Criminal Procedure CodeCódigo Procesal Penal

No one may be sentenced to a penalty or subjected to a security measure, except by virtue of a proceeding conducted in accordance with this Code and with strict observance of the guarantees, powers, and rights provided for individuals.

The non-observance of a guarantee rule established in favor of the accused may not be used to his detriment.

Rule of interpretation Legal provisions that restrict personal liberty or limit the exercise of a power or right conferred on the subjects of the proceeding shall be interpreted restrictively. In this matter, extensive interpretation and analogy are prohibited insofar as they do not favor the liberty of the accused or the exercise of a power conferred on those who intervene in the procedure.

Natural judge No one may be judged by judges specially designated for the case. The power to apply criminal law shall correspond only to the ordinary courts, instituted in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

Every person shall have the right to a definitive judicial decision within a reasonable time. To achieve this objective, oral processing through hearings shall be preferred during the proceeding.

(Thus amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of the Sentence, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Orality Rules in the Criminal Proceeding", Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Independence Judges are subject only to the Constitution, the International and Community Law in force in Costa Rica, and the law. In their function of judging, judges are independent of all members of the branches of the State. Under no circumstances may other State bodies arrogate to themselves the judging of cases, nor the reopening of those concluded by a final decision; neither may they interfere in the development of the proceeding. They must comply with and enforce what is ordered by the judges, in accordance with what is decided. In the event of interference in the exercise of their function, the judge must inform the Supreme Court of Justice about the facts that affect their independence. When the interference comes from the full Court, the report must be known by the Legislative Assembly.

Objectivity Judges must resolve the matters submitted to their knowledge with objectivity. From the beginning of the proceeding and throughout its development, administrative and judicial authorities must record in their actions and assess in their decisions not only the circumstances detrimental to the accused, but also those favorable to him. It shall be the functions of judges to preserve the principle of procedural equality and to remove obstacles that impede its validity or weaken it.

The courts shall resolve the conflict arising as a consequence of the act, in accordance with the principles contained in the laws, seeking to contribute to restoring social harmony between the parties and, especially, the restoration of the victim's rights. For this purpose, it may also be resolved according to the restorative justice procedure.

For such purposes, they shall always take into account the victim's opinion, in the manner and under the conditions regulated by this Code.

(Thus amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

Decisions in collegiate courts When the law requires a collegiate integration of the court, its members must actively intervene in the deliberation and decision.

State of innocence The accused must be considered innocent at all stages of the proceeding, as long as his guilt is not declared in a final judgment, in accordance with the rules established in this Code. In case of doubt on questions of fact, what is most favorable to the accused shall prevail. Until the declaration of guilt, no public authority may present a person as guilty or provide information about him in that sense. In cases of the absent person and the rebel, the publication of data essential for his apprehension by judicial order shall be permitted.

Precautionary measures Precautionary measures may only be established by law. They shall be exceptional in nature, and their application, in relation to the accused, must be proportional to the penalty or security measure that could eventually be imposed.

Single prosecution No one may be tried criminally more than once for the same act.

Inviolability of the defense The defense of any of the parties in the proceeding is inviolable. With the exceptions provided in this Code, the accused shall have the right to intervene in procedural acts that incorporate elements of proof and to formulate petitions and observations he deems appropriate, without prejudice to the corresponding authority exercising disciplinary power when the normal course of the proceedings is prejudiced. When the accused is deprived of liberty, the person in charge of his custody shall transmit to the court the petitions or observations that he formulates, within the twelve hours following their presentation, and shall facilitate communication with the defense attorney. Every authority that intervenes in the initial acts of the investigation must ensure that the accused immediately knows the rights that, in that capacity, the Constitution, the International and Community Law in force in Costa Rica, and this law provide.

Technical defense From the first moment of the criminal prosecution and until the end of the execution of the sentence, the accused shall have the right to assistance and technical legal defense. For such purposes, he may choose an attorney of his confidence, but, if he does not, a public defender shall be assigned to him. The right of defense is inalienable. The first act of the proceeding shall be understood as any action, judicial or police, that identifies a person as a possible perpetrator of a punishable act or a participant in it.

Interpreter When the accused does not correctly understand the official language, he shall have the right to have a translator or interpreter appointed for him, without prejudice to appointing one of his confidence on his own account.

The court or the prosecutor who verifies a remediable defect in any motion, ordinary recourse, or instance of constitution of the subjects of the proceeding, shall notify the interested party and grant him a period to correct it, which shall not exceed five days. If it is not corrected within the period granted, he shall resolve accordingly.

(Thus amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of the Sentence, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Orality Rules in the Criminal Proceeding", Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Criminal action shall be public or private. When it is public, its exercise shall correspond to the Public Prosecutor's Office, without prejudice to the participation that this Code grants to the victim or to citizens.

In crimes against national security, public tranquility, public powers, constitutional order, the environment, the maritime-terrestrial zone, the public treasury, the duties of public function, tax offenses, and those contained in Law 7557, General Customs Law, of October 20, 1995; Law 7558, Organic Law of the Central Bank of Costa Rica, of November 3, 1995; and Law 8422, Law against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment in Public Function, of October 6, 2004, except for the crime of transnational bribery, the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic may also directly exercise that action, without subordinating itself to the actions and decisions of the Public Prosecutor's Office. In matters initiated by action of the Attorney General's Office, it shall be considered a party and may exercise the same recourses that this Code grants to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

(Thus amended by Article 6 of Law No. 10373 of September 20, 2023, "Reforms to laws on anti-corruption matters to address recommendations of the working group on bribery in international business transactions of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)")

Complaint for a public action crime prosecutable at private instance When the exercise of public criminal action requires a private instance, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall only exercise it once a complaint is filed, before a competent authority, by the offended party over fifteen years of age, or, if under that age, in excluding order, by his legal representatives, guardian, or custodian. However, before the instance, urgent acts that prevent the continuation of the act or those essential to preserve the elements of proof may be carried out, provided they do not affect the protection of the victim's interest. Defects related to the complaint may be remedied subsequently, when the victim appears to ratify the instance before the conclusion of the preliminary hearing. The private instance shall allow the prosecution of all perpetrators and participants. The victim or his representative may revoke the instance at any time before the opening of the trial is agreed upon. The revocation shall include those who participated in the punishable act. The Public Prosecutor's Office shall directly exercise the action when the crime has been committed against an incapacitated person or a minor who do not have representation, or when it has been committed by one of the relatives up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity, the legal representative, or the custodian.

The following shall be public action crimes prosecutable at private instance:

• a)The transmission of disease and the rape of a person of legal age who is in full use of reason.
• b)Sexual assaults, not aggravated or qualified, against persons of legal age.
• c)Minor injuries and negligent injuries not originating from a traffic accident or incident, abandonment of persons, concealment of impediments to contracting marriage, simulation of marriage, threats, violation of domicile, and usurpation.

(Thus amended the preceding subsection by Article 5 of Law No. 8696 of December 17, 2008)

• d)Breach of alimony duty or duty of assistance, and breach or abuse of parental responsibility.

(Thus amended the preceding subsection by Article 2, point XI) of the law that approved the Family Procedural Code, No. 9747 of October 23, 2019) e) Any other crime that the law classifies as such.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of the Law for Strengthening the Fight Against the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, No. 8590 of July 18, 2007)

Private action crimes The following are private action crimes:

• a)Crimes against honor.
• b)Unfair advertising.
• c)Any other crime that the law qualifies as such.

Conversion of public action into private Public action may be converted into private at the request of the victim, provided that the Public Prosecutor's Office authorizes it and there is no seriously compromised public interest, when investigating a crime that requires a private instance or a crime against property committed without serious violence against persons. If there are several offended parties, the consent of all is necessary.

Prejudiciality When what must be resolved in a criminal proceeding depends on the resolution of another procedure according to the law and it is not appropriate to combine them, the exercise of the action shall be suspended after the preparatory investigation until a final resolution is issued in the second procedure.

Criteria of opportunity

The Public Prosecutor's Office must exercise public criminal action, in all cases where it is appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the law.

However, with prior authorization from the hierarchical superior, the representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office may request that the criminal prosecution be dispensed with, totally or partially, or limited to one or several infractions or to some of the persons who participated in the act, when:

• a)It involves an insignificant act, minimal culpability of the perpetrator or participant, or a meager contribution by the latter, unless there is violence against persons or force against things, the public interest is affected, or the act was committed by a public official in the exercise of or on occasion of his office.
• b)It involves matters of organized crime, violent criminality, serious crimes, or complex proceedings, and the accused collaborates effectively with the investigation, provides essential information to prevent the continuation of the crime or the perpetration of others, helps clarify the investigated act or other connected acts, or provides useful information to prove the participation of other accused persons, provided that the collaborator's conduct is less reprehensible than the punishable acts whose prosecution it facilitates or whose continuation it prevents.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 300, in the cases provided in this subsection, the victim shall not be informed of the request to apply the criterion of opportunity and, if he has not filed a criminal complaint, he shall not have the right to do so subsequently, unless the court orders the resumption of the proceeding in accordance with the following article.

• c)The accused has suffered, as a consequence of the act, serious physical or moral damages that make the application of a penalty disproportionate, or when the conditions under which the court is authorized to dispense with the penalty concur.
• d)The penalty or security measure that may be imposed, for the act or the infraction whose prosecution is dispensed with, lacks importance, in consideration of the penalty or security measure imposed, which must be expected for the remaining acts or infractions imposed on him or that would be imposed in a proceeding conducted abroad. In these latter cases, active extradition may be dispensed with and passive extradition granted.

The request must be formulated before the court that shall resolve the corresponding matter, according to the procedure established for the conclusion of the preparatory proceeding.

(Thus amended the preceding paragraph by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of the Sentence, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Orality Rules in the Criminal Proceeding", Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Effects of the criterion of opportunity If the court admits the request to apply a criterion of opportunity, the extinction of the criminal action occurs with respect to the perpetrator or participant for whose benefit it was ordered. If the decision is based on the insignificance of the act, its effects extend to all who meet the same conditions. However, in the case of subsections b) and d) of the preceding article, the exercise of public criminal action is suspended in relation to the acts or persons in whose favor the criterion of opportunity was applied. That suspension shall be maintained until fifteen days after the finality of the respective sentence, at which time the court must definitively resolve on dispensing with that prosecution. If the subject's collaboration or the sentence does not satisfy the expectations for which the exercise of the action was suspended, the Public Prosecutor's Office must request that the court order the resumption of the proceeding.

Time limit for requesting criteria of opportunity Criteria of opportunity may be requested until before the Public Prosecutor's Office formulates the accusation.

Suspension of the proceeding on probation

When the conditional suspension of the penalty is appropriate or in matters for crimes punishable exclusively with non-custodial penalties, the accused may request the suspension of the proceeding on probation provided that, during the previous five years, he has not benefited from this measure nor from the extinction of criminal action for the reparation of the damage or conciliation. For such purposes, the Judicial Registry shall maintain an archive of the beneficiaries.

The measure shall not be appropriate in intentional crimes, when the act was committed by means of force against things or violence against persons. This procedural mechanism may only be applied in the crimes of patrimonial violence contemplated in Law No. 8589, Criminalization of Violence against Women, of April 25, 2007, when there is no violence against persons and provided they have been processed with application of the Restorative Justice Law.

The request must contain a plan for the reparation of the damage caused by the crime, to the satisfaction of the victim of known domicile, and a detail of the conditions that the accused is willing to comply with, in accordance with the following article. The plan may consist of conciliation with the victim, the natural reparation of the damage caused, or a symbolic reparation, immediate or to be fulfilled in installments. If an accusation does not yet exist when the petition is made, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall describe the act it imputes to him.

To grant the benefit, it is an indispensable condition that the accused admits the act attributed to him and that the victim expresses his conformity with the suspension of the proceeding on probation.

In an oral hearing, the court shall hear the prosecutor, the victim of known domicile, and the accused regarding the request, and shall resolve immediately, unless it defers that discussion to the preliminary hearing. The resolution shall establish the conditions under which the proceeding is suspended or the request is rejected and shall approve or modify the reparation plan proposed by the accused, according to criteria of reasonableness.

The suspension of the proceeding may be requested at any time, until before the opening of the trial is agreed upon, without prejudice to being processed in accordance with the Restorative Justice Law, and shall not impede the exercise of civil action before the respective courts.

If the accused's request is not admitted or the proceeding is resumed subsequently, the admission of the facts by the accused may not be considered as a confession.

When the plan for reparation of the damage caused by the crime incorporates community service, it must observe the regulations of Article 56 bis of the Penal Code.

(Thus amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

The court shall set the probation period, which may not be less than two years nor more than five, and shall determine one or several of the rules that the accused must comply with, among the following:

• a)Reside in a specific place.
• b)Frequent certain places or persons.
• c)Abstain from consuming drugs or narcotics, or from abusing alcoholic beverages.
• d)Participate in special treatment programs for the purpose of abstaining from consuming drugs, alcoholic beverages, or committing criminal acts.
• e)Begin or finish primary schooling, if not completed; learn a profession or trade or follow training courses at the place or institution determined by the court.
• f)Provide services or work for the benefit of the State or public welfare institutions.
• g)Undergo medical or psychological treatment, if necessary.
• h)Remain in a job or employment, or adopt, within the period determined by the court, a trade, art, industry, or profession, if he lacks his own means of subsistence.
• i)Submit to the supervision determined by the court.
• j)Not possess or carry weapons.
• k)Not drive vehicles.
• l)Participate and submit to the conditions of the treatment program under judicial restorative supervision, in accordance with the provisions of the Restorative Justice Law.
• m)Participate in programs with socio-educational approaches for anger management, masculinity, and related issues, for the prevention of domestic violence and violence against women.

Only at the proposal of the accused, the court may impose other analogous rules of conduct when it deems them reasonable.

(Thus amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

The court must personally explain to the accused the conditions he must comply with during the probation period and the consequences of failing to comply with them.

A specialized office, attached to the General Directorate of Social Adaptation, shall be responsible for supervising compliance with the imposed rules and informing the court periodically, within the periods it determines, without prejudice to other persons or entities, such as the restorative venue in accordance with the Restorative Justice Law, also providing reports to it.

(Thus amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

Revocation of the suspension If the accused fails to comply with the reparation plan, deviates considerably and unjustifiably from the imposed conditions, or commits a new crime, the court shall grant a hearing of three days to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the accused and shall resolve, by reasoned order, regarding the resumption of the criminal prosecution. In the first case, instead of the revocation, the court may extend the probation period for up to two more years. This extension of the term may be imposed only once.

(Thus amended by subsection b) of Article 1 of Law No. 8146 of October 30, 2001)

Suspension of the probation period The probation period shall be suspended while the accused is deprived of his liberty due to another proceeding. When the accused is subject to another proceeding and enjoys liberty, the period shall run; but the extinction of the criminal action may not be decreed until the resolution that exempts him from responsibility for the new act becomes final.

Extinction of criminal action

Criminal action shall be extinguished by the following causes:

• a)The death of the accused.
• b)The withdrawal of the criminal complaint, in private action crimes.
• c)The payment of the maximum provided for the fine penalty, made before the oral trial, when dealing with crimes punishable only with this type of penalty, in which case the court shall make the corresponding determination, at the request of the interested party, provided that the victim expresses his conformity.
• d)The application of a criterion of opportunity, in the cases and forms provided in this Code.
• e)The statute of limitations.
• f)The completion of the period of suspension of the proceeding on probation, without it being revoked.
• g)Pardon or amnesty.
• h)The revocation of the private instance, in public action crimes whose prosecution depends on it.
• i)The death of the offended party, in cases of private action crimes, unless the action already initiated by the victim is continued by his heirs, as provided in this Code.
• j)The integral reparation, to the entire satisfaction of the victim, of the particular or social damage caused, made before the oral trial, in crimes of patrimonial content without force against things or violence against persons and in negligent crimes, provided that the victim or the Public Prosecutor's Office admit it, as the case may be.

