purposes.

Spontaneous presentation shall not prevent the ordering of detention, when applicable.

Restriction of liberty

Arrest or detention shall be executed in a manner that causes the least possible harm to the person or reputation of those affected. At least every three months, the court shall examine the grounds for the imprisonment or internment and, according to the case, order its continuation, its substitution for another measure, or the full release of the accused. This period shall be interrupted each time the appropriateness of the detention is examined at the request of the accused.

(Thus amended by Article 3 of Law No. 7337 of May 5, 1993) Precautionary measures

Both measures may not be prolonged beyond the time indispensable to receive the statements, which shall be undertaken without delay, and in no case shall they last more than 24 hours. After this term expires, the detention of the alleged culprit may be ordered, if applicable.

Summons

The same procedure may be followed when investigating a crime that allows the release on bail of the accused.

If the summoned person does not appear within the set term nor justifies a legitimate impediment, their detention shall be ordered.

Detention

The order shall be written, contain the personal data of the accused or other data serving to identify them, and the indication of the act attributed to them.

Apprehension in flagrancy

In the case of a public-prosecution crime dependent on a private complaint, the person who may file the complaint shall be informed immediately, and if they do not present the complaint at the same time, the apprehended person shall be released.

Flagrancy

Other cases of apprehension

They may also apprehend the person against whom there are strong indications of guilt, provided that their background leads to the presumption that they will not obey the summons order and preventive detention (291) appears appropriate.

(Thus amended by Article 4 of the Law Reforming the Juvenile Protective Jurisdiction No. 7383 of March 16, 1994, which eliminated the final phrase of this article) Presentation of the apprehended person

Private apprehension

Statement of the Accused Appropriateness and term

This period may be extended for an equal period when the judge has not been able to receive the statement, or when the accused requests it to choose a defense counsel.

If there are several detained accused in a proceeding, said term shall be computed with respect to the first statement, and the others shall be received successively without delay.

Attendance

When they exercise this power, they shall be verbally notified of the day and time of the act.

The accused may declare in the absence of their defense counsel, provided they expressly state their will in that sense.

In all cases, a record shall be made.

Freedom to declare

In no case shall an oath or promise to tell the truth be required of them, nor shall coercion or threats be exerted against them, nor shall any means be used to force, induce, or determine them to declare against their will, nor shall charges or recriminations be made to them aimed at obtaining their confession.

Non-observance of this precept shall render the act null and void, without prejudice to the corresponding disciplinary or criminal liability.

Identification interrogation

They shall also be asked for their identity card, and if not shown, its certification shall be requested from the Electoral Registry.

(Text Modified by Resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 1438-92 of 3:00 p.m. on June 2, 1992.)

Formal notification and refusal to declare

If the accused refuses to declare, it shall be recorded in the minute; if they refuse to sign it, the reason shall be recorded; and when they request the presence of their defense counsel, the judge shall set a new hearing and order the summons of the latter.

(The Constitutional Chamber, through resolution No. 3461 of July 20, 1993, established with respect to this article that: "the investigation conducted without the accused having been legally formally notified (duly informed of the facts attributed to them), is contrary to the principle of defense guaranteed by Article 39 of the Political Constitution, and that the investigating authority may validly compel the defendant to participate in the proceeding, even against their will, a circumstance that shall be recorded in the minute that will be drawn up for that purpose.") Statement on the fact

After this, the judge shall direct the questions they deem convenient to the person being questioned. The Public Prosecutor's Office and the defense counsel may exercise the powers granted by Article 194.

The declarant may dictate their statement, or the answers to the questions formulated.

If, due to the duration of the act, signs of fatigue or lack of composure are noted in the accused, the statement shall be suspended until they disappear.

Form of interrogation

The answers shall not be urged in a peremptory manner.

Minute

When the declarant wishes to add or amend something, their statements shall be recorded without altering what has been written.

The minute shall be signed by all present. If anyone cannot or will not do so, this shall be recorded and shall not affect the validity thereof.

Separate statements

Spontaneous statements

Follow-up on citations

Identification and records

Pre-trial Processing Term and requirements

In the case provided for in the last part of Article 274, the term shall be counted from the last statement.

Statement as a prerequisite for processing

Form and content

Lack of merit

Character and recourses

Against them, only an appeal without suspensive effect may be filed before the Court of Appeals; for the former, by the accused or the Public Prosecutor's Office; for the latter, by the latter.

Preventive Detention Appropriateness

1.- Sufficient elements of conviction exist to reasonably sustain that the accused is, with probability, the perpetrator or participant in a punishable act.

2.- A reasonable presumption exists, based on an assessment of the circumstances of the particular case, that the accused will not submit to the procedure (risk of flight); will obstruct the ascertainment of the truth (risk of obstruction); or will continue the criminal activity.

3.- The offense attributed to the person must be punishable by a custodial sentence (pena privativa de libertad) whose maximum exceeds three years; if it is less, it shall only proceed if any of the situations provided for in Article 298 are present. The decision must expressly state the grounds for each of the conditions motivating it and shall be appealable by the accused or by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público).

(Thus amended by Article 3 of Law No. 7337 of May 5, 1993) Treatment

House arrest (Prisión domiciliaria)

Cessation

Furthermore, in exceptional cases, the judge, by reasoned decree, may revoke the pretrial detention when required because the conditions that justified its imposition have changed.

In all cases, the revocation decision shall be appealable, without suspensive effect, by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

(Thus amended by Article 471 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Código Procesal Penal) No. 7594 of April 10, 1996) Other preventive restrictions

If the law punishes the offense attributed to them with special disqualification (inhabilitación especial), the judge may also order, preventively, that they abstain from the respective activity.

Provisional internment

Release from custody (Excarcelación) Origin:

By virtue of the release from custody, and as long as it is not revoked, the accused has the right to remain at liberty during the proceedings, subject to the conditions imposed by the Court (307).

However, release from custody may be denied when the lower extreme of the penalty designated for the offense exceeds six years; or when the Court considers it necessary to maintain the detention of the accused, either for the success of the investigations, or for the personal safety of the victim, the witnesses, or the detainee themselves, or to avoid probable scandals.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 6659 of September 18, 1981) Restrictions:

1.- Before three months have elapsed since the judge ordered pretrial detention, without prejudice to the extraordinary power granted to the judge by the second paragraph of Article 294.

2.- For anyone declared a fugitive (rebelde).

3.- When, in the court's opinion, there are strong indications that the accused will try to evade the action of justice.

4.- When there are indications – equally serious – in the accused's background or in other elements of conviction, that they will continue criminal activity.

(Thus amended by Article 471 of the Criminal Procedure Code No. 7594 of April 10, 1996) Sureties (Cauciones)

The purpose of the surety shall be to ensure that the accused will fulfill the obligations imposed upon them and the orders of the court, and that they will submit to the execution of the conviction judgment.

Determination of sureties

The judge shall make the estimation in such a way that it constitutes an effective motive for the accused to refrain from violating their obligations.

Sworn surety (Caución juratoria)

• 1)When it is considered prima facie that, in the event of a conviction, it will be conditionally executed or a judicial pardon will proceed; and 2) Otherwise, when release from custody proceeds with a real or personal guarantee and the judge considers that the accused, due to their poverty, cannot offer it and that, nevertheless, they will fulfill their obligations.

Personal surety (Caución personal)

Form of determining the solvency of guarantors

The value of the assets may be verified with the certificate from the Direct Taxation Office (Tributación Directa).

When the amount of the guarantee is three thousand colones or less, it is at the court's discretion to accept the guarantor if they do not have registered assets in their favor, as well as to require that their economic situation and possible resources be verified.

In cases of a personal guarantee exceeding five thousand colones, the court may condition the granting of release from custody on the surety bond (fianza) being previously recorded in the corresponding Public Registry, on the assets of the guarantor as determined by the judge in the respective decision, without such recording preventing the subsequent registration of documents related to said property. The recording of the surety bond shall be considered a pending encumbrance on the property, and any acquirer of an encumbered asset implicitly accepts the responsibility that the surety bond implies. A report from the Judicial Registry of Surety Bonds (Registro Judicial de Fianzas) on the solvency of the proposed guarantor shall also be required.

Real surety (Caución real)

The deposited funds or securities shall be subject to a special privilege for the fulfillment of the obligations arising from the surety.

Timing and basis

If the request is made before the indictment order (auto de procesamiento), the judge shall take into account the legal classification of the act attributed or that appears to have been committed, without prejudice to revoking or modifying their decision when resolving the situation of the accused; if it is after the indictment order, the classification contained therein shall be considered.

Procedure

This procedure may be dispensed with in urgent cases. The judge shall resolve immediately.

Conditions

Domicile and notifications

The guarantor shall be notified of decisions referring to the obligations of the person released.

Appeals

The appeal shall not have suspensive effect, except when the decision must be in accordance with the following article: once the appeal is filed, the release file and the main case file shall be sent without any further procedure to the Court of Appeals (Tribunal de Apelaciones).

Review (Consulta)

(Repealed by Article 4 of Law No. 7337 of May 5, 1993) Procedure for the review

Revocation

It must be revoked when the accused does not fulfill the imposed obligations, or does not appear when summoned by the judge without sufficient excuse, or makes preparations to flee, or when new circumstances require their detention.

Cancellation of sureties

• 1)When the accused, upon revocation of the release, is placed in prison; 2) When the pretrial detention order is revoked, the case is dismissed (sobreseído), the accused is acquitted, or they are conditionally sentenced; and 3) When the convicted person appears to serve the imposed sentence or is apprehended within the fixed term.

Substitution

The real surety may also be substituted.

Presumption of flight

But if the fact on which the suspicion was based proves false, a fine of two hundred to one thousand colones shall be imposed on the guarantor, and the surety shall remain in effect.

Summons (Emplazamiento)

The decision shall be notified to the guarantor and the accused, warning them that the surety will be executed upon the expiration of the term, if the latter does not appear or does not justify a force majeure event that prevents it.

Execution of the surety

The money obtained in both cases shall be transferred to the Board for Constructions, Installations, and Acquisition of Assets of the General Directorate of Social Adaptation (Patronato de Construcciones, Instalaciones y Adquisición de Bienes de la Dirección General de Adaptación Social). For the liquidation of the sureties, the procedure shall be in accordance with Article 523.

Dismissal (Sobreseimiento) Power to dismiss

Value

Origin

• 1)That the investigated act did not occur or was not committed by the accused; 2) That the act does not fit a criminal definition; 3) That a ground for justification, non-culpability (inculpabilidad), or lack of criminal responsibility (inimputabilidad) exists, without prejudice to the application of the respective security measure when applicable; and 4) That the criminal action has been extinguished.

Form and basis

Appeal

The accused may also appeal when a security measure is imposed on them or when, due to the non-observance of the order established in Article 320, they may suffer prejudice.

Review

(Repealed by Article 4 of Law No. 7337 of May 5, 1993 and again by Article 55 of the Organic Law of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ley Orgánica del Ministerio Público) No. 7442 of October 25, 1994) Effect

Extraordinary Extension (Prórroga Extraordinaria) Origin

Effects

The proceedings shall continue with respect to the co-defendants to whom the measure does not refer.

Mandatory dismissal

The accused may request it earlier if evidence in their favor has been received.

Appeals

(Text modified by Resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) No. 5752-93 of 14:42 hours on November 9, 1993).

Preliminary Pleas (Excepciones) Enumeration

• 1)Lack of jurisdiction or competence; 2) Lack of action, because it could not be initiated, was not legally initiated, or cannot proceed; and 3) Extinction of the criminal action.

If two or more pleas are filed, they must be raised jointly.

Filing and hearing

The Public Prosecutor's Office and the interested parties shall be heard regarding the pleas for three days.

Proof and decision

The minutes shall be recorded succinctly.

Separate proceedings

Direct summons (Citación directa)

Lack of jurisdiction or competence

Peremptory pleas (Excepciones perentorias)

Dilatory pleas (Excepciones dilatorias)

The proceedings shall continue when the formal obstacle to the exercise of the action is overcome.

Appeal

Closure and Elevation to Trial (Clausura y Elevación a Juicio) Prosecutor's hearing (Audiencia fiscal)

Prosecutor's opinion (Dictamen fiscal)

• 1)Whether the preliminary investigation is complete, or otherwise, what proceedings they consider necessary; 2) When they consider it complete, whether it is appropriate to dismiss, order an extraordinary extension of the preliminary investigation, or elevate the case to trial.

Proposal of proceedings

Request for elevation

In the cases of Article 10, it must also express the grounds on which the civil claim is based.

Submissions (Instancias)

• 1)Raise pleas not previously filed; and 2) Oppose the elevation to trial, requesting the dismissal or an extraordinary extension of the preliminary investigation.

Incident

Order of elevation

When there are several defendants, the decision must be issued with respect to all, even if the right granted by Article 342 was exercised only by the defense counsel of one.

Appeals

Elevation by decree

(Thus amended by Article 4 of Law No. 5761 of August 7, 1975).

Disagreement

When the Prosecutor recommends dismissal or extension, the Judge shall issue a decision accordingly. Otherwise, the summary case file shall be given to another Prosecuting Attorney, who shall formulate a request for elevation to trial in accordance with the grounds provided by the Superior.

(The former final paragraph of this article was repealed by Article 52 of the Organic Law of the Public Prosecutor's Office No. 7442 of October 25, 1994) Closure and notification

When the Examining Magistrate's Court (Juzgado de Instrucción) and the Trial Court (Tribunal de Juicio) do not have their seat in the same place, those decisions shall be notified to the parties and defense counsel, who must designate a new house or office for receiving notifications (Article 126).

BOOK THREE TRIALS AND SPECIAL PROCEDURES

Ordinary Trial (Juicio Común)

Preliminary Acts Summons to trial

If the preliminary investigation was completed in a court with a seat different from that of the tribunal, said term shall be fifteen days.

When proceeding by direct summons, at the same time as the summons to trial, the conclusions of the prosecutor's request shall be notified, under penalty of nullity.

Nullity

Offer of evidence

They may also state that they agree to the reading of witness statements and expert reports from the preliminary investigation during the trial (debate).

The designation of new experts may only be requested to give an opinion on points that were not previously the subject of an expert examination.