This cause is appropriate provided that, during the previous five years, the accused has not benefited from this measure nor from the suspension of the proceeding on probation or conciliation. For such purposes, the Judicial Registry shall maintain an archive of the beneficiaries.

• k)Conciliation, provided that during the previous five years, the accused has not benefited from this measure, from the suspension of the proceeding on probation, or from the integral reparation of the damage.
• l)The non-compliance with the maximum time limits of the preparatory investigation, in the terms established by this Code.
• m)When the investigation has not been reopened, within a period of one year, after the provisional dismissal has been issued.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding No. 8720 of March 4, 2009).

If criminal prosecution has not been initiated, the action shall prescribe:

• a)After a period equal to the maximum of the penalty has elapsed, in crimes punishable by imprisonment; it may not exceed ten years nor be less than three, except in crimes committed against minors, in which case the statute of limitations shall begin to run from the time the victim has reached the age of majority.

(Thus amended the preceding subsection by Article 1 of Law No. 9057 of July 23, 2012, "Reform of various laws on the Statute of Limitations for Damages caused to Minors")

• b)After two years, in crimes punishable only with non-custodial penalties and in infractions or contraventions, except in crimes committed by legal entities, in which case the statute of limitations shall be ten years.

(Thus amended the preceding subsection by Article 41 of the law on the Responsibility of legal entities for domestic bribery, transnational bribery, and other crimes, No. 9699 of June 10, 2019)

• c)Twenty-five years after the victim reached the age of majority, in the case of sexual crimes committed against minors, and at twenty-five years from the consummation of the punishable act, the last act of execution of the attempt, or the cessation of the continuous crime, as applicable, when these crimes are committed against persons of legal age without volitional or cognitive capacity. The preceding rule shall apply indistinctly to every perpetrator, accomplice, or participant responsible for the respective punishable act, provided they had reached the age of majority at the time of committing the crime.

(Thus added the preceding subsection by the sole article of Law No. 9685 of May 21, 2019, "Law on the Right to Time, reform of the Penal Code to extend the statute of limitations period for criminal action in cases of sexual crimes against minors or persons without volitional or cognitive capacity")

(Thus amended the preceding subsection by the sole article of Law No. 9826 of March 10, 2020)

• d)Thirty years after the consummation of the criminal act, in the case of the crimes contained in Law 8422, Law against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment in Public Function, of October 6, 2004, and in the crimes contained within Title XV, "Crimes against the duties of public function," of the Penal Code.

(Thus added the preceding subsection by Article 1 of the Law to prosecute corruption crimes and prevent impunity due to the statute of limitations, No. 10691 of May 6, 2025)

The statute of limitations periods shall be governed by the main penalty provided in the law and shall begin to run, for consummated offenses, from the day of consummation; for attempted offenses, from the day on which the last act of execution was carried out; and, for continuous or permanent crimes, from the day on which their permanence ceased.

The statute of limitations shall run, be suspended, or be interrupted, individually, for each of the subjects who participated in the crime. In the case of joint prosecution of several crimes, the respective criminal actions resulting from them shall prescribe separately within the term specified for each one.

(Thus amended by the sole article of Law No. 9082 of October 12, 2012)

Once the proceeding has been initiated, the periods established in the penultimate article shall be reduced by half for computing them, for the purposes of suspending or interrupting the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations periods shall be interrupted by the following:

• a)The appearance to make a statement upon preliminary investigation, in public action crimes.
• b)The filing of the criminal complaint, in private action crimes.
• c)The resolution that convenes the preliminary hearing.
• d)The setting of the date for the trial (debate).
• e)When the holding of the trial is suspended for reasons attributable to the defense, with the purpose of obstructing its normal development, according to the declaration that the court shall make in a reasoned decision.
• f)The delivery of the judgment (sentencia), even if it is not final (firme).

The interruption of the statute of limitations (prescripción) operates, even in the event that the decisions referred to in the preceding subsections are subsequently declared ineffective or null.

The judicial authority may not use grounds for interrupting the statute of limitations other than those established in the preceding subsections.

(As amended by Article 81 of the Law against Human Trafficking and Creation of the National Coalition against Illicit Trafficking of Migrants and Human Trafficking (CONATT), No. 9095 of October 26, 2012)

Suspension of the computation of the statute of limitations The computation of the statute of limitations shall be suspended:

• a)When, by virtue of a constitutional or legal provision, the criminal action (acción penal) cannot be initiated or proceeded with. This provision shall not apply when the act cannot be prosecuted due to the lack of a private complaint (instancia privada). b) In crimes committed by public officials in the exercise of their office or on occasion thereof, as long as they continue to perform the public function and proceedings have not been initiated against them. c) In crimes relating to the constitutional system, when the institutional order is broken, until its reestablishment. d) While extradition proceedings are ongoing abroad. e) When the exercise of the criminal action has been suspended by virtue of an opportunity criterion (criterio de oportunidad) or by the suspension of the process subject to conditions (suspensión del proceso a prueba), and for the duration of those suspensions. f) Due to the default (rebeldía) of the accused. In this case, the term of the suspension may not exceed a time equal to the statute of limitations for the criminal action; once this time has elapsed, that period shall continue to run.

Once the cause for the suspension has ended, the period of the statute of limitations shall continue its course.

Waiver of the statute of limitations The accused may waive the statute of limitations.

In misdemeanors or infractions (faltas o contravenciones), in crimes of private action (delitos de acción privada), in crimes of public action subject to private complaint (delitos de acción pública a instancia privada), and in those that allow for the conditional suspension of the sentence (suspensión condicional de la pena), conciliation between the victim and the accused shall be admissible at any time until the order to open trial proceedings is issued. It shall also be admissible in cases involving crimes punishable exclusively by non-custodial sentences, provided that the other requirements demanded by this law are met. A requirement for the application of conciliation, when it involves a crime of public action and its application is admissible, is that during the five preceding years the accused has not benefited from this measure, from the suspension of the process subject to conditions, or from the comprehensive reparation of damage (reparación integral del daño).

In such cases, if the parties have not previously proposed it, at the appropriate procedural moment, the court shall endeavor to have them state the conditions under which they agree to conciliate.

To facilitate the agreement of the parties, the court may request the advice and assistance of specialized persons or entities to seek agreements between the parties in conflict, or urge the interested parties to appoint an amicable compounder (amigable componedor). The conciliators must maintain secrecy regarding what they learn during the deliberations and discussions of the parties. Likewise, conciliation may be agreed upon through the restorative procedure regulated in the Restorative Justice Law.

When conciliation occurs, the court shall homologate the agreements and declare the criminal action extinguished. However, the extinction of the criminal action shall take effect from the moment the accused fulfills all the obligations undertaken. For this purpose, a maximum period of one year may be set, during which the statute of limitations for the criminal action is suspended.

If the accused fails, without just cause, to fulfill the obligations agreed upon in the conciliation, the proceeding shall continue as if no conciliation had occurred.

In case of non-compliance due to justified cause, the parties may extend the period for up to six additional months. If the victim does not agree to extend the period, or if it expires without the accused fulfilling the obligation, even for just cause, the process shall continue its course, and the rules on conciliation may not be applied again.

The court shall not approve the conciliation when it has well-founded reasons to believe that any of the participants is not in a position of equality to negotiate or has acted under coercion or threat; nor in crimes committed to the detriment of minors.

In crimes of a sexual nature, in domestic assaults, and in crimes penalized in Law No. 8589, Penalization of Violence against Women, the court must not seek conciliation between the parties nor convene a hearing for that purpose, except when expressly requested by the victim or their legal representatives.

The five-year period indicated in the first paragraph of Article 25, in subsections j) and k) of Article 30, and in this article, shall be computed from the date the decision declaring the extinction of the criminal action becomes final.

The jurisdictional bodies that approve the application of the suspension of the process subject to conditions, the comprehensive reparation of damage, or conciliation, once the decision is final, shall inform the Judicial Registry (Registro Judicial) for its corresponding registration. The Judicial Registry shall maintain an archive of the beneficiaries of these measures.

(As amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

Exercise The civil action (acción civil) to recover the object of the criminal act, as well as the reparation of the damages caused, may be exercised by the injured party (damnificado), their heirs, their legatees, the estate, or by the beneficiary in the case of personal claims, against the perpetrators of and participants in the criminal act and, where appropriate, against the civilly liable party.

Civil action for social damage The civil action may be exercised by the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic (Procuraduría General de la República), when it involves criminal acts that affect collective or diffuse interests.

Delegation The civil action must be exercised by an attorney from a specialized office for the civil defense of victims, attached to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), when:

• a)The holder of the action lacks resources and delegates its exercise to them.
• b)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 Children's Trust (Patronato Nacional de la Infancia).

In criminal proceedings, the civil action for damages may only be exercised while the criminal prosecution is pending. If the accused is provisionally dismissed (sobreseído provisionalmente) or the proceeding is suspended, in accordance with the provisions of the law, the exercise of the civil action shall be suspended until the criminal prosecution continues, and the right to file the claim before the competent courts shall be preserved.

The Criminal Court (Tribunal Penal) must rule on the merits of the validly exercised civil action for damages, even when an acquittal or a definitive dismissal (sobreseimiento definitivo) has been issued during the trial phase.

(As amended by Article 1 of Law No. 10566 of October 23, 2024)

Alternative exercise The civil action may be exercised in the criminal process, in accordance with the rules established by this Code, or brought before the civil courts; but it may not be processed simultaneously in both jurisdictions.

Enumeration The Public Prosecutor's Office and the parties may raise exceptions (excepciones) for the following reasons:

• a)Lack of jurisdiction or competence (competencia).
• b)Lack of action, because it could not be initiated, was not legally commenced, or cannot be proceeded with.
• c)Extinction of the criminal action.

Exceptions shall be raised before the competent court, which may, on its own motion (de oficio), undertake the resolution of any of the foregoing issues.

Exceptions shall be presented orally in hearings. The evidence justifying the facts on which they are based must be offered. The motion shall be transferred to the opposing party.

The court shall admit the pertinent evidence and resolve, without delay, what is appropriate.

(As amended by Article 1 "Creation of the appeal recourse against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime and implementation of new rules of orality in the criminal process", Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Effects If lack of action is declared, the case file shall be archived unless the prosecution can proceed by virtue of another participant; in this case, the decision shall only remove from the proceeding the person it affects. In cases where the extinction of the criminal prosecution or the civil claim must be declared, the dismissal (sobreseimiento) shall be decreed or the claim shall be rejected, as appropriate.

BOOK I CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PROCEDURAL SUBJECTS

Competence The competence of the courts of justice extends to cognizance of criminal acts committed in the territory of the Republic, as well as those carried out in places where the Costa Rican State exercises special jurisdiction. Furthermore, in the cases provided for by law, they shall have cognizance of crimes committed outside the national territory.

Maintenance of competence When a lack of competence is noticed after the date for the oral trial has been set, the court empowered to judge more serious crimes may not declare itself incompetent because the case corresponds to a court constituted to judge less serious criminal acts. Courts with competence to hear crimes shall also have competence to hear infractions (contravenciones), when the principal act has been reclassified at trial or they are connected with a crime. The procedure shall be that established for judging the most serious crime. Once the date for the trial has been set, the territorial competence of a trial court may not be objected to.

Rules of competence To determine the territorial competence of the courts, the following rules shall be observed:

• a)The court shall have competence over criminal acts committed within the judicial district (circunscripción judicial) where it exercises its functions. If there are several judges in the same district, they shall divide their tasks equitably, in accordance with the distribution established for that purpose. In case of doubt, the proceeding shall be heard by the one who first took cognizance (quien haya prevenido). It shall be considered that the one who first took cognizance is the one who issued the first order or decision in the proceeding.
• b)When a crime committed in foreign territory has produced its effects in the Republic, the courts of the judicial district of the capital shall have cognizance, even if the accused has been apprehended in any other judicial district of the country.
• c)When the criminal act has been committed on the boundary of two judicial districts or in several of them, the court that first took cognizance of the case shall be competent.
• d)When the place where the criminal act was committed is unknown, the court of the judicial district where the accused resides shall be competent. If, subsequently, the place where the crime was committed is discovered, the court of that latter place shall continue the case, unless this would cause unnecessary procedural delay or prejudice the defense.
• e)In crimes committed on board ships or aircraft, when navigating in jurisdictional waters or national airspace, the judge of the place where the ship or aircraft arrives shall be competent. When the ship or aircraft does not arrive in national territory, a court of the capital of the Republic shall hear the matter.

Lack of competence At any stage of the process, except for the exceptions provided for in this Code, the court that recognizes its lack of competence shall forward the proceedings to the court it considers competent and shall place the detainees, if any, at its disposal. If the court receiving the proceedings disagrees with that criterion, it shall elevate the proceedings to the court competent to resolve the conflict. Non-compliance with the rules on competence shall only produce the ineffectiveness of acts performed after the lack of competence has been declared.

Effects Questions of competence shall not suspend the proceeding. However, if they arise before the hearing for the trial is set, they shall suspend it until the conflict is decided.

Cases of joinder (conexión) Cases are connected:

• a)When two or more crimes are attributed to the same person.
• b)If the acts attributed have been committed simultaneously by several persons gathered together, or even at different places or times, when there had been an agreement among them.
• c)If a criminal act has been committed to perpetrate or facilitate the commission of another, or to secure for the guilty party or others the benefit or impunity.
• d)When the criminal acts have been committed reciprocally.

Competence in connected cases When there is a joinder, the following shall have cognizance:

• a)The court empowered to judge the most serious crime.
• b)If the crimes are punishable with the same penalty, the court that must intervene to judge the one committed first.
• c)If the crimes were committed simultaneously or it is not duly established which was committed first, the court that first took cognizance.
• d)In the last case, the court indicated by the body competent to hear the dispute over competence.

Material accumulation Even if the accumulation of two or more processes has been ordered, the proceedings shall be compiled separately, unless this is inconvenient for the normal development of the procedure, although the same court must intervene in all of them.

Accumulation of trials If several crimes are charged in the accumulated processes, the court may order that the oral trial be held in successive public hearings, for each of the acts. In this case, the court may rule on guilt upon concluding each hearing, and shall determine the sentence corresponding to all cases after holding the final hearing. The rules provided for holding the trial in two phases shall be applicable.

Unification of sentences The court that issued the last judgment (sentencia), on its own motion or at the request of any of the subjects of the process, must unify the sentences when several convictions have been issued against the same person.

Grounds for excuse The judge must excuse himself/herself from hearing the case:

• a)When in the same process he/she had issued or concurred in issuing the order to proceed to trial (auto de apertura a juicio) or the judgment, or had intervened as an official of the Public Prosecutor's Office, defender, agent (mandatario), complainant (denunciante) or querellante, or had acted as an expert (perito), technical consultant, or knew of the investigated act as a witness, or has a direct interest in the process.
• b)If he/she is the spouse, cohabitant with more than two years of common life, or relative within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity, of any interested party, or the latter lives or has lived at his/her expense.
• c)If he/she is or has been a guardian (tutor) or curator (curador), or has been under the guardianship or curatorship of any of the interested parties.
• d)When he/she, his/her spouse, cohabitant with more than two years of common life, parents, or children, have a lawsuit pending initiated previously, or a partnership or community with any of the interested parties, except for a corporation (sociedad anónima).
• e)If he/she, his/her wife, cohabitant with more than two years of common life, parents, children, or other persons living at his/her expense, are creditors, debtors, or guarantors of any of the interested parties, except when dealing with banks of the National Banking System (Sistema Bancario Nacional).
• f)When, before the process began, he/she had been the complainant or accuser of any of the interested parties, or had been reported or accused by them, unless subsequent circumstances demonstrate harmony between them.
• g)If he/she has given advice or stated his/her opinion extrajudicially about the process.
• h)When he/she has close friendship or manifest enmity with any of the interested parties.
• i)If he/she, his/her wife, cohabitant with more than two years of common life, parents, children, or other persons living at his/her expense, had received or receive benefits of importance from any of the interested parties, or if, after the process began, he/she had received presents or gifts, even if of little value.
• j)When any relative within the second degree of consanguinity has intervened or intervenes in the case as a judge.