Excepted from this rule are psychiatrists or psychologists who must give an opinion on the mental state or psychological personality of the accused.

When new witnesses are offered, the facts on which they will be examined must be indicated, under penalty of inadmissibility.

Admission and rejection of evidence

In the event that the Court, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the parties agree to the reading of the statements and opinions, the corresponding experts and witnesses shall not be summoned.

If no one offers evidence, the President shall order the reception of that pertinent and useful evidence produced during the preliminary investigation.

The court may reject, by decree, evidence that is evidently impertinent or superabundant.

Supplementary investigation (Instrucción suplementaria)

• 1)The indispensable investigative acts that were omitted; 2) Those impossible to carry out at the hearing, such as psychiatric or psychological expert evaluations (pericias) on the mental state or personality of the accused; and 3) To take statements from persons who presumably will not be able to appear at the trial, due to illness, another impediment, or because they reside in places of difficult communication.

For this purpose, one of the members of the court may act, or the necessary official communications (despachos) may be issued.

Preliminary pleas

Setting of the hearing

The summons may be carried out in accordance with Article 135.

If the accused is not at their domicile or at the residence that had been established for them, their detention shall be ordered, even revoking the granted release from custody.

Joinder and severance of trials

If the accusation involves several offenses attributed to one or more defendants, the court may order that the trials be held separately; but, as far as possible, one after the other.

Dismissal

Indemnification and advance of expenses

The civil parties must deposit with the Secretariat the necessary amount to indemnify the persons summoned at their request, unless they were also summoned at the proposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office or the accused, or they prove a state of poverty, at the court's discretion.

Trial (Debate)

Hearings Orality and publicity

The decision shall be reasoned, recorded in the minutes, and shall be unappealable.

Once the cause for closure disappears, public access must be allowed.

Prohibitions for access

For reasons of order, hygiene, morality, or decorum, the court may also order the removal of any person whose presence is not necessary, or limit admission to a specific number.

Continuity and suspension

• 1)When some incidental question must be resolved that, by its nature, cannot be decided immediately; 2) When it is necessary to carry out some act outside the place of the hearing and it cannot be completed in the interval between one session and another; 3) When witnesses, experts, or interpreters whose intervention is indispensable in the court's opinion do not appear, unless the trial can continue with the reception of other evidence until the absentee is brought by the public force or testifies in accordance with Article 353; 4) If a judge, prosecutor, or defense counsel becomes ill to the point of not being able to continue their participation in the trial, unless the latter two can be replaced; 5) When it is proven, by forensic medical opinion, that the accused is in the situation provided for in the previous subsection.

In this case, a severance of trials may be ordered and the proceedings continued with the other defendants; 6) If some unexpected revelation or retraction produces substantial changes in the case, making a supplementary investigation indispensable; and 7) When the defense counsel requests it in accordance with Article 376.

In the event of suspension, the President shall announce the day and time of the new hearing, and this shall serve as a summons for those appearing. The trial shall continue after the last act completed when the suspension was ordered.

If the suspension exceeds the maximum term previously set, the entire trial must be held again, under penalty of nullity. During the period of suspension, the judges and prosecutors may intervene in other trials.

Attendance and representation of the accused

If after the identification interrogation (277 - 373) the accused wishes to leave the hearing, the proceedings shall continue as if he were present; he shall be held in a nearby room and for all purposes shall be represented by defense counsel; but if the accusation is expanded pursuant to Article 376, the President shall order him to appear for the purposes of the corresponding notification.

When the accused is at liberty, even if on bail, the court may order his detention to ensure the trial takes place.

Compulsion

Extraordinary Postponement

Police and Disciplinary Power

The measures shall be ordered by the court when they affect the prosecutor, the parties, or defense counsel. If the accused is expelled, his defense counsel shall represent him for all purposes.

Obligations of Attendees

Offense Committed in the Hearing

Form of Resolutions

Acts of the Hearing Direction

Opening

After verifying the presence of the prosecutor, the parties, witnesses, experts (peritos), and interpreters who must participate, the President shall declare the hearing open, warning the accused to be attentive to what he will hear, and shall order the reading of the prosecutorial request and, where applicable, the order of referral.

Preliminary Questions

Questions relating to lack of jurisdiction, joinder of trials, the admissibility or incapacity of witnesses, experts (peritos), or interpreters, and the presentation or request for documents, may be raised at the same opportunity with the same sanction, unless the possibility of proposing them arises only during the course of the hearing.

Processing of Incidental Matters

In the discussion of incidental questions, the prosecutor and the defense counsel for each party shall speak only once, for the time established by the President.

Statements of the Accused

If the accused incurs in contradictions, which shall be pointed out to him, the President shall order the reading of the statements previously made by the accused before the investigating judges, before the Prosecutor, or before the Mayors (Alcaldes), provided that the rules of the investigation (instrucción) were observed.

Once he has made a statement regarding the act, questions aimed at clarifying his assertions may be put to him subsequently during the course of the hearing.

( Text amended by Resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 323-92 of 16:00 hours on February 11, 1992, which partially annulled it ).

Statement of Multiple Accused

Powers of the Accused

The President shall prevent any digression, and if it persists, he may remove him from the hearing.

The accused may also speak with his defense counsel, without the hearing being suspended for this reason; but he may not do so during his statement or before answering questions put to him. No suggestion whatsoever may be made to him (Article 366).

In such a case, regarding the new facts or circumstances attributed, the President shall proceed, under penalty of nullity, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 277 and 278, and shall inform the defense counsel of the accused that he has the right to request the suspension of the hearing to offer new evidence or prepare the defense.

When this right is exercised, the court shall suspend the hearing for a term it shall fix at its discretion, according to the nature of the facts and the needs of the defense, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 361.

The new fact constituting the continuing offense or the aggravating circumstance that is the subject of the expansion shall be included in the accusation and the trial.

Reception of Evidence

Rules of the Investigation (Instrucción)

The court may order the experts (peritos) to attend the acts of the hearing.

Witnesses

Before testifying, witnesses may not communicate with each other or with other persons, nor see, hear, or be informed of what occurs in the courtroom. After testifying, the President shall decide whether they shall remain incommunicado in the anterooms.

Examination at Domicile

The other members of the court, the prosecutor, and defense counsel may also attend. The attendance of the parties may be permitted when deemed necessary.

In any case, the record drawn up shall be read during the hearing.

Elements of Conviction

Interrogation

The President shall reject any inadmissible question (95); his resolution may be appealed only before the same court (454 first part).

Reading of Witness Statements

• 1)If the Public Prosecutor's Office and the parties express their conformity (351) or consent when a witness whose summons was ordered does not appear; 2) If there are contradictions between them and those given during the hearing, or it is necessary to aid the memory of the witness; 3) If the witness has died, is absent from the country, his residence is unknown, or he is disabled for any cause from testifying; and 4) If the witness testified by means of a letter rogatory (exhorto) or report, provided that the testimony had been offered, or in accordance with Articles 353, 234, and 381.

( The Constitutional Chamber, through resolutions No. 3990 of December 15, 1992, and No. 139 of January 12, 1993, declared unconstitutional "...the action that the courts of the country have been taking through case law, of incorporating into the hearing the statement made during the investigation (instrucción) by one of the persons covered by the rule of Article 36 of the Political Constitution, when at the trial stage they avail themselves of their right to abstain from testifying." In the opposite case "...in cases where said opposition is not recorded...said incorporation is indeed pertinent.") Reading of Records and Documents

The records of inspection, domiciliary search, personal search, and seizure that were carried out by officers or auxiliary personnel of the Judicial Police, in accordance with said rules, may also be read; but if they have been summoned as witnesses, the reading may only take place, under penalty of nullity, in the cases provided for in subsections 2 and 3 of the preceding article, unless the prosecutor and the parties consent.

Judicial Inspection

Evidence for Better Provision

It may also summon the experts (peritos) if their expert opinions (dictámenes) prove insufficient; the necessary expert operations shall be carried out immediately in the same hearing, whenever possible.

False Testimony

Final Discussion

Memorials may not be read except for the one presented by the civil plaintiff (actor civil) who is absent.

The civil plaintiff (actor civil) shall limit his argument to points concerning civil liability, in accordance with Article 67.

If two prosecutors or two defense counsel for the accused participate, all may speak, dividing their tasks.

Only the Public Prosecutor's Office and the defense counsel for the accused may reply; the latter shall have the last word.

The reply must be limited to refuting adverse arguments that had not previously been discussed.

In the event of manifest abuse of the floor, the President shall call the speaker to attention, and if he persists, the President may prudentially limit the time of the argument, taking into account the nature of the facts under consideration, the evidence received, and the issues to be resolved. Once the term has expired, the speaker must present his conclusions; the omission shall imply non-compliance with the function or unjustified abandonment of the defense (89 and 90).

Finally, the President shall ask the accused if he has anything to say and shall close the hearing.

Minutes of the Hearing Content

The minutes shall contain:

• 1)The place and date of the hearing, with mention of the time it began and ended, and of any suspensions ordered; 2) The full name of the judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, and civil plaintiffs (actores civiles) or their representatives; 3) The particulars of the accused and the name of the other parties; 4) The full name of the witnesses, experts (peritos), and interpreters, with mention of the oath and a listing of the other evidentiary elements incorporated into the hearing; 5) The requests and conclusions of the prosecutor and the parties; 6) Other mentions prescribed by law, or those the President orders to be made, or those requested by the Prosecutor or the parties; and 7) The signature of the members of the court, the Prosecutor, defense counsel, and the Clerk (Secretario), after reading. The civil plaintiff (actor civil) or representatives shall also sign, if they appear.

The absence or insufficiency of these details does not cause nullity, unless such nullity is expressly established by law.

Summary or Transcript

The total or partial recording or verbatim transcription of the hearing may also be ordered.

Judgment (Sentencia) Deliberation

The act shall not be suspended, under the same penalty, except in cases of force majeure or if one of the judges falls ill to the point of being unable to continue participating. The cause for the suspension shall be recorded and reported to the Court of Appeals. Regarding the term of the suspension, Article 361 shall apply.

Rules of Deliberation

The questions raised shall be resolved successively, by majority vote, with the acts of the hearing being assessed according to the rules of sound criticism (sana crítica). The judges shall vote on each of them, regardless of the sense of their previous votes.

In case of doubt on questions of fact, the decision most favorable to the accused shall prevail.

If, in the vote on the applicable penalties, more than two opinions are expressed, the middle ground shall be applied.

Reopening of the Hearing

The discussion shall then be limited to the examination of the new elements of assessment provided.

Requirements of the Judgment (Sentencia)

• 1)The mention of the court, place, and date on which it is issued; the full name of the judges, prosecutors, parties, and defense counsel who participated in the hearing; the personal data of the accused; and a statement of the act that was the subject of the accusation; 2) The vote of the judges on each of the questions raised during the deliberation, with a concise statement of the grounds of fact and law on which they are based, without prejudice to their specific adherence to the considerations and conclusions formulated by the judge who voted first; 3) The precise and detailed determination of the fact that the court deems proven; 4) The operative part, with mention of the legal provisions applied; and 5) The signature of the judges; but if one of the members of the court cannot sign the judgment (sentencia) due to an impediment subsequent to the deliberation, this shall be recorded, and the judgment shall be valid without that signature.

Drafting and Reading

Next, the court shall reconvene in the Courtroom, after the prosecutor, the parties, and their defense counsel are verbally summoned, and the document shall be read, under penalty of nullity, before those who appear.

If the complexity of the matter or the lateness of the hour makes it necessary to defer the drafting of the judgment (sentencia), at that time only its operative part shall be read, and a hearing for the full reading shall be set; this shall take place, under penalty of nullity, within a maximum period of three working days from the close of the hearing.

The full reading shall always serve as notification for those who participated in the hearing.

Judgment (Sentencia) and Accusation

If it emerges from the hearing that the act is different from the one stated in the accusation, the court shall order the referral of the case to the prosecutor so that he may formulate a new requisitory.

Acquittal

Conviction

It shall also provide, when the civil action has been exercised, the restitution of the object that is the subject of the offense, the compensation for the damages caused, and the manner in which the respective obligations must be met.

However, the restitution of the material object of the offense may be ordered even if the action has not been filed.

Nullity

• 1)If the accused is not sufficiently identified; 2) If the statement of the punishable act that was the subject of the accusation is lacking, or the detailed determination of the act the court deems proven; 3) When it is based on essential evidentiary means or elements not legally incorporated into the hearing; 4) If the reasoning of the majority of the court is lacking or contradictory, or if the rules of rational sound criticism (sana crítica) were not observed therein, with respect to evidentiary means or elements of decisive value; 5) When the operative part is lacking or incomplete in its essential elements; and 6) If the date of the act or the signature of the judges is lacking, except as provided in the last part of Article 395.

Special Procedures

Direct Summons (Citación Directa) Applicability

• 1)When they are punishable by imprisonment of no more than three years or a non-custodial penalty; 2) If they are committed during a judicial hearing and in the cases of Article 388; and 3) If they are committed in flagrante delicto, even if their trial corresponds to a Higher Court (Tribunal Superior).

(This last subsection was added by Article 5 of Law No. 7337 of May 5, 1993) Exceptions

• 1)If it is a complex matter or the duration of the proceedings that must be carried out is evidently incompatible with the summary procedure; 2) When provisional internment of the accused is appropriate (Article 296); and 3) If there are obstacles based on constitutional privileges (Articles 171 et seq.) or it concerns offenses attributed to officials who administer justice.

Discrepancy

If there is a discrepancy in this regard between the Prosecutor and the Judge, the incidental matter shall be resolved by the Court of Appeals, without formalities or any possible appeal, within a maximum term of twenty-four hours.

Form

The acts may be carried out without needing to observe the rules of the investigation (instrucción), except for the statement of the accused, inspections, personal searches, and seizures, and the provisions of the following article.

Jurisdictional Guarantee

Situation of the Accused

He may also grant release from custody without any formalities.

When the detention extends beyond twenty-four hours, the detainee may petition the Investigating Judge for his release, with or without bail. The judge's resolution shall be unappealable.

Defense Counsel

Duration of the Summary Investigation (Información Sumaria)

Extension or Conversion

If the pre-established term elapses without the request being filed, the Prosecutor shall immediately inform the Investigating Judge, indicating the specific evidentiary means and the reason why they have not been gathered, and shall request an extension of up to a maximum of six months. The judge may set a reasonable period not exceeding six months, and the resolution shall be unappealable. If the delay is unjustified, he shall notify the Attorney General (Fiscal General).

(Thus amended by Article 14 of the Law on Judicial Reorganization No. 7728 of December 15, 1997, until the new Criminal Procedure Code approved by Law No. 7594 of April 10, 1996, enters into force. See Observations of this law) Jurisdictional Control

When the extension provided for in the preceding article is granted and the accused is detained, the judge shall examine the appropriateness of the detention and order what is appropriate.

If the extension is denied or the new agreed term expires, the Prosecutor must formulate the request or petition appropriate according to the merits of the case.

(Thus amended by Article 14 of the Law on Judicial Reorganization No. 7728 of December 15, 1997, until the new Criminal Procedure Code approved by Law No. 7594 of April 10, 1996, enters into force. See Observations of this law) Validity of Acts

Summons to Trial (Citación a Juicio)

The request shall be formulated in accordance with Article 341. Where applicable, the procedure shall be in accordance with the second part of Article 348.

Statement of the Accused

Lack of Basis

In such a case, if the Judge does not agree, he shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of the first paragraph of Article 347.

(The second paragraph was thus amended by Article 53 of the Organic Law of the Public Prosecutor's Office No. 7442 of October 25, 1994)

Trial before the Criminal Judge (Juez Penal) General Rule

Terms

Oath

Opening of the Hearing

The judge shall inform the accused in detail of the act attributed to him and the evidence adduced against him.

Confession

Final Discussion

Timing and Reading of the Judgment (Sentencia)

If he retires to deliberate (392), the second subsection of Article 396 shall apply.

(Thus amended by Article 3 of Law No. 7337 of May 5, 1993) Judgment (Sentencia) and Action

( Repealed by Article 1 of Law No. 6182 of December 12, 1977 )

Trial of Misdemeanors and Infractions (Faltas y Contravenciones) Trial in Case of Admission of Guilt

If the latter admits guilt and no further proceedings are deemed necessary, the Mayor (Alcalde) shall issue the corresponding resolution, in the form of an order (auto), applying the penalty, if applicable, and ordering the confiscation or restitution of the seized item.

Trial in Case of Non-Admission of Guilt

In the hearing, he shall briefly hear those appearing and shall immediately issue the respective resolution, in the form of minutes, acquitting or convicting.

( The Constitutional Chamber, through resolution No. 408-92 of 3:00 p.m. on February 18, 1992, declared unconstitutional the interpretation of the second paragraph of this article, whereby: "the trial of defendants for misdemeanors in absentia is permitted." In another sense, this Chamber, through resolution No. 7550-94 of 4:45 p.m. on December 22, 1994, established that: "This article, in its phrase 'in the form of a record (en forma de acta)', is not considered unconstitutional, provided that the judgment is issued with the proper grounds required by law.") Postponement of hearing

( Text modified by Constitutional Chamber Resolution No. 7550-94 of 4:45 p.m. on December 22, 1994).

Appeals (Recursos)

Against interlocutory orders (autos), a motion to revoke (revocatoria) shall be admissible if filed within twenty-four hours following notification.

Procedures in remote locations

In these cases, if the defendant (imputado) confesses, the record (acta) shall be sent to the respective Mayor (Alcalde) for the issuance of the corresponding resolution.

If the defendant (imputado) does not acknowledge the act, he shall have a term of twenty-four hours to present his exculpatory evidence, and once this evidence and the incriminating evidence are received, the proceedings (diligencias) shall be sent as soon as possible to the Mayor (Alcalde) to proceed in accordance with the preceding articles.

But if an oral and public trial cannot be held due to the non-appearance of the interested parties (interesados), he may rule according to the merits of the evidence contained in the case file (autos).

( The Constitutional Chamber, through resolution No. 7550-94 of 4:45 p.m. on December 22, 1994, interpreted the word "interested parties (interesados)" in this article to mean that the term "only includes the victim (ofendido) or the authority that made the report and not the accused (acusado).")

Trial for Private Action Offense (Delito de Acción Privada)

Private Complaint (Querella) Right to private complaint (querella)

The legal representative of an incapacitated person shall have the same right for offenses committed to the detriment of the latter.

Unity of representation

Joinder (acumulación) of causes

Form and content of the private complaint (querella)

• 1)The name, surnames, and domicile of the private complainant (querellante) and, where applicable, those of the agent (mandatario); 2) The name, surnames, and domicile of the accused (querellado), or if unknown, any description serving to identify them; 3) A clear, precise, and detailed account of the act, indicating the place, date, and time it was committed, if known; 4) If the civil action is exercised, the specific request for the reparations sought, in accordance with Article 57; 5) The evidence offered, accompanied by:
• a)The list of witnesses, indicating their name, surnames, profession, domicile, and the facts about which they are to be examined; and b) When the private complaint (querella) concerns slanders (calumnias), injuries (injurias), or defamations (difamaciones), the document that, in the judgment of the complainant (accionante), contains them, if it is possible to present it; 6) The signature of the private complainant (querellante), when filed personally, or if he does not know how or is unable to sign, that of another person at his request, who must do so before the Secretary (Secretario), or duly authenticated by an attorney.

The private complaint (querella) shall be rejected in the cases provided for in Article 188; but if it refers to a public action offense (delito de acción pública), it shall be forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney (Agente Fiscal).

Responsibility of the private complainant (querellante)

Tacit withdrawal (desistimiento)

• 1)If the proceeding is paralyzed for one month due to inactivity of the private complainant (querellante) or his agent (mandatario), and they do not pursue it within three days of being notified of the order (decreto), which shall be issued even on the court's own motion, warning them of the meaning of their silence; 2) When the private complainant (querellante) or his agent (mandatario) does not appear at the conciliation hearing (audiencia de conciliación) or the debate (debate), without just cause, which they must prove before its commencement, if possible, or otherwise, within forty-eight hours of the date set for it; and 3) When, after the death or incapacitation of the private complainant (querellante), none of his heirs or legal representatives appear to continue the action after three months from the occurrence of the death or incapacitation.

Effects of withdrawal (desistimiento)

Procedure Conciliation hearing (audiencia de conciliación)

Defense attorneys (defensores) may attend the hearing. When the accused (querellado) does not appear, the trial shall proceed.

Preliminary investigation

Conciliation and retraction (retractación)

In the case of injury (injuria), slander (calumnia), or defamation (difamación), if the accused (querellado) retracts (retractare) at the hearing or when answering the private complaint (querella), the case shall be dismissed (sobreseída) and the costs (costas) shall be borne by him. The retraction (retractación) shall be published at the request of the private complainant (querellante), in the manner the court deems appropriate.

( As amended by Article 4 of Law No. 5761 of August 7, 1975 ).

Detention and seizure (embargo)

When the private complainant (querellante) exercises the civil action, he may request the seizure (embargo) of the assets of the accused (querellado), regarding which the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure (Código de Procedimientos Civiles) shall apply, without the need to make any deposit.

The seizure order (decreto de embargo) shall be communicated to the Public Registry (Registro Público) for its annotation, without incurring fees (derechos). This annotation shall indicate that the property or properties are subject to the civil liability arising from the offense, without the need to carry out the sequestration (secuestro) proceeding.

Summons to trial

Preliminary exceptions (excepciones)

Setting of the hearing

Debate (debate)

The private complainant (querellante) shall have the powers and obligations corresponding to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público); he may be questioned, but shall not be required to take an oath.

Non-appearance of the accused (querellado)

Execution

In a trial for slanders (calumnias), injuries (injurias), or defamation (difamación), the publication of the judgment at the expense of the losing party may be ordered, at the request of a party.

Appeals (recursos)

BOOK FOUR APPEALS (RECURSOS)

General Provisions General Rules

The right to appeal (recurrir) shall belong only to the person to whom it is expressly granted. When the law does not distinguish among the various litigating parties, the appeal (recurso) may be filed by any of them.

Appeals (recursos) of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público)

Appeals (recursos) of the defendant (imputado)

Appeals (recursos) in favor of the defendant (imputado) may be brought by him or his defense attorney (defensor), and if he is a minor, by the person exercising parental authority (patria potestad), guardian (guardador), or tutor (tutor), even if these persons have no right to be notified of the resolution.

Appeals (recursos) of the civil plaintiff (actor civil)

( Text modified by Constitutional Chamber Resolution No. 5751-93 of 2:39 p.m. on November 9, 1993, clarified by Resolution No. 609-I-95 of 8:30 a.m. on December 22, 1995, which is found in the S.L.V. under No. 9609-95).

Appeals (recursos) of the civil defendant (demandado civil)

Conditions for filing

Adhesion (adhesión)

Appeals (recursos) during the trial

Other appeals (recursos) may only be brought together with the challenge (impugnación) of the judgment, provided that an express reservation was made immediately after the ruling (proveído).

When the judgment is unappealable (irrecurrible), so too shall be the challenged resolution.

Extensive effect

In the case of a joinder (acumulación) of causes for different offenses, the appeal (recurso) brought by one defendant (imputado) shall benefit all, provided that it is based on the non-observance of procedural rules affecting them and not on exclusively personal grounds.

The appeal (recurso) of the civil defendant (demandado civil) shall also benefit the defendant (imputado), when the civil defendant alleges the non-existence of the act, or denies that it constitutes an offense or that the defendant committed it, or maintains that the punitive claim (pretención represiva) has been extinguished, or that the criminal action could not be initiated or cannot continue.

Suspensive effect

Withdrawal (desistimiento)

The parties may also withdraw (desistir) from the appeals (recursos) brought by them or their defense attorneys (defensores) without harming the other appellants (recurrentes) or those adhering (adherentes), but shall bear the costs (costas).

To withdraw (desistir) from an appeal (recurso), the defense attorney (defensor) must have express mandate from his client (representado).

Inadmissibility and rejection

If the appeal (recurso) was granted erroneously, the Appellate Court (Tribunal de Alzada) must declare it so, without ruling on the merits (fondo).

It may also reject the appeal (recurso) if it is manifestly improper.

Jurisdiction of the Appellate Court (Tribunal de Alzada)

Appeals (recursos) filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) shall allow modification or revocation of the resolution even in favor of the defendant (imputado).

When the appeal has been filed only by the defendant (imputado) or in his favor, the resolution may not be modified to his detriment, regarding the type or amount of the penalty nor the benefits granted.

Motion to Revoke (Revocatoria) Availability

Procedure

The judge shall resolve it by interlocutory order (auto), after hearing the interested parties (interesados).

Effects

This appeal (recurso) shall have a suspensive effect only when the appealed resolution is subject to appeal (apelable) with such effect.

Appeal (Apelación) Appealable resolutions (resoluciones apelables)

Filing

When the Appellate Court (Tribunal de Alzada) resides in another city, the party must set a new domicile (126), under penalty of inadmissibility.

The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) must state the grounds for the appeal (recurso).

( The Constitutional Chamber, through resolution No. 5226-94 of 3:03 p.m. on September 13, 1994, interpreted this article to mean that: "... before declaring the appeal (recurso de apelación) inadmissible due to omission of indicating a place for notifications, the Judge must warn the appellant (recurrente) to correct the error.") Summons (emplazamiento)

The period shall be up to eight days when that court resides in another city.

( The Constitutional Chamber, through resolution No. 52-91 of 4:00 p.m. on January 8, 1991, declared that this article is not unconstitutional "... insofar as it is interpreted that the term of summons (emplazamiento) shall begin to run on the day following the receipt of the file (expediente) by the superior court.") Elevation of proceedings (actuaciones)

If the appeal (apelación) arises in an incidental matter, its proceedings (actuaciones) shall be elevated. In other cases, only a certified copy (testimonio) of the relevant acts shall be sent.

Nevertheless, the Court of Appeals (Tribunal de Apelaciones) may require the main file (expediente principal), for a period not exceeding five days.

Prosecutor's opinion (dictamen fiscal)

His silence shall not imply withdrawal (desistimiento), without prejudice to the corresponding disciplinary sanction.

When the prosecutor (fiscal) withdraws (desista) and there is no other appellant (apelante) or adhering party (adherente), the proceedings (actuaciones) shall be returned immediately, by decree (providencia).

Default of appeal (deserción)

The Secretary (Secretario) shall reserve the writing and add it to the proceedings (actuaciones) once they are received.

( Partially annulled by Constitutional Chamber Resolution No. 52-91 of 4:00 p.m. on January 8, 1991.

Note: the annulled phrase read as follows: "if the appellant party does not appear within the term of summons (emplazamiento) and no adhesion (adhesión) is produced, the appeal (recurso) shall be declared in default (desierto) on the court's own motion, returning the proceedings (actuaciones), except in the case of consultation.") Hearing

The act shall be conducted orally when any of them requests it upon notification of the respective decree (providencia).

Resolution

Cassation (Casación)

Availability Grounds

• 1)Non-observance or erroneous application of the substantive law; and 2) Non-observance of the rules that this Code establishes under penalty of inadmissibility, expiration (caducidad), or nullity (nulidad), provided that, with the exception of cases of absolute nullity (nulidad absoluta) (article 146, second subsection), the appellant (recurrente) had timely requested the correction of the defect, if it was possible, or had stated his intention to appeal in cassation (recurrir en casación).

Appealable resolutions (resoluciones recurribles)

Appeals (recursos) of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público)

• 1)The dismissal judgment (sentencia de sobreseimiento), confirmed by the Court of Appeals (Tribunal de Apelación), or issued in sole instance by the Trial Court (Tribunal de Juicio).

(Text modified by Constitutional Chamber Resolution No. 1193-95 of 9:18 a.m. on March 3, 1995).

• 2)The acquittal judgment (sentencia absolutoria) of the Trial Court (Tribunal de Juicio), or of the criminal judge (juez penal).

(Text modified by Constitutional Chamber Resolution No. 1193-95 of 9:18 a.m. on March 3, 1995).