For the purposes of this article, interested parties are considered to be the accused, the injured party, the victim, and the civil defendant, even if the latter two do not become a party; also, their representatives, defenders, or agents.

Procedure for the excuse The judge who excuses himself/herself shall forward the proceedings, by reasoned decision, to the person who is to replace him/her. The latter shall immediately take cognizance of the matter and order the procedure to be followed, without prejudice to elevating the records, in the same manner, to the respective court, if it is deemed that the excuse is unfounded. The incident shall be resolved without further procedure. When the judge is part of a collegiate court and recognizes a ground for excuse, he/she shall request the remaining members to order his/her separation.

Recusal The Public Prosecutor's Office and the parties may recuse (recusar) the judge when they believe that a ground for which he/she should have excused himself/herself applies to him/her.

When the recusal is formulated, the grounds on which it is based and the pertinent elements of evidence shall be indicated, under penalty of inadmissibility. It shall be formulated within twenty-four hours of becoming aware of the grounds on which it is based. During hearings, the recusal shall be raised orally.

(As amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal Recourse against the Judgment, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Rules of Orality in the Criminal Process", Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Procedure for recusal If the judge admits the recusal, he/she shall apply the procedure provided for excuse. Otherwise, he/she shall forward the recusal brief and his/her report to the competent court or, if the judge is part of a collegiate court, he/she shall request the remaining members to reject it. If deemed necessary, a date shall be set to hold a hearing in which evidence shall be received and the parties shall be heard. The competent court shall resolve the incident within twenty-four hours, without any recourse.

Recusal of clerks and collaborators The same rules shall apply to clerks (secretarios) and those who perform any judicial assistance function in the proceeding. The court before which they act shall summarily investigate the invoked ground and resolve as appropriate. If the excuse or recusal is accepted, the official shall be separated from the matter.

Effects Once the excuse is given or the recusal accepted, the subsequent acts of the separated official shall not be effective. The intervention of the new officials shall be definitive, even if the grounds for the separation subsequently disappear.

Functions The Public Prosecutor's Office shall exercise criminal action in the manner established by law and shall carry out the pertinent and useful proceedings to determine the existence of the criminal act. It shall be in charge of the preparatory investigation (investigación preparatoria), under judicial control in the acts that require it.

The representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office must formulate their requests and conclusions in a reasoned and specific manner.

Objectivity In the exercise of its function, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall adapt its acts to an objective criterion and shall ensure the effective fulfillment of the guarantees recognized by the Constitution, International and Community Law in force in the country, and the law. It must investigate not only the circumstances that allow the accusation to be verified, but also those that serve to exempt the accused from responsibility; likewise, it must formulate the requests and motions pursuant to that criterion, even in favor of the accused.

Distribution of functions In addition to the functions agreed by law, the representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office shall act, in the criminal process, in accordance with the distribution of tasks ordered by the Attorney General of the Republic (Fiscal General de la República).

International cooperation When criminal activities are carried out, in whole or in part, outside the national territory, or are attributed to persons linked to an organization of a regional or international nature, in cases where Costa Rican criminal legislation must be applied, the Public Prosecutor's Office may form joint investigation teams with foreign or international institutions. Joint investigation agreements must be approved and supervised by the Attorney General.

Excuse and recusal To the extent they are applicable, officials of the Public Prosecutor's Office must excuse themselves and may be recused for the same grounds established for judges, except for the fact of intervening as accusers in the process. The excuse or recusal shall be resolved by the hierarchical superior, after any investigation deemed appropriate.

Function As an auxiliary to the Public Prosecutor's Office and under its direction and control, the judicial police (policía judicial) shall investigate crimes subject to public prosecution, prevent their consummation or exhaustion, identify the perpetrators and participants, gather the evidentiary elements useful to support the accusation, and exercise the other functions assigned to it by its organic law and this Code.

Direction The Public Prosecutor's Office shall direct the police when the latter must provide assistance in investigation tasks. The officials and agents of the judicial police must always comply with the orders of the Public Prosecutor's Office and those directed by the judges during the processing of the proceeding. In exceptional and justified cases, the Attorney General may directly designate the judicial police officers who must assist him/her in a specific investigation. In this case, the police authorities may not be separated from the investigation without the express approval of that official.

Formalities The officials and agents of the judicial police shall respect the formalities provided for the investigation, and shall subordinate their acts to the instructions of a general or particular nature issued by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The following shall be considered victims:

• a)The person directly harmed by the crime.
• b)The spouse, the person cohabiting with more than two years of common life, the adopted son or daughter, father and mother, relatives within the third degree of consanguinity or second of affinity, and the heir judicially declared, in crimes whose result is the death of the victim.
• c)Partners, associates, or members, regarding crimes that affect a legal person (persona jurídica), committed by those who direct, administer, or control it.
• d)Associations, foundations, and other registered entities, in crimes that affect collective or diffuse interests, provided that the purpose of the group is directly linked to those interests.
• e)For the purposes of the crime of forced disappearance of persons, as defined in the Penal Code, any natural person who has suffered direct harm as a result shall be considered a victim.

(The foregoing subsection was added by Article 2 of the Law against the forced disappearance of persons, No. 10534 of September 18, 2024)

(As amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Even if not constituted as a querellante, the victim shall have the following rights within the process:

• 1)Rights to information and treatment:
• a)To receive dignified treatment, which respects their fundamental rights and seeks to reduce or avoid re-victimization due to the process.
• b)For their special needs to be considered, such as physical, sensory, or mental limitations, as well as social, cultural, or ethnic differences.
• c)To be informed, upon first contact with the judicial authorities, of all rights and powers, as well as duties, due to their intervention in the process, and also, to have access to the judicial file.
• d)To indicate an address, place, or means through which the decisions adopted may be communicated to them and where they may be located, as well as for that information to be channeled through a confidential channel at the discretion of the Victim Assistance Office of the Public Prosecutor's Office, if they are subject to protection.
• e)To be informed of all final decisions adopted, as well as of changes or modifications to precautionary measures that have been adopted due to the existence of a risk to their safety, life, or physical integrity, provided they have indicated an address, place, or means through which they can be notified.
• f)To be informed of their right to request and obtain special protection, in case of serious risks or threats to themselves or their family, due to their complaint or intervention in the process.
• g)To be informed about the need for their participation in certain examinations or expert procedures (pericias), to have their scope explained, and to count on the presence of a person of their trust to accompany them during their performance, provided this does not jeopardize their safety or risk the investigation.
• h)To be informed by the prosecutor in charge of the case of their decision not to appeal the acquittal or the cessation or modification of precautionary measures adopted due to the existence of a risk to their life or physical integrity, within the formal period for appealing each of those decisions and with an indication of the reasons for not doing so, provided they have indicated an address, place, or means to be informed.
• i)Right to be informed about the possibility of resolving the case through the restorative justice procedure, as stipulated in the Restorative Justice Law.

(The preceding sub-subsection was added by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

• 2)Rights to protection and assistance:
• a)Extra-procedural protection:

The victim shall have the right to request and obtain special protection in case of serious risks or threats to their life or physical integrity or that of their family members, due to their complaint or intervention in the process. The Public Prosecutor's Office, the police, the judge, or the trial court hearing the case shall adopt the necessary measures to provide this protection. The victim shall be heard in any proceeding in which protection is intended to be provided. The Victim Assistance Office of the Public Prosecutor's Office shall coordinate with all prosecutorial offices in the country the protection of victims and shall channel, through its means, the necessary information to support the protection measures or requests for precautionary measures, as regulated in the final paragraph of Article 239 of this Code.

• b)Procedural protection:

When knowledge of their identity represents a risk to their life or physical integrity or that of their family members, due to their complaint or intervention in the process, the victim shall have the right to have their identification data, such as name, identification number (cédula) and address, telephone numbers, or place of work, kept confidential and not recorded in the process documentation; furthermore, in the exceptional cases indicated in Article 204 bis of this Code, they shall have the right to maintain confidentiality of their individualizing physical characteristics, when, due to the nature of the act, these are not known to the accused or other persons related to them, without prejudice to the right of defense. To ensure their testimony and protect their life, available technological means such as videoconferencing or any other similar means that makes the agreed protection effective may be used, both when using the jurisdictional advance of evidence (anticipo jurisdiccional de prueba) and at trial, under the terms and according to the procedure regulated in Articles 204 and 204 bis of this Code.

• c)Minors who are victims, women who are victims of sexual abuse or violence, and victims of human trafficking and violent acts shall have the right to assistance and support measures from personnel designated for that purpose, both within the Judicial Branch and in the Ministry of Security and other institutions, in order to reduce re-victimization due to their intervention in the process and facilitate their participation in various judicial proceedings, such as expert evaluations (pericias) or hearings.
• d)Minors who are victims shall have the right to have their best interests considered when conducting any proceeding or expert evaluation (pericia) and, especially, when receiving their testimony; for this purpose, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the judge, or the trial court hearing the case shall adopt the necessary measures to reduce procedures and to receive their testimony under the special conditions required. An opinion may be requested, if necessary, from the Department of Social Work and Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology or from some other duly appointed expert (perito) or specialist, always safeguarding the right to defense, as regulated by articles 212, 221, and 351 of this Code.
• e)The victim shall have the right to paid leave from their employer, whether public or private, when they must attend judicial proceedings, expert evaluations (pericias), or appear before a judicial summons, and for the time necessary for this. For the purpose of verifying attendance at such acts, the office hearing the case or before which the proceeding is conducted must issue the respective certificate, indicating the nature of the act and the effective duration of the procedure. The Public Prosecutor's Office, the judge, or the trial court hearing the case shall adopt the necessary measures to prevent the victim from being subjected to multiple summonses or appearances; furthermore, whenever possible, hearings for rendering testimony must be scheduled as promptly as possible and the granted leave shall not be used abusively.
• 3)Procedural rights:
• a)The victim has the right to report, by themselves, by a third party they have authorized, or by an agent (mandatario), the acts committed to their detriment.
• b)The victim directly offended by the act has the right to be heard at trial, even if the Public Prosecutor's Office does not offer them as a witness. In all actions that this Code authorizes the victim to carry out, their right to be heard shall prevail. The absence of filing formalities cannot be alleged as a cause for not resolving their petitions, and they shall have the right to be warned to correct defects under the terms of article 15 of this Code.
• c)To appeal the definitive dismissal, in the preparatory, intermediate, and trial stages, as well as the rejection (desestimación).
• d)When the Public Prosecutor's Office communicates its decision not to challenge the acquittal judgment, the cessation or modification of precautionary measures adopted due to the existence of a risk to their life or physical integrity, and the victim does not agree, they shall have the right to appeal such decisions, under the terms established in article 426 of this Code.
• e)To be summoned to the preliminary hearing, in all cases, provided they have indicated an address, place, or means by which they can be located, and to have their opinion considered when the application of the abbreviated procedure, the suspension of the trial process, conciliation, or the application of an opportunity criterion is heard, under the terms and scope defined in this Code. In any case where they are present, they shall be given the floor.
• f)To exercise the civil action for damages, under the terms and scope defined by this Code, to file the complaint (querella) in private action crimes, to revoke the instance in public action crimes dependent on a private instance, to request the conversion of the public action into a private action, and to withdraw their complaints (querellas) or actions, all under the terms and scope defined by this Code.
• g)To have the Public Prosecutor's Office communicate its decision to accuse, request dismissal, or apply an opportunity criterion, so that, under the terms regulated in this Code, they may decide whether to file a complaint (querella) and become a complainant (querellante), or whether to file the civil action for damages.
• h)When pretrial detention is requested due to the existence of risks or threats to the life or physical integrity of the victim or their family members, they shall have the right to be heard by the judge when deciding on the request made by the Public Prosecutor's Office, provided they have indicated an address, place, or means to be located. They may make their statement in writing to be presented by the prosecutor together with the detention request, without prejudice to the judge deciding to hear them. For these purposes, the prosecutor in charge of the case may request information from the Victim Assistance Office of the Public Prosecutor's Office, in order to support their request, under the terms regulated in the final paragraph of article 239 of this Code.
• i)To appear before the judge of the preparatory stage, to point out the errors, omissions, or delays they believe have occurred in the investigation of the acts to their detriment, under the terms established in the last paragraph of article 298 of this Code. Likewise, they may object to the prosecutorial archiving under the terms regulated by the aforementioned numeral 298.
• j)To have all property or valuables of their ownership that have been seized or recovered by the authorities returned as promptly as possible, even as a provisional deposit, for the purpose of being used as evidence.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

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Those cases where procedural and extra-procedural protection has been ordered, pursuant to numeral 71, shall have priority for carrying out any proceeding or expert evaluation (pericia), for scheduling the preliminary hearing, and for holding the oral and public trial.

(Thus added by Article 1 of Law No. 10380 of October 2, 2023)

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Complainant (Querellante) in private action crimes Any person with civil capacity who claims to be offended by a private action crime shall have the right to file a complaint (querella) and to jointly exercise the civil action for damages, in accordance with the provisions of this Code.

The legal representative of a minor or incapacitated person for crimes committed to their detriment shall enjoy the same right.

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Representation The complainant (querellante) must act with the sponsorship of a lawyer. When there are several complainants (querellantes), they must act under a single representation, which shall be ordered ex officio if they do not reach an agreement. Article Data Sheet

Form and content of the complaint (querella) The complaint (querella) shall be filed in writing, personally or by an agent (mandatario) with special power of attorney, and must state, under penalty of inadmissibility:

• a)The name, surnames, and address of the complainant (querellante) and, where applicable, also those of the agent (mandatario).
• b)The name, surnames, and address of the respondent (querellado) or, if unknown, any description that serves to identify them.
• c)A clear, precise, and detailed account of the act, indicating the place and time it was executed, if known.
• d)The specific request for the reparation sought, if the civil action is exercised.
• e)The evidence offered.
• i)If witnesses and experts (peritos) are involved, the name, surnames, profession, address, and the facts about which they will be examined must be indicated.
• ii)When the complaint (querella) concerns slander, libel, or defamation, the document or recording that, in the opinion of the complainant, contains them, if it is possible to present them.
• f)The signature of the acting party or, if they do not know how or cannot sign, that of another person at their request.

A copy of the document and the power of attorney shall be attached for each respondent (querellado).

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Complainant (Querellante) in public action crimes In public action crimes, the victim and their representative or guardian, in case of minority or incapacity, may trigger criminal prosecution, join that already initiated by the Public Prosecutor's Office, or continue its exercise, under the terms and conditions established in this Code.

The same right shall be held by any person against public officials who, in the exercise of their function or on the occasion thereof, have violated human rights; when it concerns crimes committed by officials who have abused their office, as well as against those who commit crimes that harm diffuse interests.