• 3)The conviction judgment (sentencia condenatoria) issued by the Trial Court (Tribunal de Juicio), or the conviction judgment issued by the Criminal Judge (Juez Penal).

(Text modified by Constitutional Chamber Resolution No. 1193-95 of 9:18 a.m. on March 3, 1995).

• 4)The interlocutory orders (autos) mentioned in the preceding article; and 5) The judgment resolving the civil action for damages (acción resarcitoria), if the civil plaintiff (actor civil) could have appealed (recurrir) (475).

Appeals (recursos) of the defendant (imputado)

1.- Any conviction judgment (sentencia condenatoria) for an offense (delito).

2.- The dismissal judgment (sentencia de sobreseimiento) or acquittal judgment that imposes a therapeutic security measure (medida curativa de seguridad) for an indeterminate time.

3.- The interlocutory orders (autos) denying the extinction of the penalty.

4.- The resolutions imposing a security measure (medida de seguridad).

(As amended by Article 3 of Law No. 7337 of May 5, 1993) Appeal (recurso) of the civil plaintiff (actor civil)

To determine the grievance (agravio), the amount of the lawsuit (demanda) and the judgment shall be taken into account; but when the former appears manifestly exaggerated for the purpose of making the appeal (recurso) admissible, the latter may be dismissed by the Criminal Cassation Chamber (Sala de Casación Penal) without ruling on the merits (fondo).

Appeals (recursos) of the civil defendant (demandado civil)

Procedure Filing

Each ground (motivo) must be indicated separately with its supporting arguments. Outside of this opportunity, no other ground may be adduced.

(The Constitutional Chamber, through resolution No. 3221 of July 13, 1993, established that the authentication requirement contained in this article is not in itself unconstitutional, but clarified that: "... it must be interpreted that in the event the authentication of the defendant's (imputado) signature by an attorney has been omitted, its correction must be required within a reasonable time, in order to guarantee the principles of defense, reasonableness, and access to justice.") Ruling (proveído)

When the appeal (recurso) is granted, the procedure shall follow Articles 465 and 466, elevating the file (expediente) to the Criminal Cassation Chamber (Sala de Casación Penal); but the term for summons (emplazamiento) shall be five or ten days, depending on the seat of the sentencing court.

Procedure

Debate (debate)

It shall not be necessary for all the attorneys of the parties to attend and speak.

The floor shall be granted first to the defense attorney (defensor) of the appellant (recurrente). When the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) has also appealed, its representative shall speak first.

Rebuttals (réplicas) shall not be admitted; but the attorneys of the parties may present, before the deliberation, brief written notes.

To the extent applicable, Articles 359, 360, 365, 366, 369, and 467 shall govern.

Deliberation

However, due to the importance of the issues to be resolved or the lateness of the hour, the deliberation may be deferred to another date. The President of the Chamber (Presidente de la Sala) may set the study time for each member of the court.

The judgment shall be issued within a term of twenty days, in accordance, as pertinent, with Articles 395 and 396, except for the second part of the latter.

Cassation (casación) for violation of the law

Total or partial annulment

When it does not annul all the provisions of the resolution, the court shall establish which part of it remains firm because it does not depend on, nor is essentially connected with, the annulled part.

Rectification

Material errors in the designation or the calculation of the penalties shall also be corrected.

Freedom of the defendant (imputado)

Complaint Appeal (Recurso de Queja) Availability

Procedure

Immediately thereafter, a report shall be requested from the court that issued it, which shall provide it within a maximum period of three days, remitting the file (expediente) if it is not indispensable for carrying out non-deferrable investigative acts.

When necessary for better resolution (mejor proveer), the court may require the file (expediente), which shall be returned without delay.

Resolution

Effects

Review (Revisión) Availability

• 1)When the facts taken as the basis for the conviction are irreconcilable with those established by another final criminal judgment (sentencia penal firme); 2) When the challenged judgment was based on documentary or testimonial evidence whose falsity has been declared in a subsequent final ruling (fallo posterior firme); 3) If the conviction judgment (sentencia condenatoria) was pronounced as a consequence of prevarication (prevaricato), bribery (cohecho), violence, or other fraudulent machination (maquinación fraudulenta), the existence of which has been declared in a subsequent final ruling; 4) When, after the conviction, new facts or elements of evidence arise that, alone or combined with those already examined in the process, make it evident that the act did not exist, that the convict did not commit it, or that the act committed fits a more favorable rule; and 5) If a more benign criminal law should be applied retroactively.
• 6)When it was not imposed through due process or the opportunity for defense.

(Subsection added by Article 112 of Law No. 7135 of October 11, 1989).

(The Constitutional Chamber has referred to the admissibility of the Motion for Review (Recurso de Revisión) against final judgments in which due process was violated. Such have been the cases in which criteria such as "fundamental rejection of evidence for the defense without proper reasoning; convictions of the accused based on a means of evidence declared unconstitutional; having prevented the assistance of counsel; imposition of a penalty on a person lacking criminal capacity; evaluation of evidence violating the rules of sound criticism; judgments lacking reasoning for being illogical or unreasonable in the elements upon which they rely; the non-observance of peremptory procedural deadlines; principle of the lawful judge", etc., have been invoked. Among many others, resolutions No. 0873 of February 11, 1994, No. 0245 of January 19, 1993, No. 3679 of July 30, 1993, No. 3148 of June 28, 1994, No. 3387 of June 28, 1995, No. 2406 of May 21, 1996, No. 1670 of March 19, 1997, may be cited. See also the copious resolutions in the module of Acciones y Resoluciones Constitucionales).

Who May File It

• 1)The sentenced person, or, if incapacitated, their legal representative; 2) The spouse, ascendants, descendants, or siblings, if the sentenced person has died; and 3) The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público).

Filing

In the cases provided for in subsections 1), 2), and 3) of Article 490, under the same sanction, a copy of the pertinent judgment shall be attached; but if, in the case of subsection 3), the criminal claim has been extinguished or the action cannot proceed, the appellant must indicate the evidence demonstrating the crime in question.

Procedure

The court may order all investigations and proceedings it deems useful and delegate their execution to one of its members.

Suspensive Effect

Annulment or Review

Remand

In the new trial, an acquittal cannot be granted as a consequence of a new assessment of the same facts from the first trial, disregarding the grounds that made the review admissible.

Restitution

Damages and Losses

These shall be compensated by the State, provided that the person did not contribute to the judicial error through their willful misconduct (dolo) or fault (culpa). Civil compensation (reparación civil) may only be granted in favor of the convicted person or their legitimate heirs.

Rejection and Costs

The costs of a rejected appeal shall always be borne by the person who filed it.

If the judgment rendered in the new reviewed trial is one of conviction, it may not contain a more severe sanction than that imposed in the first judgment.

BOOK FIVE EXECUTION

General Provisions Competence

Delegation

Execution Incidents

Only a cassation appeal (recurso de casación) shall be admissible against the order (auto), which shall not suspend execution, unless the court so orders.

Judgment of Acquittal

Criminal Execution

Penalties Calculations

The respective resolution shall be notified to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the interested party, who may make the pertinent observations within three days (471).

If not objected to, the calculation (cómputo) shall be approved and the judgment shall be executed immediately. Otherwise, the procedure set forth in Article 502 shall be followed.

Prison Sentence

The same shall be sent to the Execution Judge (Juez de Ejecución).

Ill Persons

The time of internment shall be counted for the purposes of the penalty, provided that the sentenced person is deprived of liberty and the illness was not simulated or provoked to evade the penalty.

The Director of the establishment shall have the same powers in urgent cases; but the measure must be communicated immediately to the Investigative Judge (Juez de Instrucción), who may confirm or revoke it.

Deferred Execution

• 1)When it must be served by a woman in an advanced state of pregnancy or who has a child under one year of age.

In this case, the National Institute of Criminology (Instituto Nacional de Criminología) must be consulted; and 2) If the sentenced person is gravely ill and immediate execution would endanger their life, according to the opinion of the Forensic Medical Organism (Organismo Médico Forense).

When these conditions cease, the judgment shall be executed immediately.

Absolute Disqualification

This official shall immediately acknowledge receipt. If the Judge does not receive the acknowledgment of receipt within eight days after the sending date, they shall send another communication, ensuring it is received.

Special Disqualification

Fine

Once this term has expired, the court shall proceed in accordance with Articles 53, 54, 55, and 56 of the Criminal Code.

Revocation of Conditional Sentence

Transmittal of the Sentence Summary and Publication of Sentence

4695.

Judgments issued by the Cassation Chamber (Sala de Casación) shall only be published in the collection of judgments.

Parole (Libertad Condicional) Request

The sentenced person may appoint a defense attorney.

Calculation and Background

Procedure

An appeal (recurso de apelación) before the Court of Appeal (Tribunal de Apelación) shall be admissible against the final resolution.

When parole is granted, the conditions established in Article 66 of the Criminal Code shall be set forth in the order (auto), and the released person must promise the Judge to faithfully abide by them; the judge shall make known the advantages of the benefit received and the legal consequences of failing to comply with the imposed conditions.

The Clerk (Secretario) shall deliver to the beneficiary a certification of the respective order, which the beneficiary must keep, and shall communicate the decision to the authority in charge of supervising them.

If the request is denied, the sentenced person may not renew it before one year from the resolution, unless the denial is based on the legal term not having been fulfilled.

Communication to the Social Services Department

Non-Compliance

In any case, the released person shall be heard, and evidence shall be admitted, proceeding in the manner prescribed by Article 502.

If the Execution Judge (Juez de Ejecución de la pena) deems it necessary, the released person shall be preventively detained until the incident is resolved.

Functions of the Execution Judge

They may maintain, substitute, modify, or cause the cessation of the security measures (medidas de seguridad) imposed. They may also grant or revoke parole (libertad condicional), fulfilling the requirements established by the Criminal Code.

In all of the aforementioned cases, the resolution shall be consulted with the court that rendered the judgment.

Duties of the Execution Judge

They shall hear inmates when they request it and shall give course to their complaints, taking the measures they deem necessary; they shall determine for them the main modalities of their penitentiary treatment.

They shall direct the supervised release services (servicios de libertad vigilada) and the probation office (oficina de prueba).

Restitution and Rehabilitation Request and Competence

With the writing, they must present a certified copy of the respective judgment and offer proof of said conditions, under penalty of inadmissibility.

Evidence or Inquiry

For such purposes, it may issue the necessary communications or entrust the Judicial Police (Policía Judicial) with information.

Hearing and Decision

Against this, only an appeal (recurso de apelación) before the Court of Appeals (Tribunal de Apelaciones) shall be admissible.

Effects

Penitentiary Work

Work, as a right of the individual and an obligation to society, shall not be of an afflictive nature and shall always be remunerated, according to the minimum wage and the provisions and limitations indicated in this regard by the American Convention on Human Rights (Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos). The State shall provide institutional, logistical, and academic support for the planning and development of penitentiary work.

(Thus added by Article 2 of Law No. 7398 of May 3, 1994)

Civil Execution

Pecuniary Sentences Competence

In the cases provided for by Article 10, the execution shall be the responsibility of the public defender (defensor público), to whom the Prosecutor (Fiscal) shall send a copy of the judgment and the necessary data.

( NOTE: Tacitly amended, as relevant, by Article 167 of Law No. 7333 of May 5, 1993, which states: "ARTICLE 167.- Judgments and other resolutions shall be executed by the court of first instance that decides the matter. In the case of criminal courts, the judgment shall be executed by the same court, provided it orders payment of a liquidated sum.")

Guarantees Ex Officio Seizure

When proceeding by direct summons (citación directa), the seizure may be decreed, at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), by the Investigative Judge (Juez de Instrucción) or the Trial Court (Tribunal de Juicio).

Seizure at the Request of a Party

Substitution

In such cases, the provisions of Articles 300, 304, 306, and 308 shall be observed, insofar as they are applicable.

Seizure Proceedings

The appeal (recurso de apelación) shall not have suspensive effect.

Deposit

Public funds, credit instruments, money, and jewels shall be deposited in a safe deposit box of a bank.

Administration

An auditor (interventor) or administrator may be appointed.

Fees

Variation of the Seizure

Actions

Third-Party Claims

Restitution of Seized Objects Confiscated Objects

The instruments with which the crime was committed shall be sent to the Criminological Museum (Museo Criminológico) of the Supreme Court of Justice.

Seized Items. Restitution and Retention

If they were delivered on deposit before the judgment, the depositary shall be notified of the definitive delivery.

Seized items belonging to the sentenced person may be retained as a guarantee for the costs of the proceeding and the pecuniary liability imposed.

Controversy

Unclaimed Objects

For the auction, the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code (Código de Procedimientos Civiles) shall apply.

Declaratory Judgment of Instrument Falsity Rectification

Archived Document

Protocolized Document

Costs Advance Payment

Necessary Resolution

A resolution that concludes an incident shall order the payment of procedural costs only.

Imposition

Exempt Persons

Contents

• 1)The replacement of the sealed paper (papel sellado) or reimbursement for that used in the case file; and 2) The payment of other corresponding taxes, of the fees earned in the proceeding, and of the other expenses that originated during its processing.

Distribution of Costs

Repeal

Effective Date

( Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 5663 of December 19, 1974 ).

Pending Cases I.- The provisions of the former Code shall apply to pending cases in which the evidentiary phase had not yet opened by the date this Code becomes effective.

Cases before the Mayor's Court II.- In cases before the Mayor's Court (Alcalde) for which a date for the verbal trial hearing has not been set, the Mayor shall send the case to the corresponding Prosecuting Attorney (Agente Fiscal).

Option of the Accused to Avail of This Code III.- In the cases provided for in the two preceding provisions, the accused shall have the right to avail themselves of the procedures established in this Code.

Validity of Prior Acts IV.- Acts performed before the effective date of this Code that do not oppose the provisions of the preceding articles shall retain full validity.

Esta última prohibición no comprende los casos en que no se hubiere iniciado el proceso jurisdiccional anterior o se hubiese suspendido en razón de un obstáculo formal el ejercicio de la acción.

Ambito temporal

Interpretación restrictiva

Normas prácticas

Acciones

Acción Penal Acción promovible de oficio

Su ejercicio no podrá suspenderse, interrumpirse, ni hacerse cesar, salvo expresa disposición legal en contrario.

( Así reformado por el artículo 2 de la ley Nº 6259 de 3 de julio de 1978) No obstante lo anterior, en los delitos contra la seguridad de la nación, la tranquilidad pública, los poderes públicos, el orden constitucional, el ambiente, la zona marítimo-terrestre y la hacienda pública, la Procuraduría General de la República también podrá ejercer directamente esa acción, sin estar subordinada a las actuaciones y las decisiones del Ministerio Público. En los asuntos que se inicien por acción de esa Procuraduría, esta se tendrá como parte y podrá ejercitar los mismos recursos que este Código le concede al Ministerio Público.

(Así reformado por el artículo 3 de la ley No.7455 del 29 de noviembre de 1994) Acción dependiente de instancia privada

Será considerado guardador quien tuviere a su cargo, por cualquier motivo, el cuidado del menor.

La instancia privada se extiende de derecho a todos los partícipes del delito.

La acción privada se ejercerá por medio de querella, en la forma especial que este Código establece (artículo 428 y s.s.).

Obstáculos

Orbita jurisdiccional

Sujetos

Ejercicio por el Ministerio Público

• 1)Cuando el titular de la acción, sin constituirse en actor civil, le delegue su ejercicio; 2) Cuando el titular de la acción sea capaz de hacer valer sus derechos y no tenga quien lo represente, sin perjuicio de la intervención del Patronato Nacional de la Infancia. En estos casos, los demandados sólo podrán oponerse en el debate (artículo 389).

Oportunidad

Ejercicio posterior

Tribunales CAÍITULO I Jurisdicción Extensión y carácter

Además conocerán esos tribunales de los delitos cometidos fuera del territorio nacional, en los casos señalados en los artículos 5º, 6º y 7º del Código Penal.

La competencia de los tribunales penales es improrrogable.

Competencia

Competencia Material Determinación

Incompetencia

El tribunal que la declare remitirá las actuaciones al que considere competente y pondrá a su disposición los detenidos que hubiere.

Sin embargo fijada la fecha para el debate sin que se haya planteado la excepción de incompetencia, el Tribunal de Juicio juzgará de los delitos de competencia inferior.

Nulidad

Esta disposición no regirá cuando un juez de competencia superior hubiere actuado en una causa atribuida a otro de competencia inferior.

Competencia Territorial Reglas principales

En caso de tentativa, el del lugar donde se cumplió el último acto de ejecución; en caso de delito continuado o permanente, el de aquel donde cesó la continuación o permanencia.

Regla subsidiaria

Incompetencia

Nulidad por inobservancia de las reglas sobre competencia territorial

Competencia por Conexión Casos de conexión

• 1)Si los delitos imputados hubieren sido cometidos simultáneamente por varias personas reunidas; o aunque lo fueran en distintos lugares o tiempos, cuando hubiera mediado acuerdo entre ellas; 2) Si un delito hubiere sido cometido para perpetrar o facilitar la comisión de otro, o para procurar al culpable o a otros el provecho o la impunidad; 3) Cuando a una persona se le imputaren varios delitos aun cuando fueren cometidos en diferentes lugares o sean de distinta gravedad, siempre que no se trate de un hecho de competencia especial.

Efectos de la conexión

• 1)El tribunal competente para juzgar el delito más grave; 2) Si los delitos estuvieren reprimidos con la misma pena, el tribunal competente para juzgar el que se cometió primero; 3) Si los hechos fueren simultáneos o no constare debidamente cuál se cometió primero, el que hubiere prevenido; 4) En último caso el que indicare el tribunal de apelación o la Sala de Casación Penal, según corresponda.

A pesar de la acumulación las actuaciones sumariales se compilarán por separado, salvo que fuere inconveniente para la instrucción, por tratarse de hechos atribuidos sólo a un imputado.

Excepción de acumulación

Si correspondiere unificar las penas, el tribunal lo hará así al dictar la última sentencia.

Cuestiones de Competencia Tribunal competente

Promoción

Declinatoria

s.).

Efectos

No obstante, si se produjeren antes de la fijación de la audiencia para el debate, suspenderán el proceso hasta la decisión del incidente, sin perjuicio de que el tribunal ordene una instrucción suplementaria (artículo 353).

Validez de los actos

Inhibición, Recusación y Excusas Motivos de inhibición

• 1)Cuando en el mismo proceso hubiera pronunciado o concurrido a pronunciar sentencia, o hubiera intervenido como funcionario del Ministerio Público, defensor, mandatario, denunciante o querellante, o hubiera actuado como perito o conociera el hecho investigado como testigo; 2) Si fuere cónyuge, pariente dentro del tercer grado de consanguinidad o segundo de afinidad, de algún interesado, o éste viviere o hubiere vivido a su cargo; 3) Cuando él, su cónyuge o alguno de sus parientes en los grados preindicados tengan interés en el proceso; 4) Si fuera o hubiera sido tutor o curador o hubiera estado bajo tutela o curatela de alguno de los interesados; 5) Cuando él, su cónyuge o sus parientes, dentro de los grados referidos, tengan juicio pendiente iniciado con anterioridad, o sociedad o comunidad con alguno de los interesados, salvo la sociedad anónima; 6) Si él, su esposa, padres o hijos u otras personas que vivan a su cargo, fueren acreedores, deudores o fiadores de alguno de los interesados, salvo que se trate de Bancos del Sistema Bancario o constituidos por sociedades anónimas; 7) Cuando antes de comenzar el proceso hubiera sido denunciante o acusador de alguno de los interesados, o denunciado o acusado por ellos salvo que circunstancias posteriores demostraren armonía entrambos; 8) Si hubiera dado consejos o manifestado extrajudicialmente su opinión sobre el proceso; 9) Cuando sea pariente al cuarto grado por consanguinidad, concuñado, tenga amistad íntima o enemistad manifiesta con alguno de los interesados; 10) Si él, su esposa, padres o hijos, u otras personas que vivan a su cargo, hubieran recibido o recibieren beneficios de importancia de alguno de los interesados, o si después de iniciado el proceso, él hubiera recibido presentes o dávidas aunque fueran de poco valor; 11) Cuando en la causa hubiera intervenido o interviniere como juez algún pariente suyo dentro del segundo grado de consanguinidad.

A los fines de este artículo, se consideran interesados el imputado, el ofendido, el damnificado y el responsable civil, aunque estos últimos no se constituyan en parte, lo mismo que sus representantes, defensores y mandatarios.

Oportunidad de la inhibición y excepción

Los interesados podrán solicitarle que siga conociendo del negocio, siempre que el motivo indicado no esté previsto en alguno de los cinco primeros incisos del citado artículo.

En este caso, éste resolverá dentro de las veinticuatro horas declarándose hábil y contra dicha resolución no cabrá recurso alguno.

Tribunal competente

El Juez de Instrucción resolverá la de los Alcaldes que actúen en procesos en que el primero sea competente; y los Tribunales Colegiados la de sus miembros.

Trámite de inhibición

La incidencia será resulta sin trámite.

Cuando el juez que forma parte de un Tribunal Colegiado reconozca un motivo de inhibición, pedirá que se disponga su separación.

Recusantes

Tiempo y forma de recusar

Sin embargo, la recusación que se fundamente en una causal producida o conocida después de los plazos susodichos, podrá deducirse dentro de las 24 horas a contar de la producción o el conocimiento.

Además, en caso de ulterior integración del tribunal, la recusación podrá interponerse dentro de las 24 horas del decreto que la hubiere dispuesto.

Trámite de la recusación

En caso contrario, remitirá el escrito de recusación y su informe al tribunal competente (31), para que el incidente se tramite en legajo separado, o si el juez integrare un tribunal colegiado, pedirá el rechazo de aquélla.

Previa audiencia en que se recibirá la prueba e informarán las partes, el tribunal competente resolverá el incidente dentro de las 48 horas, sin recurso alguno.

Recusación no admitida

Recusación de Secretarios

Efectos

La intervención de los nuevos funcionarios será definitiva, aunque posteriormente desaparezcan los motivos determinantes de la recusación.

Ministerio Público y Policía Judicial

Ministerio Público Función

Los representantes del Ministerio Público formularán motivada y específicamente sus requerimientos y conclusiones; nunca podrán remitirse a las declaraciones del juez; procederá oralmente en los debates y por escrito en los demás casos.

Atribuciones del Fiscal

• 1)Cuando se trate de un asunto complejo, para que le suministre informaciones o coadyuve con él, incluso durante el debate; 2) Si estuviere en desacuerdo fundamental con el requerimiento fiscal o le fuere imposible actuar, para que mantenga oralmente la acusación.

Atribuciones del Agente Fiscal

Poder coercitivo

Inhibición y recusación

La recusación será resuelta por el tribunal ante el cual actúe el funcionario recusado y durante la información sumaria por el Juez de Instrucción. En cuanto al trámite, se aplicarán en lo posible las disposiciones referentes a los jueces.

Policía Judicial Funciones

Funcionará con el nombre de "Organismo de Investigación Judicial".

En sus actuaciones se aplicará lo dispuesto en este Código y, supletoriamente, lo que disponga su Ley Orgánica.

Partes y Defensores

Imputado

Principios Generales Calidad de instancias

Cuando estuviere preso, el imputado podrá formular sus gestiones ante el funcionario encargado de la custodia, quien las comunicará inmediatamente al juez que corresponda.

Identificación

Si se negare a dar esos datos o los diere falsamente, se procederá a la identificación por testigos, en la forma prescrita para los reconocimientos (255 y s.s.), o por otros medios que se estimaren útiles.

Identidad física

Presunta inimputabilidad

(Así reformado por el artículo 5 de la Ley de Reforma a la Jurisdicción Tutelar de Menores No.7383 de 16 de marzo de 1994) Incapacidad sobreviniente

Esto impedirá la declaración del imputado y el juicio, pero no que se investigue el hecho o que continúe el procedimiento con respecto a coimputados.

También se dispondrá la internación del incapaz en un establecimiento adecuado cuyo director informará semestralmente sobre el estado mental del enfermo; podrá ordenarse su libertad, dejándolo al cuidado de sus padres, tutor o guardador, cuando no exista peligro de que se dañe a sí mismo o a los demás. En este caso el enfermo será examinado trimestralmente por un especialista del Departamento de Medicina Legal del Organismo de Investigación Judicial, y si ello no fuere posible, por el perito que el Juez designe.

Examen mental obligatorio

Rebeldía Casos en que procede

Declaración

Efectos sobre el proceso

Si fuere declarada durante el juicio, éste se suspenderá con respecto al rebelde y continuará para los demás imputados presentes.

Declarada la rebeldía, se conservarán las actuaciones y los efectos, instrumentos o piezas de convicción que fueran indispensables.

Cuando el rebelde comparezca, la causa continuará según su estado.

Efectos sobre la excarcelación

Justificación

Actor Civil Constitución de parte

Las personas que no tengan capacidad para estar en juicio, no podrán actuar si no son representadas o asistidas del modo prescrito por la ley civil.

( Así reformado por Ley Nº 6259 de 3 de julio de 1978, art. 2º) Requisitos

Demandados

Si en el proceso hubiere varios imputados y civilmente demandados, la pretensión resarcitoria podrá dirigirse contra uno o más de ellos.

Cuando el actor no mencionare a ningún imputado, se entenderá que se dirige contra todos.

Oportunidad

Cuando se proceda por citación directa la instancia deberá presentarse antes del requerimiento respectivo (412), y el Agente Fiscal sólo podrá pedir el embargo de bienes (524 y 525). La solicitud será considerada por el tribunal, el que ordenará las notificaciones que correspondan (60) en el auto de citación a juicio.

Notificación

En el caso previsto por la primera parte del artículo 58, la notificación se hará en cuanto se individualice al imputado.

Oposición en la instrucción

Trámite

Oposición en caso de citación directa

Caducidad e irreproductividad

La aceptación o rechazo del actor civil no podrán ser discutidas nuevamente en el debate.

Rechazo y exclusión de oficio.

La resolución del Juez de Instrucción será apelable ante el Tribunal de Apelaciones.

Efectos de la resolución

Facultades

Deber de atestiguar

Desistimiento

Se considerará desistida la acción cuando el actor civil, regularmente citado, no comparezca a la primera audiencia del debate, o no presente conclusiones, o se aleje de la audiencia sin haberlas formulado oportunamente (389).

Efectos del desistimiento

Demandado Civil Intervención forzosa

La gestión deberá formularse en la forma y plazos prescritos por los artículos 57 y 59, con indicación del nombre y domicilio del demandado y de su vínculo jurídico con el imputado.

Resolución de citación

La resolución deberá notificarse al imputado y a su defensor.

Nulidad

La nulidad no influirá en la marcha del proceso ni impedirá el ejercicio ulterior de la acción ante la jurisdicción civil.

Rebeldía

Sólo si hubiere sido citado por edictos se le nombrará como representante a un defensor público y mientras dure su ausencia.

Intervención espontánea

Esta participación deberá solicitarse, bajo pena de inadmisibilidad, en la forma que prescribe el artículo 57, en cuanto sea aplicable. La resolución que la acuerde será notificada al Ministerio Público, cuando ejerza la acción civil, a las partes y a sus defensores.

Oposición

Este incidente se deducirá y tramitará en la forma, oportunidad y plazos establecidos por los artículos 61, 62 y 63.

Capacidad y exclusión

Cuando su exclusión haya sido pedida por el actor civil, éste no podrá intentar la acción contra aquél.

Caducidad

Facultades y garantías

Defensores y Mandatarios Derecho del imputado

Podrá también defenderse personalmente siempre que ello no perjudique la eficiencia de la defensa y no obste a la normal sustanciación del proceso.

Número de defensores

Cuando intervengan los defensores, la notificación hecha a uno de ellos valdrá respecto de ambos, y la sustitución del uno por el otro no alterará trámites ni plazos.

Obligatoriedad

Defensa de oficio

Nombramiento posterior

Defensor Común

Si ésta fuere advertida, el tribunal proveerá aún de oficio a las sustituciones necesarias, conforme a los artículos 83 y 189.

Mandatario del imputado

El tribunal, no obstante, podrá requerir su comparecencia personal.