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Formalities of the complaint (querella) The complaint (querella) for a public action crime must meet, as far as possible, the same requirements as the accusation, and shall be filed before the representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office who is conducting or must conduct the investigation. If the complainant (querellante) exercises the civil action, they must indicate the character they invoke and the damage whose reparation they seek, even if they do not specify the amount. The complainant (querellante) must act with the sponsorship of a lawyer. The complaint (querella) may be initiated and continued by an agent (mandatario) with a special power of attorney for the case. Article Data Sheet

Opportunity The complaint (querella) may be filed during the preparatory procedure. The Public Prosecutor's Office shall reject the request for constitution when the interested party lacks standing. Once informed of the rejection, the complainant (querellante) may appeal, within the third day, before the court of the preparatory procedure for it to resolve the dispute. Article Data Sheet

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Implied withdrawal The complaint (querella) shall be considered withdrawn when the complainant (querellante), without just cause, does not appear:

• a)To give witness testimony or to carry out any evidentiary proceeding whose practice requires their presence, after being summoned.
• b)At the preliminary hearing.
• c)At the first hearing of the debate, leaves the hearing, or does not present conclusions.

In cases of non-appearance, if just cause is possible, it must be proven before the start of the hearing or, otherwise, within forty-eight hours of the date set for it.

The withdrawal shall be declared by the court ex officio or at the request of any of the participants. Only the appeal for revocation shall be admitted against this resolution.

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Powers The complaint (querella) shall not alter the powers granted to the Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the exercise of opportunity criteria and the suspension of the trial process. The complainant (querellante) may file the appeals that this Code authorizes the Public Prosecutor's Office to file. Intervention as a complainant (querellante) shall not exempt one from the duty to testify as a witness. Article Data Sheet

Designation A person shall be designated as the accused (imputado) who, through any act of the investigation or procedure, is identified as a possible perpetrator of a punishable act or a participant in it.

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Rights of the accused (imputado) The judicial police, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the judges, as applicable, shall inform the accused (imputado), immediately and understandably, that they have the following rights:

• a)To know the cause or reason for their deprivation of liberty and the official who ordered it, showing them, as applicable, the order issued against them.
• b)To have immediate and effective communication with the person, association, group, or entity they wish to notify of their capture.
• c)To be assisted, from the first act of the procedure, by the defender designated by them, their relatives, or the group notified of their capture, and, in the absence of such, by a public defender.
• d)To appear or be presented before the Public Prosecutor's Office or the court, to be informed and learn of the acts they are accused of.
• e)To abstain from testifying, and if they agree to do so, that their defender be present at the time of making their statement and during other proceedings requiring their presence.
• f)Not to be subjected to techniques or methods that induce or alter their free will or violate their dignity.
• g)That means preventing their free movement in the place and during the performance of a procedural act not be used against them, without prejudice to the surveillance measures that, in special cases, the court or the Public Prosecutor's Office deems necessary to order.

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Identification The accused (imputado) must provide the data permitting their personal identification and show their identity document. If they do not provide them or if deemed necessary, a certificate shall be requested from the Civil Registry, without prejudice to a technical office performing their physical identification using their personal data, fingerprints, and distinguishing marks. Identification by witnesses may also be used in the manner prescribed for identifications, or other means deemed useful. Doubt about the data obtained shall not alter the course of the procedure, and errors regarding them may be corrected at any time, even during criminal enforcement. These measures may be applied even against the will of the accused (imputado). Article Data Sheet

Address In their first intervention, the accused (imputado) must indicate their address and designate the place or manner for receiving notifications. They must keep this information updated. Article Data Sheet

Supervening incapacity If during the process a mental disorder of the accused (imputado) supervenes, which excludes their capacity to want or understand the acts of the procedure, or to act in accordance with that knowledge and will, the procedure shall be suspended until that incapacity disappears. However, it shall not impede the investigation of the act or the continuation of proceedings with respect to other accused (imputados). The incapacity shall be declared by the court, after an expert evaluation (examen pericial). Article Data Sheet

Institutionalization for observation If the institutionalization of the accused (imputado) is necessary to prepare the expert report on their capacity, the measure may be ordered by the court, at the request of the experts (peritos), only when there is a probability that the accused has committed the act and this measure is not disproportionate to the importance of the penalty or security measure that could be imposed. The institutionalization may not extend beyond one month and shall only be ordered if it cannot be carried out using another less drastic measure. Article Data Sheet

Mandatory mental examination The accused (imputado) shall undergo a psychiatric or psychological examination when:

• a)They are charged with the commission of sexual crimes against minors or domestic assaults.
• b)It concerns a person over seventy years of age.
• c)Prima facie, it can be estimated that, in case of conviction, a sentence exceeding fifteen years of imprisonment will be imposed.
• d)The court considers it indispensable to establish the capacity for culpability regarding the act.

Article Data Sheet

The accused (imputado) as an object of evidence A physical examination of the accused (imputado) may be ordered to verify circumstances important for discovering the truth. For this purpose and by order of the court, bodily interventions shall be admissible, which shall be carried out according to the rules of medical knowledge, even without the consent of the accused (imputado), provided that these measures do not affect their health or physical integrity, nor seriously contravene their beliefs. Taking samples of blood and skin, clipping nails or hair, taking photographs and fingerprints, recording voice, verifying tattoos and deformations, alterations or defects, bodily palpations, and, in general, those that cause no harm to health or physical integrity according to common experience, nor degrade the person, may be ordered directly by the Public Prosecutor's Office during the preparatory procedure, provided they are performed by an expert (perito) and are not considered risky. Otherwise, court authorization shall be required, and the court shall decide after consulting an expert (perito) if necessary. These rules also apply to other persons when it is absolutely indispensable for discovering the truth. Article Data Sheet

Default The accused (imputado) shall be declared in default (rebeldía) if, without serious impediment, they fail to appear to a summons, escape from the establishment or place where they are detained, or leave their address without notice. Article Data Sheet

Effects The declaration of default (rebeldía) or incapacity shall suspend the preliminary hearing and the trial, unless, in the latter case, the procedure to apply a security measure applies. The non-appearance of the accused (imputado) at the preliminary hearing shall not result in their default. The procedure shall only be suspended with respect to the defaulter and shall continue for the accused (imputados) present. Upon decreeing default (rebeldía), the capture of the accused (imputado) shall be ordered. During the preparatory procedure, the order shall be requested from the court. If the accused (imputado) appears after the declaration of default (rebeldía) and justifies their absence due to a serious and legitimate impediment, the default shall be revoked and shall not produce any of the effects indicated in this regulation. Article Data Sheet

Opportunities and competent authority When there is sufficient reason to suspect that a person has participated in the commission of a punishable act, the official of the Public Prosecutor's Office in charge of the investigation shall proceed to receive their statement.

If the accused (imputado) has been apprehended, their statement must be taken immediately or, at the latest, within the period of twenty-four hours counted from their apprehension. This period shall be extended for an equal amount of time when it is necessary for the defender of their choice to appear.

The accused (imputado) shall have the right to testify whenever they deem it indispensable, provided their statement is pertinent and does not constitute a dilatory measure in the procedure.

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Preliminary warnings At the beginning of receiving the statement, the official receiving it shall communicate, in detail, to the accused (imputado) the act attributed to them, its legal classification, and a summary of the content of the existing evidence. Also, the proceedings gathered up to that moment shall be made available to them. Before starting the statement, they shall be warned that they may abstain from testifying about the facts, without their silence prejudicing or affecting them in any way, and that, if they testify, their statement may be taken into consideration even against them. They shall be warned to indicate the place or manner for receiving notifications. Furthermore, they shall be informed that they may request the practice of evidentiary means, dictate their statement, and, in general, they shall be informed of their procedural rights. Article Data Sheet

Appointment of defender Before the accused (imputado) testifies about the facts, they shall be required to appoint a lawyer, if they do not have one, to assist them, and they shall be informed that they may require the lawyer's presence and consult with them on everything related to their defense. In that case, if the defender is not present, they shall be given immediate notice, by any means, to appear. If they cannot be found, a new hearing shall be set for the following day, and their formal summons shall be carried out. If the defender does not appear or the accused (imputado) does not designate one, they shall be immediately provided with a public defender. Article Data Sheet

Interrogation for identification Next, the accused (imputado) shall be requested to state their name, surnames, nickname or alias, age, marital status, profession or trade, nationality, date and place of birth, address, place of work and living conditions, telephone numbers of their home, workplace, or any other place where they can be located; furthermore, to show their identity document and indicate the name, status, profession or trade and address of their parents. Article Data Sheet

Statement about the act When the accused (imputado) states that they wish to testify, they shall be invited to express whatever they deem appropriate, in exculpation or clarification of the facts, and to indicate the evidence they consider opportune. Their statement shall be faithfully recorded and, as far as possible, in their own words. The authority receiving the statement and the parties may pose questions to them, provided these are pertinent. The statement about the act may only be received in the presence of the defender. Article Data Sheet

Prohibitions Under no circumstances shall the accused (imputado) be required to take an oath or promise to tell the truth, nor shall they be subjected to any kind of coercion or threat, nor shall any means be used to oblige, induce, or determine them to testify against their will, nor shall charges or reconventions be formulated aimed at obtaining their confession. Measures that impair the freedom of decision of the accused (imputado), their memory, or the capacity for understanding and directing their acts shall be prohibited, especially mistreatment, threats, exhaustion, physical violence, torture, the administration of psychopharmaceuticals, and hypnosis. The promise of an advantage shall only be admitted when specifically provided for by law. If, due to the duration of the act, signs of fatigue or lack of serenity are noted, the statement shall be suspended until they disappear. Questions shall be clear and precise; misleading or suggestive questions are not permitted, and answers shall not be peremptorily demanded. Article Data Sheet

Treatment during the statement The accused (imputado) shall always testify with freedom of movement, without the use of security instruments, except when absolutely indispensable to prevent their escape or harm to other persons. This circumstance shall be recorded in the minutes. Likewise, they shall testify only in the presence of persons authorized to attend the act or in public when the law permits it. Article Data Sheet

During the first six hours from their apprehension or detention, and in the presence of their trusted defender and/or public defender assigned to them, agents of the OIJ, in compliance with their duties and respecting constitutional guarantees and the procedural rights of detainees, may verify their identity and interrogate them for investigative purposes.

If at a later time after that indicated in the first paragraph of this article, the detainee expresses their desire to testify or expand their statements, this fact must be communicated to the Public Prosecutor's Office so that these are also received with the formalities provided for by law.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Article Data Sheet

Valuation The non-observance of the precepts relating to the statement of the accused (imputado) shall prevent its use against them, even if they have given their consent to infringe some rule or use their statement. Merely formal non-observances shall be corrected during the act or after it. When evaluating the act, the judge shall assess the quality of those non-observances to determine whether to proceed in accordance with the preceding paragraph. Article Data Sheet

Right of choice The accused (imputado) shall have the right to choose a lawyer of their trust as their defender.

The intervention of the defender shall not impair the right of the accused (imputado) to formulate requests and observations.

When it does not harm the effectiveness of the technical defense, they may defend themselves.

Article Data Sheet

Intervention Designated defenders shall be admitted immediately into the procedure and without any formality, by the police as well as by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the court, as the case may be. Acting as a defender shall be mandatory for the lawyer who agrees to intervene in the procedure, except for justified excuse. Article Data Sheet

Subsequent appointment During the course of the procedure, the accused (imputado) may designate a new defender; but the previous one may not withdraw from the defense until the newly appointed one intervenes in the procedure. Article Data Sheet

Defender agent (mandatario) In proceedings for private action crimes or for crimes that do not provide for a custodial sentence, the accused (imputado) may be represented by a defender with special power of attorney for the case, who may replace them in all acts, except in the statement. However, the court may require the presence of the accused (imputado) when it considers it indispensable. Article Data Sheet

Resignation and abandonment The defender may resign from the exercise of the defense. In this case, the court or the Public Prosecutor's Office shall set a deadline for the accused (imputado) to appoint another. If they do not appoint one, they shall be replaced by a public defender. The resigning party may not abandon the defense while their replacement does not intervene. Resignation is not permitted during hearings nor once notified of their scheduling. If the defender, without justified cause, abandons the defense or leaves the accused (imputado) without technical assistance, a public defender shall be appointed, and the former may not be appointed again. The decision shall be communicated to the accused (imputado), and they shall be instructed on their right to choose another defender. When the abandonment occurs before the trial begins, its commencement may be postponed for a period not exceeding five days, if the new defender so requests. Article Data Sheet

Sanctions Abandonment of the defense shall constitute a serious offense. The court shall inform the Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados) of the fact, so that it may, in accordance with the established procedure, determine the corresponding sanction. This offense shall be sanctioned with suspension from practicing the profession for a period of one month to one year and with the payment of a sum of money equivalent to the cost of the hearings that had to be repeated due to the abandonment. For this purpose, the salaries of the intervening public officials and those of private individuals shall be taken into account. This pecuniary sanction must be used for training programs by the Bar Association. Article Data Sheet

Number of defenders The accused (imputado) may not be defended simultaneously by more than two lawyers. When two defenders intervene, the notification made to one of them shall be valid for all, and the substitution of one for another shall not alter procedures or deadlines. Article Data Sheet

Common defender The common defense of several accused (imputados) shall be admissible, provided there is no incompatibility. However, if this is noticed, it shall be corrected ex officio, and the necessary steps shall be taken to replace the defender. Article Data Sheet

Guarantees for the exercise of defense The seizure of items related to the defense shall not be admissible; nor shall the interception of communications of the accused (imputado) with their defenders, technical consultants, and their assistants, or those made between these and the persons providing them with assistance.

Article Data Sheet

Interview with detainees The accused (imputado) who is detained, even in police custody, shall have the right to meet privately with the defender from the beginning of their capture. Article Data Sheet

Identification All lawyers who intervene as authenticators, advisors, or representatives of the parties in the process must record, in the documents they submit, their registration number with the Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados). Submissions shall not be addressed until this requirement is met. Article Data Sheet

Constitution as party To exercise the action for damages, its holder must be constituted as a civil claimant (actor civil).

Those lacking the capacity to act in court must be represented or assisted in the manner prescribed by civil law.

The civil claimant (actor civil) must act with the sponsorship of a lawyer and may be represented by an agent (mandatario) with special power of attorney.

Article Data Sheet

Requirements of the initial brief The brief by which the civil claimant (actor civil) appears shall contain:

• a)The name and address of the claimant and, where applicable, their representative. If it concerns collective entities, the name, registered address, and the names of those directing it.
• b)The name and address of the civil defendant, if any, and their legal link to the act attributed to the accused (imputado).
• c)The indication of the process to which it refers.
• d)The grounds on which the action is based, indicating the character invoked and the damage whose reparation is sought, even if the amount is not specified.

Article Data Sheet

Civillly responsible accused (imputado) The exercise of the civil action shall proceed even when the accused (imputado) is not individualized. If there are several accused (imputados) and civilly responsible parties in the process, the claim for damages may be directed against one or more of them. When the claimant does not mention any accused (imputado) in particular, it shall be understood to be directed against all. Article Data Sheet

Opportunity The request must be filed with the Public Prosecutor's Office during the preparatory procedure, before the prosecutorial request or the criminal complaint is formulated, or jointly with it.

Transfer of the civil action The Public Prosecutor's Office shall communicate the content of the action to the accused, to the civil defendant, to the defense attorneys, and, where applicable, to the complainant, at the address they have indicated and, if they have not done so, personally or at their place of residence. When the accused has not been individualized, the communication shall be made as soon as they have been identified. Any intervening party may oppose the participation of the civil plaintiff by raising the corresponding exceptions. In such a case, the opposition shall be made known to the plaintiff and its resolution shall be reserved for the preliminary hearing. The acceptance of the civil plaintiff may not be challenged again on the same grounds. The inadmissibility of the claim shall not prevent the action from being brought before the civil jurisdiction.

Powers The civil plaintiff shall act in the procedure solely by reason of their civil interest. They shall limit their intervention to proving the existence of the act and determining its authors and participants, the attribution of that act to whomever they consider responsible, the link with the civilly liable third party, and the existence, extent, and quantification of the damages and losses whose reparation they seek. The civil plaintiff may appeal against decisions only with regard to the action they have filed. Their intervention as a civil plaintiff, in itself, does not exempt them from the duty to testify as a witness.

Withdrawal The civil plaintiff may expressly withdraw their claim at any stage of the procedure.

The action shall be considered tacitly withdrawn when the civil plaintiff does not specify their claims in a timely manner or when, without just cause, they fail to appear:

• a)To give witness testimony or for the execution of any evidentiary proceeding that requires their presence, after having been summoned.
• b)At the preliminary hearing.
• c)At the first hearing of the trial, if they leave the hearing, or fail to present conclusions.

In cases of failure to appear, the just cause must be proven, if possible, before the start of the hearing; otherwise, within forty-eight hours following the date set for it.

Effects of withdrawal Tacit withdrawal shall not prejudice the subsequent exercise of the reparatory action before the competent courts, according to civil procedure. Once the withdrawal is declared, the civil plaintiff shall be ordered to pay the costs caused by their action.

Civil defendant Whoever exercises the compensatory action may sue the person who, according to the law, is responsible for the damage that the accused caused with the punishable act.

Effects of failure to appear The failure of the civil defendant to appear or their non-attendance at procedural acts shall not suspend the proceedings, which shall continue as if they were present. However, they may appear at any time. If they have been notified by edicts, a public defender shall be appointed as their representative during their absence.

Spontaneous intervention A third party who may be civilly sued may request their participation in the procedure when the civil compensatory action is exercised. Their request must comply, as applicable, with the requirements demanded for the brief by which the civil plaintiff appears and shall be admissible before the Public Prosecutor's Office requests the opening of the trial or the dismissal. The intervention shall be communicated to the parties and their defense attorneys.

Opposition The forced or spontaneous intervention of the civil defendant, as the case may be, may be opposed by the defendant themselves, by whoever exercises the civil action if they have not requested the summons, or by the accused. When the exclusion of the civil defendant has been requested by the civil plaintiff, the latter may not subsequently bring action against that defendant. The rules on opposition to the participation of the civil plaintiff shall apply.

Exclusion Upon the exclusion of the civil plaintiff or the withdrawal of their action, the intervention of the civilly sued third party shall cease.

Powers From their intervention in the procedure, the civilly sued third party shall enjoy all the powers granted to the accused for their defense, regarding their civil interests. Intervention as a third party shall not exempt them from the duty to testify as a witness. The civil defendant must act with the sponsorship of an attorney and may appeal against the judgment declaring their liability.

Assistants The parties may designate assistants to collaborate in their task.

In such a case, they shall assume responsibility for their selection and supervision.

The assistants shall only perform accessory tasks, but may not substitute those whom they assist. They shall be allowed to attend the hearings, without intervening directly in them.

This rule shall also govern the participation of students performing their legal practice.

Technical consultants If, due to the particularities of the case, the Public Prosecutor's Office or any of the intervening parties considers the assistance of a consultant in a science, art, or technique necessary, they shall propose them to the Public Prosecutor's Office or the court, which shall decide on their designation, according to the rules applicable to expert witnesses, without them thereby assuming such character. The technical consultant may witness the expert operations, make observations during their course, without issuing an expert opinion, and a record shall be kept of their observations. They may accompany, in the hearings, the party with whom they collaborate, assist them in the acts inherent to their function, or directly question expert witnesses, translators, or interpreters, always under the direction of the party they assist.

Duty of loyalty The parties must litigate with loyalty, avoiding dilatory, merely formal arguments, and any abuse of the powers that this Code grants them.

Supervision The courts shall ensure the regularity of the litigation, the correct exercise of procedural powers, and good faith. Under no pretext may they restrict the right of defense or limit the powers of the parties.

Disciplinary regime Except as provided in this Code for the abandonment of defense, when it is proven that the parties or their advisors have acted with evident bad faith, have carried out dilatory actions, assumed dilatory attitudes, or litigated recklessly, the court may sanction the offense with a warning or up to a fifty-day fine.

When the court deems that there is a possibility of imposing this sanction, it shall transfer the matter to the alleged offender, so that they may comment on the offense and offer exculpatory evidence, which shall be received immediately. When the act occurs in an oral hearing, the procedure shall be carried out therein.

Whoever is sanctioned shall be required to pay the fine within a period of three days.

In the event of non-payment by an attorney, the court shall suspend them from professional practice until they pay the respective amount and shall remove them from the case while the suspension lasts.

A communication shall be sent to the Supreme Court of Justice and the Bar Association.

Against the decision imposing the disciplinary measure, the sanctioned attorney may file a motion for revocation and, in the preparatory and intermediate stages [Sic], also an appeal.

BOOK II PROCEDURAL ACTS

Language Procedural acts must be performed in Spanish.

When a person does not understand or cannot express themselves easily in Spanish, they shall be provided with the necessary assistance so that the act can be conducted in this language.

A translator or interpreter, as appropriate, must be provided for persons who do not know Spanish, who are permitted to use their own language, as well as for deaf-mutes and those who have any impediment to making themselves understood.

Documents and recordings in a language other than Spanish must be translated when necessary.

Statements and interrogations with interpreters Persons shall also be questioned in Spanish or through a translator or interpreter, as appropriate. The court may expressly permit direct questioning in another language or form of communication; but, in such case, the translation or interpretation shall precede the answers.

Place The court may convene in any place within the national territory when it deems it essential to directly examine decisive evidentiary elements in a case under its cognizance and jurisdiction. The trial shall be held and the judgment shall be delivered in the territorial district where the court has jurisdiction, unless this could cause a serious disturbance of public order, does not guarantee the defense of any of the interests compromised in the trial, or seriously hinders its execution.

Time Unless otherwise provided by law, procedural acts may be performed on any day and at any time. The place and date on which they are performed shall be recorded. The omission of these details shall not render the act ineffective, unless the date on which it was performed cannot be determined based on the details of the record or other related ones.

Oath When an oath is required, it shall be administered according to the beliefs of the person taking it, after instructing them on the penalties with which the law punishes false testimony. The declarant shall promise to tell the truth in everything they know and are asked. If the deponent refuses to take an oath by virtue of religious or ideological beliefs, they shall be required to promise to tell the truth, with the same warnings as in the preceding paragraph.

Interrogation Persons who are questioned must answer orally and without consulting notes or documents, with the exception of expert witnesses and those who are authorized to do so due to their conditions or the nature of the facts. First, the declarant shall be invited to state what they know about the matter in question, and then, if necessary, they shall be questioned. The questions asked shall not be impertinent, misleading, or suggestive.

General rule When one or more acts must be recorded in a record, the official performing them shall draw it up, stating the place and date of their execution. The time shall be stated when the law or circumstances require it.

The record shall be signed by the person performing the act and, if deemed necessary, by those who intervened in it, after it has been read. If someone does not know how to sign, another person may do so in their place, at their request, or else a witness to the proceeding.

Invalidity of the record If, due to any defect, the record becomes ineffective, the act it was intended to prove may be demonstrated by other valid elements of the same act or other related acts.

Replacement of the record The record may be replaced, in whole or in part, by another form of recording, unless expressly provided otherwise. In that case, whoever presides over the act shall determine the appropriate safeguards to guarantee inalterability and future individualization.

Coercive power The court and the Public Prosecutor's Office may require the intervention of the public force and order the measures necessary for the safe and proper execution of the acts they order in the exercise of their functions.

Special power At any stage of the case and at the request of the victim, the court may order, as a provisional measure, the restoration of things to the state they were in before the act, provided there are sufficient elements to decide so.

Decisions The courts shall issue their decisions in the form of decrees, interlocutory orders, and judgments. They shall issue a judgment to put an end to the procedure; decrees, when they order purely procedural acts; and interlocutory orders, in all other cases. Judicial decisions must indicate the place and date on which they were issued.

Reasoning Judgments and interlocutory orders shall contain clear and precise reasoning. This reasoning shall express the findings of fact and law on which the decisions are based, as well as an indication of the value assigned to the means of proof. A simple recitation of the evidence or mention of the parties' requests shall in no case replace the reasoning. It shall be insufficient when forms, dogmatic statements, routine phrases, a simple description of the facts, or the mere mention of evidentiary elements are used. There is no reasoning when the rules of sound criticism have been disregarded with respect to evidentiary means or elements of decisive value. Interlocutory orders and judgments without reasoning shall be ineffective.

Prerequisite of valuation In the decision, the court must record a brief and concise description of the content of the oral evidence before proceeding to its valuation.

Signature Without prejudice to special provisions, decisions shall be signed by the judges. The absence of any signature shall cause the ineffectiveness of the act, unless the judge could not sign due to an insurmountable impediment arising after having participated in the deliberation and voting. The fact that the judge did not sign it in a timely manner shall not invalidate the decision, provided that the omission is rectified and there is no doubt about their participation in the act they should have signed, without prejudice to disciplinary liability.

Time limits The courts shall issue purely procedural orders ex officio and immediately. Interlocutory orders and judgments following an oral hearing shall be deliberated, voted on, and drafted immediately after that hearing is closed. In written proceedings, decisions shall be issued within the following three days. These provisions shall apply unless the law establishes another time limit.

Material errors The courts may correct, at any time, purely material errors contained in their proceedings or decisions.

At any time, the court may clarify obscure, ambiguous, or contradictory terms in which the decisions are drafted, or supplement their content, if it has omitted to resolve any controversial point, provided that such acts do not entail a modification of what was decided.

The parties and the Public Prosecutor's Office may request the clarification or supplementation of pronouncements issued orally, a request they must present orally immediately after the pronouncement of the decision is concluded.

For decisions issued in writing, the parties and the Public Prosecutor's Office may request the clarification or supplementation of the pronouncements within three days after their notification. The request shall interrupt the time limit for filing the applicable appeals.

(As amended by Article 1 of Law N° 9021 of January 3, 2012)

Final decision As long as they are not appealed in a timely manner, judicial decisions shall become final and enforceable, without the need for any declaration. Against a final judgment, only review is available, in accordance with the provisions of this Code.

Authenticated copy When, for any reason, the original of judgments or other necessary procedural acts is destroyed, lost, or stolen, the authenticated copy shall have the value of the original. To this end, the court shall order whoever has the copy to deliver it to the Clerk's Office, without prejudice to the right to obtain another free of charge. The replacement may also be carried out using the court's computer files.

Restitution and renewal If no copy of the documents exists, the court shall order their replacement, for which purpose it shall receive evidence demonstrating their pre-existence and content. When this is impossible, it shall order their renewal, prescribing the manner of doing so.

Copies, reports, or certifications If the state of the proceedings does not prevent it, nor hinder normal substantiation, the court may order the issuance of copies, reports, or certifications that have been requested by a public authority or by private individuals who demonstrate a legitimate interest in obtaining them.

New crime. If during the procedure, the court becomes aware of another prosecutable crime, ex officio, it shall forward the records to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

(As amended by Article 15 of the Judicial Reorganization Law No. 7728 of December 15, 1997)

Simultaneously, it shall order them to deposit an amount of money, which it shall prudentially fix 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 economically dependent on them. This obligation shall be governed by the rules pertaining to alimony; therefore, the bodily arrest of the obligated person shall be ordered in case of non-compliance.

Ex officio, the criminal authority shall order the certification of documents and forward them to the corresponding court, so that it can process matters related to the alimony imposed on the aggressor.

(This second Article 152 was added by Article 67 of Law N° 7654 of December 19, 1996, Alimony Law. However, the norm that made the affectation does not specify that it is a numeral 152 bis)

General rules When a procedural act must be executed through another authority, the court or the Public Prosecutor's Office may entrust its execution to them.

These communications may be carried out using any means that guarantees their authenticity.

The requested authority shall collaborate with the judges, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the police, and shall process, without delay, the requests they receive from them. Disobedience to these instructions shall be sanctioned disciplinarily, without prejudice to any corresponding criminal liability.

Letters rogatory to foreign authorities Requests directed to foreign judges or authorities shall be made by letters rogatory and processed in the manner established by the Constitution, International Law, and Community Law in force in the country. Communications shall be channeled through the Secretariat of the Supreme Court of Justice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which shall process them through diplomatic channels. However, in urgent cases, communications may be directed to any foreign judicial or administrative authority, anticipating the letter rogatory or the response to a request, without prejudice to formalizing the action subsequently, as provided in the preceding paragraph.

• a)Summoning of witnesses, investigated persons, and expert witnesses.
• b)Receiving testimony or taking statements from persons.
• c)Notification of procedural acts.
• d)Delivery of originals or certified copies of documents and case files.
• e)Providing information, duly certified evidentiary elements, and conducting expert reports.
• f)Location and identification of persons, property, instruments, or other elements for evidentiary purposes.
• g)Carrying out freezing of funds, seizures, confiscation, and forfeiture of property.
• h)Examining objects, persons, and places.
• i)Facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons in the requesting State, to give testimony or to collaborate in investigations.
• j)Identifying, seizing, confiscating, and forfeiting the proceeds of crime.
• k)The international coordination of investigations.
• l)Any other form of assistance consistent with international instruments approved by Costa Rica and with domestic law.

(As added by Article 12 of Law N° 10373 of September 20, 2023, "Reforms to anti-corruption laws to address recommendations of the working group on bribery in international business transactions of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)")

General rule Decisions must be notified to the corresponding person within twenty-four hours after being issued, unless the court orders a shorter period. They shall bind only duly notified persons.

Notifier Notifications shall be executed by the clerk, the notifier, or whoever the court specially designates. When a notification must be made outside the seat of the court, the assistance of the respective authority shall be requested, without prejudice to the office's notifier traveling if the court so orders. When convenient, specialized offices may be tasked with the notification of decisions from several judicial offices.

Place for notifications Upon appearing in the process, the parties must indicate, within the judicial perimeter, a place to be notified. Any of the intervening parties may be notified at the clerk's office of the court. Defense attorneys, prosecutors, and public officials intervening in the procedure shall be notified at their respective offices, provided these are located within the judicial perimeter.

Notifications to defense attorneys or agents If the parties have a defense attorney or agent, notifications must be directed only to them, except if the law or the nature of the act requires that the parties also be notified.

Forms of notification When notification must be made by reading, the content of the decision shall be read, and if the interested party requests a copy, it shall be given to them. In other cases, notification shall be made by delivering a copy of the decision to the interested party, indicating the name of the court and the proceeding to which it refers. The official shall record the act, indicating the place, day, and time of the proceeding, and shall sign together with the person receiving the copy or state that they refused to sign or could not sign. When the proceeding is not carried out by reading and the notified person refuses to receive the copy, it shall be posted on the door of the place where the act is executed, in the presence of a witness who shall sign the corresponding record.

Special form of notification When the interested party expressly accepts it, they may be notified by certified mail, facsimile, or any other electronic means. In this case, the time limit shall run from the sending of the communication, as certified by the mail service or transmission office. Notification may also be made through other systems authorized by the Supreme Court of Justice, provided they do not cause defenselessness.

Notification to an absent person When the person to be notified is not found at the location, the copy shall be delivered to any adult person found there or to one of their closest neighbors, who shall have the obligation to identify themselves and deliver the copy to the interested party.

Notification by edicts When the whereabouts of the person to be notified are unknown, the decision shall be made known to them by edict published in the Judicial Bulletin, without prejudice to the appropriate measures to locate them. The Superior Council of the Judiciary may order the publication, in mass media, of lists of persons sought by criminal courts.