Otros defensores y mandatarios

Sustitución

En caso de abandono de la defensa, el abogado sustituyente asumirá las obligaciones del defensor, y no tendrá derecho a prórroga de plazos o audiencias.

Abandono

Cuando el abandono ocurriere poco antes o durante el debate, el nuevo defensor podrá solicitar una prórroga máxima de tres días para la audiencia.

El debate no podrá suspenderse otra vez por la misma causa. La intervención de otro defensor particular no excluirá la del público.

El abandono de los defensores o mandatarios de las partes civiles no suspenderá el proceso.

Sanciones

Actos Procesales

Idioma

Fecha

La hora será indicada sólo cuando la ley lo exija.

Si la fecha fuere requerida como pena de nulidad, ésta sólo podrá ser declarada cuando aquélla, en virtud de los elementos del acto o de otros conexos, no pueda establecerse con certeza.

Día y hora de cumplimiento

Para continuar el debate sin dilaciones perjudiciales, el tribunal podrá habilitar los días y horas que estime necesarios.

Juramento

El declarante prometerá decir la verdad en todo cuanto supiere y le fuere preguntado, mediante la fórmula "Lo juro".

Si el deponente se negare a prestar juramento en virtud de creencias religiosas o ideológicas, se le exigirá promesa de decir verdad, advirtiéndole que si faltare a ella será sancionado de acuerdo con las disposiciones del Código Penal.

Oralidad

En primer término, el declarante será invitado a manifestar cuanto conozca sobre el asunto de que se trate y después, si fuere menester, se le interrogará.

Las preguntas que se formulen no serán capciosas ni sugestivas.

Cuando se proceda por escrito, se consignarán las preguntas y respuestas usándose las expresiones del indagado. Las declaraciones podrán ser registradas taquigráficamente o por cualquier otro medio.

Declaraciones especiales

Si dichas personas no supieren leer o escribir, se nombrará intérprete a un maestro de sordomudos, o a falta de él, a alguien que sepa comunicarse con el interrogado.

CAPÍITULO II Actas Regla general

El juez y el alcalde serán asistidos por el secretario o dos testigos; el fiscal por el secretario o por un auxiliar o un oficial de la policía judicial; los oficiales y auxiliares de policía, por dos testigos.

Contenido y formalidades

Si una de las personas fuere ciego o analfabeto, se le informará que el acta puede ser leída y suscrita por una persona de su confianza, lo que se hará constar bajo pena de nulidad.

Testigos de actuación

Nulidad

Actos y Resoluciones Judiciales Poder coercitivo

Facultad especial

Actos fuera del asiento

Asistencia del Secretario

Decisiones

Dictará sentencia para poner término al proceso; auto, para resolver un incidente o una cuestión interlocutoria; y, providencias, cuando sean de mero trámite.

Fundamentación

Firma

La falta de firma producirá la nulidad del acto, salvo lo dispuesto en el artículo 395, inciso 5).

Término

Errores materiales

Aclaración y adición

Las partes o el Fiscal podrán ejercer igual derecho dentro de los tres días posteriores a la notificación.

La solicitud de aclaración o adición suspenderá el término para interponer los recursos que procedan.

Denuncia por demora en el trámite

Denuncia por demoras en el Tribunal de Juicio o en la Sala de Casación Penal

Resolución firme

Sentencia firme es aquella contra la cual no cabe recurso alguno ya sea ordinario o extraordinario, excepto el de revisión.

Copia auténtica

A tal fin, el tribunal ordenará que quien tenga la copia la entregue a la Secretaría, sin perjuicio del derecho de obtener otra gratuitamente.

Restitución y renovación

Cuando esto no fuere posible, dispondrá la renovación, prescribiendo el modo de hacerla.

Copias, informes o certificaciones

Nuevo delito

Suplicatorias, Exhortos, Mandamientos y Oficios Reglas Generales

Dichas comunicaciones podrán realizarse aplicando cualquier medio que garantice su autenticidad.

Comunicación directa

Suplicatorios a tribunales extranjeros

Exhortos del extranjero

Retardo

Notificaciones, Citaciones y Audiencias Regla General

Personas facultadas para notificar

(Derogado por el artículo 20, inciso d), de la Ley de Notificaciones No.7637 de 21 de octubre de 1996) Lugar del acto

(Derogado por el artículo 20, inciso d), de la Ley de Notificaciones No.7637 de 21 de octubre de 1996) Lugar para notificaciones

Notificaciones a defensores o mandatarios

Modo del acto

Si se tratare de resoluciones fundamentadas, la copia se limitará al encabezamiento y parte resolutiva.

Notificación personal

Firmarán el notificador y el encargado de la diligencia.

(Así reformado por el artículo 19, inciso f), de la Ley de Notificaciones No.7637 de 21 de octubre de 1996) Notificación en la casa, oficina o en el lugar de trabajo

(Derogado por el artículo 20, inciso d), de la Ley de Notificaciones No.7637 de 21 de octubre de 1996) Notificación por edictos

Disconformidad entre original y copia

Nulidad de la notificación

• 1)Si hubiera existido error sobre la identidad de la persona notificada; 2) Si la resolución hubiera sido notificada en forma incompleta; 3) Si en la diligencia no constare la fecha, o cuando corresponda, la entrega de la copia; 4) Si faltare alguna de las firmas prescritas; y 5) En el caso de disconformidad prevista en el artículo anterior, siempre que cauce indefensión.

Citación

Esta será practicada de acuerdo con las formas prescritas para la notificación, salvo lo dispuesto por el artículo siguiente.

Citación especial

En tal caso se les hará saber el objeto de la citación y el proceso en que ésta se dispuso, y se les advertirá que si no obedecieren la orden, sin perjuicio de la responsabilidad penal que corresponda, serán conducidos por la fuerza pública e incurrirán en las costas que causaren, salvo que tuvieren un impedimento legítimo comunicado sin tardanza alguna al tribunal.

El apercibimiento se hará efectivo inmediatamente Audiencias a las partes

Si la ley no fijare término, éste será de tres días.

Notificación

El término correrá desde el día hábil siguiente a la última notificación.

El interesado podrá retirar de la secretaría copias fotostáticas de las actuaciones, previo pago de los gastos que ellas originen.

Nulidad de las audiencias

Términos Regla General

Estos correrán: si son individuales, desde la notificación al interesado; y si son comunes, desde la última notificación que se practique a los interesados.

Comienzo y término

Cómputo

Improrrogabilidad

Renuncia o abreviación

Nulidad Regla General

Conminación genérica

• 1)Al nombramiento, capacidad y constitución de jueces o tribunales; 2) A la intervención del Ministerio Público en el proceso, y a su participación en los actos en que ella sea obligatoria; y 3) A la intervención, asistencia y representación del imputado, en los casos y formas que la ley establece.

Declaración

Si no lo hiciere, podrá declarar la nulidad a petición de parte.

Solamente deberán ser declaradas de oficio, en cualquier estado y grado del proceso, las nulidades previstas en el artículo anterior, que impliquen violación de normas constitucionales, o cuando así se establezca Quién puede oponerla

Oportunidad y forma de la oposición

• 1)Las producidas en la instrucción, durante ésta o en el término de citación a juicio (349 ó 416); 2) Las acaecidas en los actos preliminares del juicio, inmediatamente después de la lectura con la cual queda abierto el debate (370), o de la intimación prevista por el artículo 418; 3) En el debate, las producidas antes o inmediatamente después de cumplirse el acto que pueda causarla; y 4) Las producidas durante la tramitación de un recurso ante el Tribunal de Alzada, inmediatamente después de abierta la audiencia prescrita por los artículos 469 ó 470, ó en el alegato escrito.

La petición de nulidad será motivada, bajo pena de inadmisibilidad, y el incidente se tramitará oyendo a los interesados por el término de tres días salvo que fuere deducida en el alegato, según la última parte del inciso 4) de este artículo.

Modo de subsanarla

Las nulidades quedarán subsanadas:

• 1)Cuando el Ministerio Público o las partes no las opongan oportunamente (148); 2) Cuando los que tengan derecho a oponerlas hayan aceptado expresa o tácitamente, los efectos del acto; y 3) Si no obstante su irregularidad el acto hubiera conseguido su fin con respecto a todos los interesados.

Efectos

Al declararla, el tribunal establecerá, además, a qué actos anteriores o contemporáneos alcanza la nulidad por conexión con el acto anulado.

El tribunal que la declare ordenará, cuando fuere necesario y posible, la renovación o rectificación de los actos de la resolución anulados.

Sanciones

LIBRO SEGUNDO INSTRUCCIÓN

Actos Iniciales

Denuncia Facultad de denunciar

En este caso sólo podrá denunciar quien tenga facultad de instar, según el artículo 6º.

Cuando se reciba una denuncia por delitos sexuales o lesiones, aun en grado de tentativa, y cuando concurran en la víctima e imputado las circunstancias del inciso primero del artículo 112 del Código Penal, y se constatare que el imputado no está detenido y convive con el ofendido, la autoridad correspondiente le ordenará al imputado el abandono inmediato del domicilio.

Simultáneamente, le ordenará el depósito de una cantidad de dinero, que fijará prudencialmente y que el imputado deberá pagar en un término de ocho días, a fin de sufragar los gastos de habitación y de alimentos de los miembros integrantes del grupo familiar que dependan económicamente de él. Esta obligación se regirá por las normas propias de las pensiones alimenticias y por ello podrá ordenarse el apremio corporal del obligado en caso de incumplimiento. La medida precautoria deberá establecerse por un plazo mínimo de un mes, pero podrá interrumpirse cuando hubiere reconciliación entre ofendido e imputado, siempre que tal circunstancia la manifieste expresamente la parte ofendida ante la autoridad jurisdiccional.

Para levantar la medida precautoria, el imputado deberá rendir caución juratoria de que no reincidirá en los mismos hechos. En caso de indicios convincentes y razonables de reincidencia, la autoridad judicial correspondiente ordenará la detención preventiva del imputado.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 30 (actual 33) de la ley Nº 7142 de 8 de marzo de 1990 ).

Forma

En el último caso deberá acompañarse el poder.

Cuando sea verbal, se extenderá un acta de acuerdo con los artículos 97, 98 y 99.

En ambos casos, el funcionario comprobará y hará constar la identidad del denunciante.

Contenido

Cuando la denuncia fuere formulada por el titular de la acción civil, podrá contener también la manifestación prevista en el inciso 1) del artículo 10.

Prohibición de denunciar

( La Sala Constitucional mediante resolución N° 1151 del 01 de marzo de 1994, interpretó el presente artículo de manera que: ".la garantía de abstenerse de declarar en contra del "cónyuge" acá contenida, se debe entender que cobija a la compañera o compañero en unión de hecho".)

Obligación de denunciar. Excepción

• 1)Los funcionarios o empleados públicos que los conozcan en el ejercicio de sus funciones; 2) Los médicos, parteras, farmacéuticos y demás personas que ejerzan cualquier ramo del arte de curar, que conozcan esos hechos al prestar los auxilios de su profesión, salvo que el conocimiento adquirido por ellos esté por la ley bajo el amparo del secreto profesional.

Responsabilidad

Denuncia ante el Juez de Instrucción

Dentro del término de 24 horas, salvo que por urgencia del caso aquél fije uno menor, el Agente Fiscal formulará requerimiento conforme al artículo 170, ó pedirá que se desestime o remita la denuncia a otra jurisdicción.

Será desestimada cuando los hechos en que se funda no constituyen delito o no se pueda proceder. Si el Agente Fiscal pidiere que la denuncia sea desestimada y el Juez no estuviere conforme, se procederá como dispone el artículo 347.

Denuncia ante el Agente Judicial

Denuncia ante la Policía Judicial

Actos de la Policía Judicial Función

Si el delito fuere de acción privada, sólo deberá proceder cuando reciba orden del juez. Pero si fuere de instancia privada, actuará por denuncia de la persona que indica el artículo 6º.

Composición

Serán considerados también oficiales de la Policía Judicial, los de la policía administrativa, cuando cumplan las funciones que este Código establece; y auxiliares, los empleados de ella.

La policía administrativa actuará siempre que no pueda hacerlo inmediatamente la judicial, pero desde que ésta intervenga, la administrativa, será su auxiliar.

Subordinación

Los oficiales y agentes de la policía administrativa, en cuanto cumplan actos de policía judicial, estarán en cada caso bajo la autoridad de los jueces y fiscales, sin perjuicio de la autoridad general administrativa a que estén sometidos.

Atribuciones

• 1)Recibir denuncias; 2) Cuidar que el cuerpo y los rastros del delito sean conservados y que el estado de las cosas no se modifique hasta que llegue al lugar el juez o el agente fiscal; 3) Si hubiere peligro de que cualquier demora comprometa el éxito de la investigación, hacer constar el estado de las personas, cosas y lugares, mediante inspecciones, planos, fotografías, exámenes técnicos y demás operaciones que aconseje la policía científica; 4) Proceder a los allanamientos señalados en el artículo 212 y a las requisas urgentes con arreglo al 215; 5) Ordenar si fuere indispensable, la clausura del local en que se suponga, por vehementes indicios, que se ha cometido un delito grave, o proceder conforme al artículo 266; 6) Interrogar a los testigos presumiblemente útiles para descubrir la verdad; 7) Citar y aprehender al presunto culpable en los casos y forma que este Código autoriza (264-272) y disponer su incomunicación cuando concurran los requisitos del artículo 197 por un término máximo de dos horas, que no podrá prolongarse por ningún motivo sin orden del Juez de Instrucción, pero si en el lugar de la detención no existieren dichos funcionarios o fuere imposible requerir la orden, la incomunicación podrá durar el tiempo indispensable para que la autoridad policial se ponga en contacto con aquél sin que pueda exceder en ningún caso de 48 horas (artículo 44 de la Const. Pol.); en estos casos esas circunstancias se harán constar en el sumario; 8) Recibir declaración del imputado en la forma y con las garantías que establecen los artículos 189 y siguientes, pudiendo asistir al acto el defensor de confianza elegido; y 9) Usar la fuerza pública en la medida que sea necesario.

Los auxiliares de la Policía Judicial, tendrán las mismas atribuciones para los casos urgentes o cuando cumplan órdenes de jueces o fiscales.