Notification in case of urgency In case of urgency, notification may be made by telephone or any other similar means of communication. A brief record of the conversation and the person who claimed to receive the message shall be made.

Defect in notification Whenever it causes defenselessness, the notification shall have no effect when:

• a)There has been an error regarding the identity of the notified person.
• b)The decision was notified in an incomplete form.
• c)The proceeding does not record the date or, where applicable, the date of delivery of the copy.
• d)Any of the required signatures is missing.
• e)There is a discrepancy between the original and the copy received by the interested party.

Summons When the presence of a person is necessary for any procedural act, the authority hearing the matter must order their summons, by certified mail, telegram with delivery notice, telephone, or any means of communication that guarantees the authenticity of the message. In such case, the object of the summons and the procedure in which it was ordered must be made known; furthermore, it must be warned that if the order is not obeyed, without prejudice to corresponding criminal liability, the person may be brought by the public force and pay the costs caused, except for just cause.

Communication of actions by the Public Prosecutor's Office When, in the course of an investigation, a prosecutor must communicate an action to a person, they may do so by any means that guarantees receipt of the message. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply, as relevant.

General rule Individual time limits shall run from the beginning of the day following that on which notification was made to the interested party; common time limits, from the day following the last notification made.

In time limits counted by days, non-business days shall not be counted. Other time limits that expire on a non-business day shall be deemed extended until the following business day.

Calculation of time limits established for the protection of the accused's freedom Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding article, in time limits established for the protection of the accused's freedom, calendar days shall be counted and they may not be extended.

Waiver or shortening The parties in whose favor a time limit has been established may waive it or consent to its shortening by express declaration.

Reinstatement of time limit Anyone who has been unable to observe a time limit due to a cause not attributable to them or due to an insurmountable event may request its reinstatement, in order to perform the omitted act or exercise the power granted by law.

Duration of the preparatory procedure The Public Prosecutor's Office must conclude the preparatory investigation within a reasonable time.

When the accused considers that the time has been unduly prolonged, they shall request the court of the preparatory procedure to set a time limit for the investigation to conclude.

The court shall request a report from the prosecutor and, if it deems that there has been an undue prolongation according to the complexity and difficulty of the investigation, it shall set a time limit for it to conclude, which may not exceed six months.

Extinction of the criminal action for non-compliance with the time limit When the Public Prosecutor's Office has not concluded the preparatory investigation by the date set by the court, the latter shall notify the Attorney General of the fact, so that they may formulate the respective requisition within a period of ten days. Once this period has elapsed without that requisition being presented, the court shall declare the criminal action extinguished, unless the procedure can continue because a criminal complaint has been filed, without prejudice to the personal liability of the representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Oral hearings Courts shall hold oral hearings without delay and shall set the absolutely indispensable time for conducting them.

Complaint for delay of justice If the representatives of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) or the judges do not comply with the established deadlines for performing their actions and, as applicable, issuing rulings, the interested party may urge prompt dispatch before the omissive official and, if it is not obtained within five calendar days, may file a complaint for delay of justice before the Attorney General (Fiscal General), the Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), or the Judicial Inspection (Inspección Judicial), as appropriate. When the processing of a commission directed to another court, a representative of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público), or an administrative authority is delayed or rejected, the requesting official may address the President of the Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) or the Attorney General of the Republic (Fiscal General de la República), as appropriate, who, if applicable, shall manage or order the processing. Judicial officials may be disciplinarily sanctioned with suspension or dismissal, according to the magnitude of the fault, when justice has been delayed due to a cause attributable to them.

General principle Acts performed with non-observance of the forms and conditions provided for in the Constitution, in the International or Community Law in force in Costa Rica, and in this Code may not be assessed to base a judicial decision upon them, nor used as presuppositions thereof, unless the defect has been cured, in accordance with the rules governing the correction of judicial actions.

Protest Except in cases of absolute defects, the interested party must protest the defect, when they become aware of it. The protest must describe the defect and propose the corresponding solution.

Convalidation Except for cases of absolute defects, defects shall be convalidated in the following cases:

• a)When the parties or the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) have not timely requested their cure.
• b)When those entitled to challenge it have expressly or tacitly accepted the effects of the act.
• c)If, despite its irregularity, the act has achieved its purpose with respect to the interested parties, or if the defect has not affected the rights and faculties of the intervenors.

Cure shall not proceed when the irregular act does not modify, in any way, the development of the proceeding nor harm the intervention of the interested parties.

Absolute defects No prior protest shall be necessary, and defects concerning the following may be noted even ex officio:

• a)The intervention, assistance, and representation of the accused in the cases and forms established by law, or those implying non-observance of rights and guarantees provided for by the Political Constitution, the International or Community Law in force in the country, and the law.
• b)The appointment, capacity, and constitution of judges or courts.
• c)The initiative of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) in the exercise of criminal action and its participation in the procedure.

Cure Defects must be cured, whenever possible, by renewing the act, rectifying the error, or performing the omitted act, ex officio or at the request of the interested party. Under the pretext of renewing the act, rectifying the error, or performing the omitted act, the proceeding cannot be rolled back to periods already precluded, except in the cases expressly provided for by this Code.

BOOK III MEANS OF PROOF

Objectivity The Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) and the courts have the duty to seek the ascertainment of the truth through permitted means of proof, strictly complying with the purposes of criminal prosecution and the objectives of the investigation.

Evidence elements shall only have value if they have been obtained by lawful means and incorporated into the procedure, in accordance with the provisions of this Code.

Information obtained through torture, abuse, coercion, threat, deception, undue intrusion into the privacy of the domicile, correspondence, communications, private papers, and files may not be used, nor information obtained by any other means that diminishes the will or violates the fundamental rights of persons.

However, in the event that these illicit conducts occur, and without prejudice to the sanctions applicable to the responsible persons, the information obtained through them may only be used solely and exclusively in what benefits the victim of said conducts in their capacity as accused, or in criminal proceedings brought against the perpetrators of these illicit conducts, solely as evidence of the commission of the punishable act. For these purposes, the express consent of the victim must be obtained, and the necessary measures shall be adopted to safeguard their right to privacy and to non-revictimization.

(Thus amended by the sole article of Law No. 10011 of August 24, 2021)

Freedom of proof Facts and circumstances of interest for the correct resolution of the case may be proven by any permitted means of proof, except when expressly prohibited by law.

Admissibility of evidence To be admissible, evidence must refer, directly or indirectly, to the object of the investigation and must be useful for discovering the truth. Courts may limit the means of proof offered to demonstrate a fact or a circumstance when they are manifestly superabundant. The court may dispense with evidence when it is offered to prove a notorious fact.

Assessment The court shall assign the corresponding value to each of the evidence elements, strictly applying the rules of sound criticism (sana crítica). It must adequately justify and substantiate the reasons for which it grants a determined value, based on the joint and harmonious appreciation of all essential evidence.

Inspection and registration of the crime scene When it is necessary to inspect places or things because there are sufficient reasons to suspect that traces of the crime will be found, or because it is presumed that the accused or an escaped person is hiding in a specific place, its registration shall be carried out.

Through the inspection, the state of persons, places, things, traces, and other existing material effects that are useful for ascertaining the fact or individualizing its authors or participants shall be verified.

The representative of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) shall be responsible for carrying out the diligence, unless otherwise provided.

Whoever inhabits the place or is present at it when it is carried out, or, in their absence, their person in charge or any adult person, shall be invited to witness the inspection. Preference shall be given to family members of the former.

Minutes A record (acta) shall be drawn up of the inspection and registration diligence, describing in detail the state of the things and persons, and, when possible, useful evidentiary elements shall be collected or preserved. If the fact left no traces, nor produced material effects, or if these disappeared or were altered, the person in charge of the diligence shall describe the existing state and, as far as possible, verify the previous one. In case of disappearance or alteration, they shall ascertain and record the manner, time, and cause that provoked it.

Coercive powers To carry out the inspection and registration, it may be ordered that, during the diligence, those who are at the place not absent themselves, or that any other person appear immediately.

Corporal inspection When necessary, the judge or prosecutor in charge of the investigation may order the corporal inspection of the accused and, in such case, shall ensure that their modesty is respected. With the same limitation, the same measure may be ordered with respect to another person, in cases of serious and well-founded suspicion or absolute necessity. If required, the inspection may be conducted with the assistance of experts. Only a trusted person of the examinee may attend the act, who shall be previously warned of this right.

Personal search The judge, prosecutor, or police may conduct a personal search, provided there are sufficient reasons to presume that someone conceals belongings in their clothing or carries objects related to the crime attached to their body. Before proceeding with the search, they must warn the person about the suspicion and the object sought, inviting them to exhibit it. The warning and inspection shall be conducted in the presence of a witness, who must not have any connection with the police. Searches shall be conducted separately, respecting the modesty of the persons. Searches of women shall be conducted by other women. A record (acta) shall be prepared, which may be incorporated into the trial by reading.

Vehicle registration The judge, prosecutor, or police may register a vehicle, provided there are sufficient reasons to presume that a person conceals objects related to the crime within it. To the extent applicable, the same procedure shall be followed and the same formalities provided for the personal search of persons shall be met.

In cases of violent death or when it is suspected that a person died as a result of a negligent crime (delito culposo), if the removal of the corpse must be carried out on public roads, vacant lots, common access sites, or spaces open to the public, the judicial police shall conduct an inspection at the crime scene, arrange the removal of the corpse, and order the expert examination to establish the cause and manner of death, without the need for the presence of another authority. In these cases, the Judicial Investigation Organization (Organismo de Investigación Judicial, OIJ) shall notify the competent judicial authority of the results obtained in the diligence, within a maximum period of twenty-four hours.

When it is a matter of or it is presumed that a person died as a result of an intentional crime (delito doloso), or that the fact occurred in spaces of restricted access, it must be the judge who orders and conducts the diligence, unless they delegate its execution to the judicial police.

The identification of the corpse shall be carried out by any technical means and, if not possible, through witnesses. If identification is not obtained through the indicated means, and its condition allows it, the corpse shall be exposed to the public for a prudential time in the morgue of the Department of Legal Medicine, so that whoever has data that may contribute to its recognition communicates them to the judge.

(Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to Promote Efficiency in the Removal of Corpses, No. 10405 of November 14, 2023)

Crime scene reconstruction Crime scene reconstruction shall be ordered to verify if it was carried out or could have been carried out in a specific manner. The accused shall never be forced to intervene in the act, which must be conducted with the greatest possible reserve.

When the registration must be carried out in an inhabited place, its dependencies, business house, or office, the raid (allanamiento) and registration shall be conducted personally by the judge and may be carried out at any hour and day of the week, including holidays; it may also be proceeded with at any hour when the dweller or their representative consents.

When a judge's order is required to conduct a raid (allanamiento), once the request is submitted, the judging person shall have the following period to issue the ruling:

• a)In ordinary processing cases, the maximum period for resolution is up to three calendar days.
• b)In proceedings with a declaration of a special procedure for organized crime or complex processing, the maximum resolution period shall be up to five calendar days.

(Thus amended by the sole article of Law No. 10802 of November 16, 2025)

Raid of other premises The raid (allanamiento) of public premises, meeting establishments, or recreational venues while they are open to the public and not intended for habitation, shall be ordered by the judge, who may delegate the execution of the diligence to officials of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) or the judicial police. The hourly limitations established in the previous article shall not apply. In these cases, the persons in charge of the premises must be notified, unless it is detrimental to the investigation.

Contents of the ruling ordering a raid The ruling ordering the raid (allanamiento) must contain:

• a)The name and position of the official authorizing the raid (allanamiento) and the identification of the proceeding in which it is ordered.
• b)The specific determination of the place or places that must be registered.
• c)The name of the authority that must conduct the registration, in the event that the diligence is delegated to the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) or the police, as applicable in accordance with the provisions of this Title.
• d)The reason for the raid (allanamiento).
• e)The time and date on which the diligence must be conducted.

Formalities for the raid A copy of the ruling authorizing the raid (allanamiento) shall be delivered to whomever inhabits or possesses the place where it is carried out, or, when they are absent, to their person in charge, and, in the absence thereof, to any adult person present at the place. Preference shall be given to family members. When no one is found, this shall be recorded in the record (acta). Once the registration is conducted, the result shall be recorded in the record (acta), expressing the circumstances useful for the investigation. The diligence shall be conducted seeking to affect the privacy of persons as little as possible. The record (acta) shall be signed by those present; however, if someone does not sign it, this shall be recorded.

Raid without an order A raid (allanamiento) may be carried out without a prior judicial order when:

• a)Due to fire, flood, or another similar cause, the life of the inhabitants or property is threatened.
• b)It is reported that strangers have been seen entering a premises, with clear indications that they intend to commit a crime.
• c)An accused person of a serious crime who is being pursued for their apprehension enters a premises.
• d)Voices coming from an inhabited place, its dependencies, or business house announce that a crime is being committed there or call for help.

Seizure order The judge, the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público), and the police may order that objects related to the crime, those subject to confiscation, and those that may serve as means of proof be collected and preserved; for this purpose, when necessary, they shall order their seizure. In urgent cases, this measure may be delegated to an official of the judicial police.

Procedure for seizure The provisions prescribed for registration shall apply to seizure. The seized effects shall be inventoried and placed under secure custody.

Copies or reproductions of the seized objects may be ordered when they may disappear or be altered, are difficult to keep in custody, or when convenient for the instruction.

Return of objects It shall be the obligation of the authorities to return the seized objects that are not subject to forfeiture, restitution, or embargo to the person legitimated to possess them, immediately after the diligences for which they were obtained are carried out. This return may be ordered provisionally, as a judicial deposit, and the possessor may be imposed the obligation to exhibit them.

Interception and seizure of communications and correspondence In relation to the interception and seizure of communications and correspondence, the provisions of the special law referred to in Article 24 of the Political Constitution shall apply.

Closure of premises When, to investigate a punishable act, it is indispensable to close a premises or move movable things that, by their nature or dimensions, cannot be kept in deposit, they shall be secured according to the rules of registration.

Control The parties may object, before the court, to the measures adopted by the police or the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) based on the faculties referred to in this section. The court shall definitively resolve what corresponds, without any recourse.

Unless otherwise provided, every person shall have the obligation to appear upon judicial summons and to declare the truth of everything they know and are asked about; likewise, they shall not conceal facts, circumstances, or elements, without prejudice to the judge's faculty to assess the testimony according to the rules of sound criticism (sana crítica). The witness shall not be obliged to declare about facts that may entail criminal liability for them. For the purposes of fulfilling this obligation, the witness shall have the right to paid leave from their employer, public or private, when they must attend judicial diligences, expert examinations, or appear before judicial summons, and for the time necessary for this. In order to verify attendance at such acts, the office hearing the case or before which the diligence is conducted must issue the respective voucher, indicating the nature of the act and the effective duration of the proceeding. The Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público), the judge, or the trial court hearing the case shall adopt the necessary measures to prevent the witness from being subjected to multiple citations or appearances; in addition, when possible, hearings shall be scheduled so that the testimony is rendered as soon as possible and the granted leave is not abused.

Extra-procedural protection:

If, on account of learning of the facts being investigated and their obligation to testify, the witness's life or physical integrity is at risk, they shall have the right to request and obtain special protection. The Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público), the police, the judge, or the court hearing the case shall adopt the necessary measures to provide the required protection. The Victim Assistance Office of the Public Prosecution Service (Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito del Ministerio Público) shall be responsible for processing the requests and providing the required protection.

Procedural protection:

When, due to the characteristics of the fact, the witness's identification data, such as their name, identification number, address, place of work, or telephone numbers, are not known to the accused or the parties, and effective knowledge thereof represents a risk to the declarant's life or physical integrity, the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público), the defense, or the private prosecutor (querellante) may request the judge, during the investigation phase, to order the reservation of these data.

The judge shall authorize such reservation in a duly reasoned ruling. Once agreed, this information shall appear in a special and private file, which shall be managed by the judge of the preparatory and intermediate stage, according to the phase in which the reservation is admissible and has been agreed, and in which the correct data for their identification and location shall appear. To identify the protected witness within the process, pseudonyms or fictitious names may be used. In said file, a record shall be kept of any relevant data that may affect the scope of their testimony, such as physical limitations or health problems, and these must be brought to the knowledge of the parties, provided this does not endanger the declarant.

When the risk to the protected witness's life or physical integrity cannot be avoided or reduced with the mere reservation of identification data, and it concerns the investigation of serious crimes or organized crime, the judge or court hearing the case may order, by means of a duly substantiated ruling, the reservation of their individualizing physical characteristics, so that, during the investigation stage, these cannot be known by the parties. When so declared, the judge shall, in the same ruling, order the jurisdictional advance of evidence (anticipo jurisdiccional de prueba), in accordance with the provisions of Article 293 of this Code.

The participation of the protected witness in procedural acts must be carried out by adopting the necessary measures to keep their identity and physical characteristics reserved, when so agreed.

The identity reservation of the protected witness applies only to the preliminary and intermediate phase.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

• 1)Procedure:

To achieve the protection referred to in Article 204 of this Code, the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público), the private prosecutor (querellante), or the defense shall request the identity reservation measures or the protection of the individualizing physical characteristics of the witness from the judge of the preparatory or intermediate stage, according to the phase in which the risk arises. The request shall be accompanied by the evidence supporting the existence of the risk and its importance, as well as the need for protection. For this purpose, they may request a brief report from the Victim Assistance Office of the Public Prosecution Service (Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito del Ministerio Público), documenting the type of risk and the need for protection.

The judge shall summon the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público), the private prosecutor (querellante), and the defense to an oral hearing, in which the petition and any objections will be presented; once said hearing concludes, the judge must rule immediately, and may defer the resolution for up to forty-eight hours, in order to request the reports and data deemed necessary to resolve. The identity and personal data of the person whose protection is requested may not be revealed while this proceeding is carried out.

In urgent cases, the reservation of the witness's data may be ordered provisionally and for a period not exceeding seventy-two hours, a period within which the hearing shall be convened and the pertinent matter resolved. To assess the protection, the importance and entity of the risk, as well as the relevance of the testimony for discovering the truth in the investigated fact, shall be taken into account.

• 2)Contents of the ruling:

The ruling agreeing to the procedural protection of the witness must be duly substantiated and shall contain the nature and importance of the risk, the type of protection, as well as its scope, the grounds for the decision, and the duration of the measure.

In cases where identity reservation is agreed, the judge must record a brief summary of the witness's knowledge of the facts, to enable the right of defense of the parties. The entire proceeding shall be conducted in a separate file, whose custody shall correspond to the judge or court hearing the case. If the reservation of individualizing physical characteristics is also granted, the same ruling shall order the jurisdictional advance of evidence (anticipo jurisdiccional de prueba) of this testimony, and the parties shall be summoned for its execution, in the terms indicated by Article 293 of this Code.

The agreed protection measures may be extended for the necessary time, attending to the type of risk, except during the trial stage. In no case shall the protection of the witness impede their interrogation, which may be conducted using the indicated technological means that allow the physical characteristics of the declarant to be kept hidden or disguised, when this has been ordered upon agreeing to the protection.

• 3)Recourses:

The decision granting or denying protection shall be appealable by the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público), the private prosecutor (querellante), the victim, and the defense. The appeal shall not suspend the agreed measures. Once the decision is final, the parties shall be obliged to respect the ordered reservation, without prejudice to reiterating their claim at the trial stage. If the appellate court rejects the protection or reduces it, the judge must inform the defense of the data whose protection was not authorized.

If the protection of individualizing physical characteristics is denied and the reservation of their identity is maintained, the witness shall appear only until the debate, unless their presence is deemed indispensable in some diligence or procedural act of the investigation stage, in which case the necessary measures must be adopted to respect the granted reservation.

• 4)Lifting of measures:

When a party deems it absolutely necessary for the adequate exercise of the right of defense to know the identity of the witness or the victim, they shall request the judge or court hearing the case to lift the agreed measures. A hearing shall be granted to the parties for twenty-four hours regarding the petition. An appeal recourse shall lie against the resolution.

The judge or court may order, ex officio or at the request of a party, the lifting of the measures, after a twenty-four-hour hearing with the parties, if new evidence elements show that procedural protection is not necessary, because it is demonstrated that the parties know the witness's identity, without prejudice to any extra-procedural protection that may be provided.

(Thus added by Article 17 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Those cases where procedural and extra-procedural protection has been ordered for a person in their capacity as a witness, according to Article 204, shall have priority for the execution of any diligence or expert examination, for scheduling a preliminary hearing, and for holding the oral and public trial.

(Thus added by Article 1 of Law No. 10380 of October 2, 2023)

Power to abstain The spouse or cohabitant, with more than two years of life in common, of the accused, and their ascendants, descendants, or collateral relatives, up to the third degree inclusive, by consanguinity or affinity, may abstain from testifying. The aforementioned persons must be informed of the power to abstain before they render testimony. They may exercise this power even during their testimony, including when responding to specific questions.

Religious ministers, lawyers and notaries, doctors, psychologists, pharmacists, nurses, and other auxiliaries of the medical sciences, as well as public officials regarding state secrets, must abstain from testifying about secret facts that have come to their knowledge by reason of their own status, office, or profession.

However, these persons may not refuse their testimony when they are released by the interested party from the duty of keeping the secret, with the exception of the secret of confession. In case of being summoned, these persons must appear and explain the reasons for their abstention. If the court considers that the witness erroneously invokes the power to abstain or the secrecy reserve, it shall order their testimony through a reasoned ruling.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of the Law Against Silence in Sexual Crimes to the Detriment of Children and Persons with Disabilities, Solidary Civil Liability, Duty to Report, and Guarantee of Compliance with Investigation Protocols, No. 10813 of November 16, 2025)

Summons For the examination of witnesses, a summons order shall be issued. In urgent cases, they may be summoned verbally or by telephone, which shall be recorded. In addition, the witness may appear spontaneously to testify. If the witness resides in a place far from the seat of the judicial office and lacks economic means to travel, the necessary arrangements shall be made to ensure their appearance.

Compulsion If the witness does not appear upon the first summons, they shall be made to appear by use of public force. If, after appearing, they refuse to testify without the right to do so, this fact shall be communicated to the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público).

Residents abroad If the witness is abroad, national rules or International Law for judicial assistance shall be followed. However, the authorization of the State in which they are located may be requested so that the consular representative, a judge, or a representative of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) may interrogate them, according to the phase of the procedure and the nature of the act in question.

Immediate apprehension The court may order the apprehension of a witness when there is well-founded fear that they will hide or flee. This measure shall last the time strictly necessary to receive the statement and shall not exceed twenty-four hours. The Public Prosecutor's Office may order the apprehension of the witness for a maximum period of six hours, in order to request the judicial order.

Form of the statement Before beginning the statement, the witness shall be instructed about their obligations and the responsibilities for their non-compliance, shall take an oath, and shall be questioned about their first name, surname, marital status, profession, domicile, relationship and interest with the parties, and any other circumstance useful for assessing their truthfulness. If the witness fears for their physical integrity or that of another person, they may be authorized not to publicly indicate their domicile, and a confidential record shall be kept of it, but the witness may not conceal their identity nor shall they be exempted from appearing in court. Subsequently, they shall be questioned about the fact.

When the statement of minors who are victims or witnesses must be received, their best interests (interés superior) must be considered upon receipt; to that end, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the trial judge, or trial court hearing the case, depending on the procedural stage it is in, shall adopt the necessary measures to reduce the proceedings and receive the testimony under the special conditions required, arranging for it to be received in private or through the use of special cameras to avoid contact of the minor with the parties, and permitting the assistance of family members or specialized experts. An opinion may be requested from the Department of Social Work and Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (Departamento de Trabajo Social y Psiquiatría y Psicología Forense) or from some other duly appointed expert, in accordance with Title IV of this Law, regarding the conditions under which the statement should be received. The right to defense shall always be safeguarded. The same rules shall apply when the testimony of victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking (trata de personas), or domestic violence (violencia intrafamiliar) must be received.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

An expert examination (peritaje) may be ordered when, in order to discover or evaluate an element of evidence, it is necessary to possess specialized knowledge in some science, art, or technique.

Qualifying degree

Appointment of experts The Public Prosecutor's Office, during the preparatory investigation, and the competent court shall select the experts and determine how many should intervene, according to the importance of the case and the complexity of the issues to be raised, taking into account the suggestions of the participants. At the same time, they shall precisely set the topics of the expert examination (peritación) and must agree with the designated experts on the period within which they will present their reports (dictámenes). The grounds for excuse and recusal of the experts shall be those established for judges. In everything relating to translators and interpreters, the provisions of this section shall apply analogously.

Faculty of the parties Before beginning the expert operations, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the parties shall, where applicable, be notified of the order to carry them out, unless they are extremely urgent or exceedingly simple. Within the period established by the authority that ordered the expert examination (peritaje), any of the parties may propose, on their own behalf, another expert to replace the one already designated or to render an opinion jointly with them, when, in the circumstances of the case, their participation is advisable due to their experience or special suitability. The parties may propose, with grounds, topics for the expert examination and object to those admitted or proposed by another of the parties.

Execution of the expert examination The director of the proceeding shall resolve the issues that arise during the expert operations. The experts shall conduct the examination jointly, whenever possible. Whenever pertinent, the parties and their technical consultants may witness the performance of the expert examination (peritaje) and request the clarifications they deem appropriate; they must withdraw when the experts begin their deliberation. If any expert fails to fulfill their function, they shall be replaced.

The expert report (dictamen pericial) shall be reasoned and shall contain, in a clear and precise manner, a detailed account of the operations carried out and their results, the observations of the parties or their technical consultants, and the conclusions formulated regarding each topic studied. Experts may issue separate reports when there is a diversity of opinions among them. The report shall be submitted in writing, signed, and dated, without prejudice to the oral report in hearings.

New experts When the reports are dubious, insufficient, or contradictory, or when the court or the Public Prosecutor's Office deems it necessary, they may, on their own initiative or at the request of a party, appoint one or more new experts, according to the importance of the case, to examine, expand upon, or repeat the expert examination (peritaje).

Complementary activity of the expert examination The presentation or seizure (secuestro) of things or documents, and the appearance of persons, may be ordered if this is necessary to carry out the expert operations.

When different expert examinations, such as psychological and medico-legal ones, must be performed on minor victims, persons who have been sexually assaulted, or victims of domestic aggression or violence (violencia intrafamiliar), within a maximum term of eight days, an interdisciplinary team must be assembled, with the aim of concentrating, in a single session, the interviews that the victim requires, when this does not affect the performance of the expert examination. The best interests (interés superior) must be taken into account in the case of minors, and, in all cases, efforts must be made to reduce or always avoid re-victimization (revictimización). Before the interview, the team of professionals must prepare a protocol for it and shall designate, when it deems appropriate, one of its members to be responsible for posing the questions.

Unless there is an insurmountable impediment, the physical examination of the victim must be carried out in the same session.

The Public Prosecutor's Office, the defense of the accused, and the complainant may participate in the psychological and psychiatric interview, provided that the safety, life, or physical integrity of the victim is not endangered, or the result of the evidence is affected. For such purposes, special cameras may be used to avoid contact of the minor or the victim with the parties. In no case shall this intervention allow the parties to interrupt the course of the expert examination (pericia). The parties may intervene only when so indicated and shall channel their observations through the respective expert, who shall decide how to address them. In any case, a record shall be kept of the requests made to them, and they shall note them in their conclusions when rendering the expert report. For their intervention, the parties may be assisted by a technical consultant, duly authorized to participate, in accordance with Article 126 of this Code.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Notification When the performance of the expert examination (peritaje) has not been previously notified, its results must be made known to the Public Prosecutor's Office and to the parties, for three days, unless a different period is provided by law.

Duty to maintain confidentiality The expert must maintain confidentiality (deber de guardar reserva) regarding everything they learn by reason of their actions.

Prudential assessment The court or the prosecutor in charge of the investigation may make a prudential assessment (regulación prudencial), only when the value of the stolen or damaged property or the amount defrauded cannot be established by means of experts. The prosecutor's decision may be objected to before the court, which shall resolve it without any proceeding. The prudential assessment may be varied during the course of the proceeding, if new and better elements of conviction appear that so justify it.

Exhibition of evidence The documents, objects, and other elements of conviction incorporated into the proceeding may be exhibited to the accused, to the witnesses, and to the experts, so that they may recognize them or inform about them.

Elements of a confidential nature shall be examined privately by the court; if they are useful for the ascertainment of the truth, it shall incorporate them into the proceeding, safeguarding the confidentiality (reserva) over them.

Reports The court and the Public Prosecutor's Office may request reports (informes) from any person or public or private entity. The reports shall be requested, verbally or in writing, with an indication of the proceeding in which they are required, the name of the accused, the place where the report must be delivered, the period for its presentation, and the consequences foreseen for non-compliance with the duty to report.

Identification of persons The Public Prosecutor's Office or the court may order, with prior notification to the parties, that the identification of a person (reconocimiento de personas) be carried out, to identify them or to establish that the person who mentions them effectively knows them or has seen them.

Procedure for identifying persons Before the identification (reconocimiento), the person who must make it shall be questioned to describe the person in question, to say if they know them, or if they have previously seen them personally or in an image. Furthermore, they must state whether after the event they have seen the person again, in what place, and for what reason. With the exception of the accused, the declarant shall be instructed about their obligations and the responsibilities for their non-compliance and shall take an oath to tell the truth, according to their beliefs. Subsequently, the person who must be subjected to identification shall be invited to choose their placement among others of similar physical appearance, and the person carrying out the identification shall be asked to state whether the person they mentioned is among those present and, if so, to point them out precisely. When they have recognized the person, they shall express the differences and similarities observed between the state of the person pointed out and the state that person was in at the time alluded to in their previous statement. This diligence shall be recorded in a minutes (acta), where the useful circumstances shall be recorded, including the name and domicile of those who formed the lineup. The identification shall proceed even without the consent of the accused.

Plurality of identifications When several persons must identify a single person, each identification (reconocimiento) shall be carried out separately, without them communicating with each other. If one person must identify several persons, the identification of all of them may be carried out in a single act, provided that it does not prejudice the investigation or the defense.

Identification by photograph When it is necessary to identify a person who is not present and cannot be found, their photograph may be exhibited to the person who must make the identification (reconocimiento), together with other similar photographs of different persons, observing, to the extent possible, the preceding rules.

Identification of an object Before the identification (reconocimiento) of an object, the person who must identify it shall be invited to describe it. For the rest, the preceding rules shall govern.

Other identifications When it is ordered to identify voices, sounds, and anything that can be the object of sensory perception, the provisions established for the identification of persons (reconocimiento de personas) shall be observed, as applicable. This diligence shall be recorded in a minutes (acta), and the authority may order that it be documented by photographic or videographic evidence or by other instruments or procedures.

Confrontation A confrontation (careo) of persons who, in their statements, have disagreed on important facts or circumstances may be ordered; but the accused shall not be obliged to intervene. In the confrontation of the accused, their defender shall be present. The rules of testimony, expert examination (pericia), and the statement of the accused shall govern, respectively.