Secuestro de correspondencia

Información y procedimientos

Cuando no intervenga de inmediato el juez o el agente fiscal, según corresponda instrucción o citación directa, dichos oficiales realizarán una investigación preliminar; observarán en lo posible las normas de la instrucción, con la salvedad del artículo siguiente.

Sin perjuicio de lo dispuesto por el artículo 272, las actuaciones y las cosas secuestradas serán remitidas al juez competente, dentro del plazo de tres días de iniciada la investigación; pero dicho funcionario podrá prorrogarlo por otro tanto cuando aquélla sea compleja o existan obstáculos insalvables.

Casos de citación directa

Previa lectura, el acta será firmada por el oficial y en lo posible, por las demás personas que hubieren intervenido.

Sanciones

El Poder Ejecutivo podrá imponer a los oficiales y agentes de la policía administrativa las sanciones pertinentes.

Actos del Ministerio Público Instrucción o información sumaria

Requerimiento fiscal

• 1)Las condiciones personales del imputado, o si se ignoraren, las señas o datos que mejor puedan darlo a conocer; 2) La relación circunstanciada del hecho, con indicación, si fuere posible, del tiempo y modo de ejecución y la norma penal que considere aplicable; y 3) La indicación de las diligencias útiles para la averiguación de la verdad.

Obstáculos fundados en Privilegio Constitucional

Acción Penal

Si se tratare de un delito de acción privada, ésta será ejecutada exclusivamente por el ofendido, o en caso de que éste falleciera después del inicio, por sus herederos legítimos.

Información sumaria

Posible detención

Solicitud de antejuicio

Archivo o juzgamiento

En caso contrario enviará su resolución a la Corte Suprema, para que proceda al juzgamiento del acusado.

Varios imputados

(La Sala Constitucional mediante resolución N° 419 del 26 de enero de 1993, interpretó el presente artículo de manera que: ". la Corte Suprema de Justicia sólo debe conocer de las causas en las que intervengan sujetos protegidos por privilegio constitucional; y en consecuencia, los tribunales ordinarios son los competentes para continuar conociendo de las causas seguidas contra las demás personas").

Formación de causa

Apertura del debate

Absolución

La decisión será publicada en el "Boletín Judicial".

Condena

Acumulación y sentencia firme

En caso contrario, la sentencia del Tribunal de Juicio no vincula de ningún modo a la Corte Suprema. Contra la sentencia de la Corte Suprema de Justicia no hay recurso alguno.

( La Sala Constitucional mediante resolución N° 419 del 26 de enero de 1993, interpretó el presente artículo de manera que: ". la Corte Suprema de Justicia sólo debe conocer de las causas en las que intervengan sujetos protegidos por privilegio constitucional; y en consecuencia, los tribunales ordinarios son los competentes para continuar conociendo de las causas seguidas contra las demás personas").

De la Responsabilidad de los Demás funcionarios que Administran Justicia Delitos propios de los demás funcionarios

De la Instrucción Judicial Regla General

Finalidad

• 1)Comprobar si existe un hecho delictuoso, mediante todas las diligencias conducentes al descubrimiento de la verdad; 2) Establecer las circunstancias que califiquen el hecho, lo agraven, atenúen o justifiquen en la punibilidad; 3) Determinar a sus autores, cómplices e instigadores; 4) Verificar la edad, educación, costumbres, condiciones de vida, medios de subsistencia y antecedentes del imputado; el estado y desarrollo de sus facultades mentales, las condiciones en que actuó, los motivos que hubieran podido determinarlo a delinquir y las demás circunstancias que revelen su mayor o menor peligrosidad, todo de acuerdo con el artículo 71 del Código Penal; y 5) Comprobar la extensión del daño causado por el delito, aunque no se hubiera ejercido la acción resarcitoria.

Investigación directa

Cuando sea necesario practicar diligencias fuera de su circunscripción, las encomendará a la autoridad judicial correspondiente.

Iniciación

Rechazo o archivo

La resolución será apelable por el Ministerio Público.

Defensor y domicilio

La inobservancia de este precepto producirá la nulidad de los actos que menciona el artículo 191.

En el mismo acto, el imputado que esté en libertad deberá fijar el lugar dentro de la jurisdicción donde pueda ser citado por el tribunal.

Participación del Ministerio Público

Si el Agente Fiscal hubiera expresado el propósito de asistir a un acto será avisado verbalmente con suficiente tiempo y bajo constancia; pero aquél no se suspenderá ni retardará por ausencia. Cuando asista, tendrá los deberes y facultades que prescribe el artículo 194.

Derecho de asistencia y facultad judicial

El juez podrá permitir la asistencia del imputado o del ofendido, cuando sea útil para establecer los hechos o necesaria por la naturaleza del acto.

Las partes podrán asistir a los registros domiciliarios.

Notificación Casos urgentísimos

Sin embargo, se podrá proceder sin notificación o antes de la oportunidad fijada, cuando el acto sea de suma urgencia o no se conozcan, la enfermedad o el impedimento del testigo antes de las declaraciones mencionadas en el artículo anterior. En el primer caso se dejará constancia de los motivos, bajo pena de nulidad.

Posibilidad de Asistencia

La resolución será irrecurrible.

Deberes y facultades de los asistentes

La resolución será siempre irrecurrible. Las partes, funcionarios, empleados y demás personas que intervengan en el juicio deberán guardar secreto sobre los actos y constancias de la instrucción.

Carácter de las actuaciones

El secreto no podrá durar más de diez días y será decretado sólo una vez, salvo que la gravedad del hecho o la dificultad de su investigación exijan que aquélla sea prolongada hasta por otro tanto.

El sumario será siempre secreto para los extraños, con excepción de los abogados que tengan algún interés legítimo.

( Anulado parcialmente por Resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 1331-90 de las 14:30 horas del 23 de octubre de 1990.

Nota: La frase anulada indicaba lo siguiente: "después de la declaración del imputado") Proposición de diligencias

El juez las practicará cuando fueren pertinentes y útiles; su resolución será irrecurrible.

Incomunicación

La incomunicación absoluta no podrá durar más de diez días y en ningún caso impedirá que se ejerza la inspección judicial (Constitución Política, artículo 44).

Se permitirá al incomunicado el uso de libros u otros objetos, siempre que no puedan servir para eludir la incomunicación o atentar contra su vida o la ajena. Asimismo, se le autorizará a realizar actos civiles impostergables, que no perjudiquen los fines de la instrucción, a juicio del juez y en su presencia, o de un delegado suyo.

Regla sobre la prueba

Duración y prórroga

Si resultare insuficiente, el juez solicitará prórroga al Tribunal de Apelación, el que podrá acordarla hasta por otro tanto, según las causas de la demora y la naturaleza de la investigación. En los casos de suma gravedad y de muy difícil investigación, la prórroga podrá exceder excepcionalmente de dicho plazo, no pudiendo sobrepasar de otros dos meses.

Actuaciones

Medios de Prueba

Inspección y Reconstrucción Inspección judicial

Ausencia de rastros

En caso de desaparición o alteración, averiguará y hará constar el modo, tiempo y causa de ellas.

Facultades coercitivas

Los que desobedezcan incurrirán en la responsabilidad de los testigos (232) sin perjuicio de ser compelidos por la fuerza pública.

Inspección corporal y mental

Podrá disponer igual medida respecto de otra persona, con la misma limitación, en los casos de grave y fundada sospecha o de absoluta necesidad.

Si fuere preciso, la inspección podrá practicarse con el auxilio de peritos.

Al acto sólo podrá asistir una persona de confianza del examinado, quien será advertido previamente de tal derecho.

Identificación de cadáveres

Si por los medios indicados no se obtuviere la identificación y su estado lo permite, el cadáver se expondrá al público por tiempo prudencial en la morgue del Organismo Médico Forense, a fin de que quien tenga datos que puedan contribuir al reconocimiento, los comunique al juez.

Reconstrucción del hecho

Nunca se obligará al imputado a intervenir en el acto, el que deberá practicarse con la mayor reserva posible.

Operaciones técnicas

Juramento

Registro y Requisa Registro

El juez podrá disponer de la policía administrativa y proceder personalmente o delegar la diligencia en funcionarios de la Policía Judicial.

En este caso la orden será escrita, comisionado, quien actuará conforme a los artículos 97 y siguientes.

Allanamiento de morada

Sin embargo, se podrá proceder a cualquier hora cuando el morador o su representante lo consienta, o en los casos sumamente graves y urgentes, o cuando peligre el orden público.

Allanamiento de otros locales

En estos casos deberá darse aviso a las personas a cuyo cargo estuvieren los locales, salvo que ello fuere perjudicial a la investigación.

Allanamiento sin orden

• 1)Si por incendio, inundación u otra causa semejante, se hallare amenazada la vida de los habitantes o la propiedad; 2) Cuando se denunciare que personas extrañas han sido vistas mientras se introducían en un local, con indicios manifiestos de ir a cometer un delito; 3) En caso de que se introduzca en un local algún imputado de delito grave a quien se persiga para su aprehensión; y 4) Si voces provenientes de una casa anunciaren que allí se está cometiendo un delito o de ella pidieren socorro.

Formalidades para el allanamiento

Al notificado se le invitará a presenciar el registro.

Cuando no se encontrare a nadie, ello se hará constar en el acta.

Practicado el registro, se consignará en el acta su resultado, con expresión de las circunstancias útiles para la investigación.

El acta será firmada por los concurrentes. Si alguien no lo hiciere, así se hará constar.

Orden de requisa personal

Antes de proceder a la medida podrá invitársele a exhibir el objeto de que se trate.

Procedimiento de requisa

Si se hicieren sobre una mujer, serán efectuadas por otra, salvo que esto importe demora perjudicial a la investigación.

La operación se hará constar en acta que firmará el requisado; si no la suscribiere se indicará en la causa.

Secuestro Orden de secuestro

En casos urgentes esta medida podrá ser delegada en un funcionario de la Policía Judicial, en la forma prescrita para los registros (209).

Orden de presentación Limitaciones

Custodia o depósito

En caso contrario se ordenará el depósito.

Podrá disponerse la obtención de copias o reproducciones de las cosas secuestradas, cuando éstas puedan desaparecer, alterarse, sean de difícil custodia o convenga así a la instrucción.

Las cosas secuestradas serán aseguradas con el sello del tribunal y con la firma del juez y secretario, debiéndose firmar los documentos en cada una de sus hojas.

Si fuere necesario remover los sellos se verificará previamente con su identidad e integridad.

Concluido el acto, aquéllos serán repuestos y todo se hará constar.

Interceptación de correspondencia

Apertura y examen de correspondencia

Examinará los objetos y leerá por sí el contenido de la correspondencia. Si tuvieran relación con el proceso, ordenará el secuestro; en caso contrario, mantendrá en reserva su contenido y dispondrá la entrega al destinatario, a sus representantes o parientes próximos, bajo constancia.

Comunicaciones telefónicas

Documentos excluidos

Devolución

Esta devolución podrá ordenarse provisionalmente, en calidad de depósito, e imponerse al poseedor la obligación de exhibirlos al tribunal.

Los efectos sustraídos serán devueltos, en las mismas condiciones y según corresponda, al damnificado o al poseedor de buena fe de cuyo poder hubieran sido secuestrados.

Testigos Deber de indagar

Obligación de testificar

Capacidad de atestiguar

Facultad de abstención

(La Sala Constitucional mediante resoluciones N° 264 del 06 de febrero de 1991, 1151y 1154 del 01 de marzo de 1994, declaró que el presente artículo no es inconstitucional y sus alcances son los mismos del artículo 36 constitucional." y que ".la garantía de abstenerse de declarar en contra del "cónyuge" acá contenida, se debe entender que cobija a la compañera o compañero en unión de hecho y que, contraviene lo dispuesto en el artículo 36 de la Constitución Política, la diligencia realizada con la participación de un pariente en el grado establecido en esa norma, sin advertirle sobre su derecho de abstención".)

Otros casos

El vínculo entre tutor y pupilo se equipara al parentesco de segundo grado.

(Texto Modificado por Resolución de la Sala Constitucional Nº 264-91 de las 14:30 horas del 6 de febrero de 1991) (La Sala Constitucional mediante resoluciones N° 1155 del 01 de marzo de 1994 y 6798 del 23 de noviembre de 1994, estableció que: "se debe entender extendida la garantía del artículo 36 de la Constitución a las familias de hecho, de la misma forma que protege a las constituidas por vínculo legal"; además señaló que: ".el derecho de abstenerse de declarar que contempla el presente articulo comprende a los familiares, en tercer grado inclusive, de consanguinidad o afinidad, cuyas relaciones de parentesco surjan de una relación de hecho que reúna las características de estabilidad, publicidad, cohabitación y singularidad".)

Deber de abstención

Sin embargo, estas personas no podrán negar el testimonio cuando el interesado las libere del deber de guardar secreto; con excepción de los ministros de un culto admitido.

Si el testigo invoca, erróneamente, ese deber respecto de un hecho de los comprendidos en este artículo, se procederá a interrogarlo.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1 de la ley No.7435 del 3 de octubre de 1994) Comparecencia

En casos de urgencia, sin embargo, podrán ser citados verbalmente.

El testigo podrá también presentarse espontáneamente, lo que se hará constar.

Residentes fuera de la ciudad

Compulsión

Si después de comparecer se negare a declarar, se dispondrá su arresto por veinticuatro horas, al término del cual, cuando persiste en la negativa, se iniciará contra él causa penal, de conformidad con el artículo 305 del Código Penal.

Arresto inmediato

Esta medida durará el tiempo indispensable para recibir la declaración, el que nunca excederá de 24 horas.

Forma de la declaración

(La Sala Constitucional mediante resolución N° 5630 del 28 de setiembre de 1994, declaró que el presente artículo no resulta inconstitucional, en tanto se interprete que: ".el testigo sospechoso no puede ser obligado a declarar en su contra y que los medios de coerción que prevé la legislación para la obtención de la prueba testimonial, por disposición expresa del artículo 36 constitucional, no le son aplicables.") En seguida, el juez interrogará separadamente a cada testigo, requiriendo su nombre, apellidos, edad, estado, nombre del cónyuge, profesión, domicilio, vínculos de parentesco y de interés con las partes, y cualquier circunstancia que sirva para apreciar su veracidad.

Si el testigo pudiere abstenerse de declarar (227) se le deberá advertir bajo pena de nulidad, que goza de dicha facultad, lo que se hará constar.

A continuación se le interrogará sobre el hecho, si corresponde, de acuerdo con el artículo 95.

Tratamiento especial

No estarán obligados a comparecer y podrán declarar por medio de informe escrito en el que expresarán que lo hacen bajo juramento, los representantes diplomáticos acreditados en el país.

Sin embargo, los testigos indicados podrán renunciar al tratamiento especial.

Interrogatorio en el domicilio

Falso testimonio

Peritos Facultad jurisdiccional y autopsia

En caso de muerte violenta o sospechosa de criminalidad, se ordenará la autopsia, salvo que por la inspección exterior resultare evidente la causa que la produjo.

Calidad habilitante

En caso contrario, deberá designarse a personas de idoneidad manifiesta.

Obligatoriedad del cargo

En este caso, deberá ponerlo en conocimiento del juez al ser notificado de la designación.

Los peritos no oficiales aceptarán el cargo bajo juramento.

Incapacidad e incompatibilidad

(Así reformado por el artículo 70 (actual 83) de la Ley sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Personas con Discapacidad No.7600 del 2 de mayo de 1996) Excusa y recusación

El incidente será resuelto por el juez, oído el interesado y previa averiguación sumaria, sin recurso alguno.

Nombramiento y notificación

Antes de que se inicien las indagaciones periciales el juez deberá notificar al Ministerio Público y a los defensores, bajo pena de nulidad, a menos que aquéllas sean sumamente urgentes o extremadamente simples. En estos casos, bajo la misma sanción, se les notificará que realizó el peritaje.

Facultad de proponer

Cuando ellas no se pongan de acuerdo, el juez designará entre los propuestos.

Dirección del peritaje

Podrá igualmente indicar dónde deberá efectuarse aquélla y autorizar al perito para examinar las actuaciones o asistir a determinados actos procesales.

Conservación de objetos

Si fuere necesario destruir o alterar los objetos analizados o hubiere discrepancia sobre el modo de conducir las operaciones, los peritos deberán informar al juez antes de proceder.

Ejecución

Peritos nuevos

De igual modo podrán actuar los peritos propuestos por las partes, cuando hubieran sido nombrados después de efectuada la peritación.

Dictamen

• 1)La descripción de la persona, cosa o hecho examinado, tal como hubieran sido hallados; 2) Una relación detallada de las operaciones, de su resultado y la fecha en que se practicaron; y 3) Las conclusiones que formulen los peritos.

Cotejo de documentos

Para la obtención de ellos podrá disponer el secuestro, salvo que su tenedor sea una persona que deba o pueda abstenerse de declarar como testigo.

También podrá disponer el juez que alguna de las partes escriba de su puño y letra en su presencia, un cuerpo de escritura. De la negativa se dejará constancia.

Reserva y sustituciones

El juez podrá sustituir a los peritos en caso de mal desempeño de sus funciones.

Cuando las actuaciones del perito configuren un hecho punible deberá comunicarlo al Ministerio Público, para lo de su cargo.

Honorarios

El perito nombrado a petición de parte podrá cobrarlos siempre, de previo a dar el dictamen, salvo que el perito sea miembro del Organismo Médico Forense.

Intérpretes Designación

Durante la instrucción el deponente podrá escribir su declaración, la que se agregará al acta.

Normas aplicables

Reconocimientos Casos

Interrogatorio previo

El declarante prestará juramento, a excepción del imputado.

Modo de reconocer

En presencia de ellas o desde un punto en que no pueda ser visto, según el juez lo estime oportuno, el deponente manifestará si allí se encuentra la persona a que haya hecho referencia, invitándosele a que en caso afirmativo la designe clara y precisamente.

La diligencia se hará constar en acta, donde se consignarán todas las circunstancias útiles, incluso el nombre y de ser posible el domicilio de los que hubieren formado el grupo.

Pluralidad de reconocimientos

Cuando sean varias las personas a las que una deba identificar, el reconocimiento de todas podrá efectuarse en un sólo acto.

Reconocimiento por fotografía

En lo demás, se observarán las disposiciones precedentes.

Reconocimiento de cosas

En lo demás y en cuanto sea posible, regirán las reglas que anteceden.

Careos Procedencia

Al careo del imputado podrá asistir su defensor.

Juramento

Modo

Para efectuarlo se leerán, en lo pertinente, las declaraciones que se reputen contradictorias, y se llamará la atención a los careados sobre las discrepancias, a fin de que traten de ponerse de acuerdo. De la ratificación o rectificación que resulte se dejará constancia, así como de las reconvenciones que se hagan los careados y de cuanto en el acto ocurra; pero no se hará referencia a las impresiones del juez acerca de la actitud de los careados.

La intervención de las comunicaciones (NOTA: este Capítulo fue adicionado por el artículo 30 de la Ley de Registro de Documentos Privados e Intervención de Comunicaciones No.7425 del 9 de agosto de 1994)

Deberá actuar según el procedimiento y en los casos previstos en la ley que rige la materia.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 30 de la Ley de Registro de Documentos Privados e Intervención de Comunicaciones No.7425 del 9 de agosto de 1994)

Situación del Imputado

Presentación y Comparecencia Presentación espontánea

Si la declaración fuere recibida en la forma prescrita para la del imputado, valdrá como tal para todo efecto.

La presentación espontánea no impedirá que se ordene la detención, cuando corresponda.

Restricción de la libertad

El arresto o la detención se ejecutarán de modo que perjudiquen lo menos posible a la persona o reputación de los afectados. Al menos cada tres meses, el tribunal examinará los presupuestos de la prisión o internación y, según el caso, ordenará su continuación, su sustitución por otra medida o la libertad plena del imputado. Este plazo se interrumpirá cada vez que la procedencia de la detención se examine a solicitud del imputado.

(Así reformado por el artículo 3º de la ley No.7337 del 5 de mayo de 1993) Medidas precautorias

Ambas medidas no podrán prolongarse por más tiempo que el indispensable para recibir las declaraciones, a lo cual se procederá sin tardanza, y en ningún caso durarán más de 24 horas. Vencido este término podrá ordenarse, si fuere el caso, la detención del presunto culpable.

Citación

Podrá procederse del mismo modo cuando se investigue un delito que permita la excarcelación del imputado.

Si el citado no se presentare en el término que se le fije ni justificare un impedimento legítimo, se ordenará su detención.

Detención

La orden será escrita, contendrá los datos personales del imputado u otros que sirvan para identificarlo y la indicación del hecho que se le atribuya.

Aprehensión en flagrancia

Tratándose de un delito de acción pública dependiente de instancia privada, será informado inmediatamente quien pueda instar, y si éste no presentare la denuncia en el mismo acto, el aprehendido será puesto en libertad.

Flagrancia

Otros casos de aprehensión

También podrán aprehender a la persona contra la cual haya indicios vehementes de culpabilidad, siempre que sus antecedentes hagan presumir que no obedecerá la orden de citación y aparezca procedente la prisión preventiva (291).

(Así reformado por el artículo 4 de la Ley de Reforma a la Jurisdicción Tutelar de Menores No.7383 de 16 de marzo de 1994, que eliminó la frase final de este artículo) Presentación del aprehendido

Aprehensión privada

Declaración del Imputado Procedencia y término

Este plazo podrá prorrogarse por otro tanto cuando el juez no hubiere podido recibir la declaración, o cuando lo pidiere el imputado para elegir defensor.

Si en un proceso hubiere varios imputados detenidos, dicho término se computará con respecto a la primera declaración y las otras se recibirán sucesivamente sin tardanza.

Asistencia

Cuando ejerzan esta facultad, se les comunicará verbalmente el día y hora del acto.

El imputado podrá declarar en ausencia de su defensor, siempre que manifestare expresamente su voluntad en tal sentido.

En todo caso se dejará constancia.

Libertad de declarar

En ningún caso se le requerirá juramento o promesa de decir verdad, ni se ejercerá contra él coacción o amenaza, ni se usará medio alguno para obligarlo, inducirlo o determinarlo a declarar contra su voluntad, ni se le harán cargos o reconvenciones tendientes o obtener su confesión.

La inobservancia de este precepto hará nulo el acto, sin perjuicio de la responsabilidad disciplinaria o penal que corresponda.

Interrogatorio de identificación

Le solicitará también su cédula de identidad y si no la mostrare, pedirá la certificación de la misma al Registro Electoral.

( Texto Modificado por Resolución de la Sala Constitucional No.1438-92 de las 15:00 horas del 2 de junio de 1992. )

Intimación y negativa a declarar

Si el imputado se negare a declarar, se hará constar en el acta; si rehusare suscribirla, se consignará el motivo; y cuando pidiere la presencia de su defensor, el juez fijará nueva audiencia y ordenará la citación de aquél.

( La Sala Constitucional mediante resolución N° 3461 del 20 de julio de 1993, estableció respecto al presente artículo que: "la instrucción realizada sin haberse intimado legalmente al procesado (comunicado circunstanciadamente los hechos que se le atribuyen), es contraria al principio de defensa que garantiza el artículo 39 de la Constitución Política, y que la autoridad instructora puede válidamente obligar al encausado a participar en la diligencia, aún contra su voluntad, circunstancia que se hará constar en el acta que al efecto se levantará".)

Declaración sobre el hecho

Después de esto, el juez dirigirá al indagado las preguntas que estime convenientes. El Ministerio Público y el defensor podrán ejercer las facultades que acuerda el artículo 194.

El declarante podrá dictar su declaración, o las respuestas a las preguntas que se le formulen.

Si por la duración del acto se notaren signos de fatiga o falta de serenidad en el imputado, la declaración será suspendida hasta que ellos desaparezcan.

Forma de interrogatorio

Las respuestas no serán instadas en forma perentoria.

Acta

Cuando el declarante quiera agregar o enmendar algo, sus manifestaciones serán consignadas sin alterar lo escrito.

El acta será suscrita por todos los presentes. Si alguno no pudiere o no quisiere hacerlo, esto se hará constar y no afectará la validez de aquélla.

Declaraciones separadas

Declaraciones espontáneas

Evacuación de citas

Identificación y antecedentes

Procesamiento Término y requisitos

En el caso previsto por la última parte del artículo 274, el término se contará desde la última declaración.

Declaración como condición previa al procesamiento

Forma y contenido

Falta de mérito

Carácter y recursos

Contra los mismos sólo podrá interponerse apelación sin efecto suspensivo ante el Tribunal de Apelaciones; de primero, por el imputado o el Ministerio Público; del segundo, por éste último.

Prisión Preventiva Procedencia

1.- Existan elementos suficientes de convicción para sostener, razonablemente, que el imputado es, con probabilidad, autor o partícipe de un hecho punible.

2.- Exista una presunción razonable, por apreciación de las circunstancias del caso particular, acerca de que aquel no se someterá al procedimiento (peligro de fuga); obstaculizará la averiguación de la verdad (peligro de obstaculización); o continuará la actividad delictiva.

3.- El delito que se le atribuya esté reprimido con pena privativa de libertad, cuyo máximo exceda de tres años; si fuere inferior, solo procederá si concurren alguno de los supuestos previstos en el artículo 298. La resolución deberá fundar expresamente cada uno de los presupuestos que la motivan y será apelable por el imputado o por el Ministerio Público.

(Así reformado por el artículo 3º de la ley No.7337 del 5 de mayo de 1993) Tratamiento

Prisión domiciliaria

Cesación

Además, en casos excepcionales, el juez, mediante auto motivado, podrá revocar la prisión preventiva cuando así se requiera por haber variado las condiciones que justificaron su imposición.

En todos los casos, la resolución revocatoria será apelable, sin efecto suspensivo, por el Ministerio Público.

(Así reformado por el artículo 471 del Código Procesal Penal No.7594 de 10 de abril de 1996) Otras restricciones preventivas

Si la ley reprime el delito que se le atribuye con inhabilitación especial, también podrá disponer, preventivamente, que se abstenga de la actividad respectiva.

Internamiento provisional

Excarcelación Procedencia:

En virtud de la excarcelación, y mientras ésta no fuere revocada, el imputado tiene derecho a permanecer en libertad, durante la tramitación del proceso, sujeto a las condiciones que imponga el Tribunal ( 307 ).

Sin embargo, podrá denegarse la excarcelación, cuando el extremo menor de la pena señalada al delito, fuere superior a seis años; o cuando el Tribunal considere necesario mantener la detención del imputado, ya sea para el éxito de las investigaciones, o para la seguridad personal del ofendido, de los testigos o del propio detenido, o bien para evitar escándalos probables.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1º de la ley Nº 6659 de 18 de septiembre de 1981) Restricciones:

1.- Antes de que hayan transcurrido tres meses desde que el juez ordenó la prisión preventiva, sin perjuicio de la potestad extraordinaria otorgada al juez por el párrafo segundo del artículo 294.

2.- A quien esté declarado rebelde.

3.- Cuando, a juicio del tribunal, existan vehementes indicios de que el imputado tratará de eludir la acción de la justicia.

4.- Cuando existan indicios -igualmente graves- en los antecedentes del imputado o en otros elementos de convicción, de que continuará la actividad delictiva.

(Así reformado por el artículo 471 del Código Procesal Penal No.7594 de 10 de abril de 1996) Cauciones

La caución tendrá por objeto asegurar que el imputado cumplirá las obligaciones que se le impongan y las órdenes del tribunal y que se someterá a la ejecución de la sentencia condenatoria.

Determinación de las cauciones

El juez hará la estimación de modo que constituya un motivo eficaz para que aquél se abstenga de infringir sus obligaciones.

Caución juratoria

• 1)Cuando se estime prima facie que, en caso de condena, ésta será de ejecución condicional o procede el perdón judicial; y 2) En caso contrario, cuando la excarcelación proceda con garantía real o personal y el juez considere que el imputado por su pobreza, no puede ofrecerla y que, no obstante, cumplirá con sus obligaciones.

Caución personal

Forma de determinar la solvencia de los fiadores