Other means of evidence In addition to the means of evidence provided for in this Code, other different means may be used, provided that they do not suppress the guarantees and faculties of persons nor affect the institutional system. The manner of their incorporation into the proceeding shall be adapted to the most analogous means of evidence among those provided for.

BOOK IV PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

Apprehension of persons Police authorities may apprehend any person, even without a judicial order, when:

• a)They have been caught in flagrante delicto (flagrancia) or a contravention, or are pursued immediately after attempting or committing it.
• b)They have escaped from a penal establishment or any other place of detention.
• c)There are proven indicia of their participation in a punishable act, and it is a case where pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) is applicable.

Likewise, in cases of flagrancy (flagrancia), any person may carry out the apprehension and prevent the act from producing consequences. The apprehended person shall be handed over immediately to the nearest authority.

The police authority that has apprehended any person must promptly place them at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office, so that the latter, if it deems it necessary, may request pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) from the judge. The request must be made after carrying out the indispensable diligences and, in any case, within twenty-four hours counted from the capture.

If it concerns an offense that requires private prosecution (instancia privada), whoever can bring the action shall be informed immediately, and if they do not file the complaint in the same act, the apprehended person shall be released.

Flagrancy Flagrancy (flagrancia) exists when the perpetrator of the punishable act is caught at the moment of committing it or immediately thereafter, or while being pursued, or when they have objects or present traces that strongly suggest they have just participated in an offense.

Detention The Public Prosecutor's Office may order that a person be detained, when:

• a)The presence of the accused is necessary and there are proven indicia to reasonably sustain that they are the perpetrator of an offense or a participant in it, and that they may hide, flee, or absent themselves from the place.
• b)In the first moment of the investigation, it is impossible to individualize the accused and the witnesses, and urgent action must be taken to avoid prejudicing the investigation, in order to prevent those present from leaving the place, communicating among themselves, and altering the state of things and places.
• c)For the investigation of an offense, the concurrence of any person is necessary.

Detention may not exceed twenty-four hours. If the Public Prosecutor's Office considers that the person must remain detained for a longer period, it shall immediately place them at the disposal of the court of the preparatory proceeding and request it to order pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) or apply any other substitute measure (medida sustitutiva). Otherwise, it shall order their release.

Pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) may only be ordered in accordance with the provisions of this Code, by means of a reasoned judicial decision, within the indispensable limits to ensure the discovery of the truth and the enforcement of the Law. When the Public Prosecutor's Office considers that pretrial detention is applicable, it shall request the corresponding judge to convene an oral hearing, in which the applicability or not of that measure shall be discussed. If the person is detained, the request for a hearing must be made within twenty-four hours, counted from when the accused was placed at the disposal of the judge; the hearing must be held within forty-eight hours, and the decision must be issued within that period.

It is the responsibility of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the defense of the accused to present the evidence on which they base their petitions.

Once the hearing is concluded, the judge shall decide on the matter requested. If recording means are available, the backup thereof shall be sufficient to accredit the existence of the holding of the hearing and the decision reached.

It shall be executed in the manner that causes the least prejudice possible to those affected.

Deprivation of liberty, during the proceeding, must be proportional to the penalty that may be imposed in the case.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

The court shall order the pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) of the accused, provided that the following circumstances concur:

• a)There are sufficient elements of conviction to reasonably sustain that the accused is, with probability, the perpetrator of a punishable act or a participant in it.
• b)There is a reasonable presumption, based on an assessment of the circumstances of the particular case, that the accused will not submit to the proceeding (flight risk – peligro de fuga); will obstruct the ascertainment of the truth (obstruction risk – peligro de obstaculización); or will continue the criminal activity.
• c)The offense attributed to them is punishable by a custodial sentence (pena privativa de libertad).
• d)There is a danger to the victim, the reporting person, or the witness. When the victim is in a situation of risk, the judge shall take into account the need to order this measure, especially within the framework of the investigation of offenses provided for in Law 8589, Penalization of Violence against Women, of April 25, 2007, as well as other offenses where the investigated person maintains or has maintained a relationship or bond of partnership with the victim, whether marital, common-law union, dating, cohabiting, non-cohabiting, casual, or other analogous relationship, even when there is divorce, separation, or breakup, as well as when any of the scenarios contemplated in Article 2:1 bis of Law 8589, Penalization of Violence against Women, of April 25, 2007, is present.

(Thus the previous subsection was added by Article 45 (currently 48) of the Law on Penalization of Violence Against Women, No. 8589 of April 25, 2007)

(Thus the previous subsection was amended by Article 2 of the Law to establish expanded femicide, No. 10022 of August 23, 2021)

After prior assessment and reasoned decision, the court may also order the pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) of the accused, when any of the following grounds occurs, the offense is punishable by imprisonment (pena de prisión), and the prerequisite established in Article 37 of the Political Constitution (Constitución Política) is met:

• a)When there is flagrancy (flagrancia) in offenses against life, sexual offenses, and offenses against property involving violence against persons or force against things, and in offenses related to narcotics, psychotropic substances, unauthorized drugs, money laundering (legitimación de capitales), and related activities.
• b)The punishable act is presumably committed by someone who has been subjected, on at least two occasions, to criminal proceedings involving violence against persons or force against things, in which an accusation and request for trial opening have been formulated by the Public Prosecutor's Office, even if these are not concluded.
• c)When dealing with repeat offenders (reincidentes) in the commission of criminal acts involving violence against persons or force against things.
• d)When dealing with organized crime (delincuencia organizada).

(Thus added by Article 17 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Flight risk To decide on flight risk (peligro de fuga), the following circumstances shall especially be taken into account:

• a)Roots in the country (arraigo), determined by domicile, habitual residence, seat of the family, their business or work, and the facilities to definitively leave the country or remain hidden. Falsehood, lack of information, or failure to update the domicile of the accused shall constitute a presumption of flight.
• b)The penalty that could potentially be imposed in the case.
• c)The magnitude of the damage caused.
• d)The behavior of the accused during the proceeding or in another prior proceeding, to the extent that it indicates their willingness to submit to criminal prosecution.

Obstruction risk To decide on the obstruction risk to ascertain the truth (peligro de obstaculización), the serious suspicion that the accused will do the following shall especially be taken into account:

• a)Destroy, modify, hide, or falsify elements of evidence.
• b)Influence co-defendants, witnesses, or experts to inform falsely or to behave in a disloyal or reticent manner, or induce others to carry out such behaviors.

This ground may only justify detention until the conclusion of the trial (debate).

Evidence for the application of precautionary measures The prosecutor, or where applicable, the Court, may receive evidence, on its own initiative or at the request of a party, for the purpose of supporting the application, review, substitution, modification, or cancellation of a precautionary measure (medida cautelar). Said evidence shall be added to a special file (legajo) when it is not possible to incorporate it into the trial. The court shall assess these elements of evidence in accordance with the general rules established in this Code and exclusively to base the decision on the precautionary measure. If the court deems it necessary, before issuing a ruling, it may convene an oral hearing to hear the parties or to directly receive the evidence. A minutes (acta) shall be drawn up of said hearing.

Decision ordering pretrial detention Pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) may only be decreed by a duly reasoned decision, in which each of the prerequisites that motivate it are expressed. The order must contain:

• a)The personal data of the accused or those used to identify them.
• b)A succinct statement of the fact or facts attributed to them.
• c)An indication of the reasons why the court considers that the prerequisites motivating the measure are present in the case.
• d)The citation of the applicable penal provisions.
• e)The date on which the maximum period of deprivation of liberty expires.

Whenever the presumptions that motivate pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) can be reasonably avoided by applying another measure less burdensome for the accused, the competent court, on its own initiative or at the request of the interested party, must impose in its place, in a reasoned decision, one of the following alternatives:

• a)House arrest (arresto domiciliario), in their own domicile or in the custody of another person, without any surveillance or with the surveillance the court orders.
• b)The obligation to submit to the care or supervision of a specific person or institution, which shall report regularly to the court.
• c)The obligation to appear periodically before the court or the authority designated by it.
• d)The prohibition from leaving the country, the locality where they reside, or the territorial scope established by the court without authorization.
• e)The prohibition from attending certain gatherings or visiting certain places.
• f)The prohibition from cohabiting or communicating with specific persons, provided that the right to defense is not affected.
• g)In the case of aggressions against women and children or sexual offenses, when the victim cohabits with the accused, the corresponding authority may order the latter to immediately abandon the domicile.
• h)The posting of adequate bail (caución).
• i)Suspension from the exercise of a public office (cargo) when a functional offense is attributed.
• j)The imposition of the measure of permanent location monitoring with an electronic device, provided it is not for offenses classified as organized crime (delincuencia organizada) nor sexual offenses against minors, nor for the offenses contemplated in Law 7786, Law on Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances, Unauthorized Drugs, Related Activities, Money Laundering, and Financing of Terrorism, of April 30, 1998. For this purpose, one day under permanent location monitoring with an electronic device is equivalent to one day of pretrial detention (prisión preventiva).

(Thus the previous subsection was added by Article 5 of Law No. 9271 of September 30, 2014, "Electronic tracking mechanisms in criminal matters")

(Thus the previous subsection was amended by Article 1 of the Law to regulate the benefit of house arrest with an electronic bracelet, No. 10517 of August 26, 2024)

If the legal classification of the act admits the application of a disqualification penalty (pena de inhabilitación), the court may impose, preventively, that they refrain from carrying out the conduct or activity for which they could be disqualified.

The court may impose a single one of the alternatives provided for in the preceding article or combine several of them, as is appropriate to the case, and shall order the measures and notifications necessary to guarantee their fulfillment.

The judge may agree that the control of compliance with the measures applied to persons be carried out through those electronic means that permit it.

In no case shall these measures be used distorting their purpose, nor shall others be imposed whose fulfillment is impossible.

(Thus amended by Article 6 of Law No. 9271 of September 30, 2014, "Electronic tracking mechanisms in criminal matters")

Solemn promise All coercive measures may also be dispensed with, when the accused's promise to submit to the proceeding, to not obstruct the investigation, and to refrain from committing new offenses is sufficient to eliminate the flight risk (peligro de fuga), obstruction, or recidivism.

Exemption from detention If the accused is at liberty, they may request the court to exempt them from the potential application of pretrial detention (prisión preventiva), agreeing for this purpose to one of its substitute measures.

Abandonment of the domicile as a precautionary measure (medida precautoria) must be established for a minimum period of one month, without being able to exceed six; it may be extended for equal periods, if so requested by the offended party and if the reasons that justified it persist.

The measure may be interrupted when there is reconciliation between the offended party and the accused, provided that such circumstance is manifested by the offended party before the jurisdictional authority.

To lift the precautionary measure, the accused must render a solemn promise (caución juratoria) that they will not re-offend in the acts. Before lifting the measure, the opinion of the victim shall be heard, if they can be located. If it concerns a victim who is being protected, the prosecutor in charge of the case must inform the victim about the hearing; for this purpose, they may coordinate the pertinent matters with the Office for Victim Assistance (Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito).

When dealing with offended persons who are minors, the cessation of this precautionary measure shall only proceed when the nonexistence of risk for the victim is verified and the representative of the National Board for Children (Patronato Nacional de la Infancia, PANI) so recommends.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other Participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Alimony When the abandonment of the domicile has been ordered, the court, at the request of a party, shall order the deposit of a sum of money, which it shall fix prudentially, for one month. The accused must pay it within eight days, in order to cover the expenses of food and housing for those members of the family group who are economically dependent on him. This obligation shall be governed by the rules applicable to alimony payments and, therefore, the committal of the obligor may be ordered in the event of non-compliance. Once the amount is set, the court shall, on its own motion, certify copies to be sent to the competent judicial authority, so that it may continue hearing the matter in accordance with the Alimony Law.

Bonds When appropriate, the court shall fix the amount and the type of bond as a precautionary measure, and shall also decide on the suitability of the surety, based on its free assessment of the circumstances of the case. The accused and the surety may substitute the bond with an equivalent one, with prior authorization from the court. To determine the quality and quantity of the bond, the nature of the crime, the financial condition, the personality, and the background of the accused shall be taken into account. The court shall make the estimation in such a way that it constitutes an effective motive for the accused to refrain from breaching his obligations. The real bond shall be constituted by a deposit of money, marketable securities, or by the granting of pledges or mortgages, for the amount determined by the court.

Manner of determining the solvency of sureties When the amount of the bail exceeds three base salaries, as established in the Penal Code for crimes against property, the solvency of the sureties shall be verified by means of a certification issued by the Public Registry. The value of the assets may be verified with the certification of the value declared for tax purposes, or with an expert opinion issued for that purpose. When the amount of the guarantee is less than that sum, it is at the court's discretion to accept the surety if he does not have assets registered in his name, as well as to require him to prove his financial situation and possible resources. The court may condition the acceptance of the bail on its prior registration in the Property Registry. In this case, the annotation shall be considered as an encumbrance on the property and any acquirer of the annotated property shall accept the responsibility that the bail implies.

Execution of bonds When the default (rebeldía) of the accused has been declared or when he evades the execution of the sentence, a period of five days shall be granted to the surety to present him; the surety shall be warned that if he does not do so or does not justify the non-appearance, the bond shall be executed. Once the period has expired, the court shall order, depending on the case, the execution of the surety or the sale at public auction of the mortgaged or pledged assets. The proceeds obtained shall be transferred to the Board of Construction, Installations and Acquisition of Assets of the General Directorate of Social Adaptation.

Review of pretrial detention During the first three months after pretrial detention is ordered, its review shall only proceed when the court deems that the circumstances for which it was ordered have changed. Once that period has expired, the court shall examine, on its own motion, at least every three months, the requirements for the detention or internment and, depending on the case, shall order its continuation, modification, substitution for another measure, or the release of the accused. Failure to comply with the duty of periodic review shall only result in the application of the disciplinary regime when appropriate. After three months have elapsed since the pretrial detention was ordered, the accused may request its review when he deems that the circumstances for which it was ordered no longer subsist. His requests interrupt the period indicated in the preceding paragraph. When reviewing the pretrial detention, the court shall especially take into consideration the dangerousness of the accused and the sufficiency of the evidentiary elements to reasonably sustain that he is the perpetrator of a punishable act or a participant in it.

Review, substitution, modification, and cancellation of measures Except as provided in the preceding article, the court, even on its own motion and at any stage of the proceeding, by reasoned decision, shall review, substitute, modify, or cancel the appropriateness of the precautionary measures and the circumstances of their imposition, in accordance with the rules established in this Code, when so required because the conditions that justified their imposition have changed. If the bond provided is of a real nature and is substituted by another, it shall be canceled and the affected assets shall be returned.

Record Prior to the execution of precautionary measures, when appropriate, a record shall be drawn up containing:

• a)The notification to the accused.
• b)The identification and domicile of the institution or of the individuals involved in the execution of the measure and the acceptance of the function or obligation that has been assigned to them.
• c)The warnings to the individuals of the obligations they assume in the event of non-compliance by the accused.
• d)The designation of the place or manner for receiving notifications.
• e)The formal promise of the accused to appear when summoned.

During the preparatory and intermediate proceedings, the decision that orders pretrial detention for the first time or, after the first three months have elapsed, rejects a substitute measure, shall be heard in a hearing and shall be appealable without suspensive effect.

Decisions that impose any other precautionary measure or reject a substitute measure when issued during the preparatory and intermediate proceedings shall also be appealable, in the same manner and without suspensive effect, provided the cases referred to in the first paragraph are not involved. For these purposes, only the essential documents for resolving the matter shall be sent to the court, and the procedure established for processing the appeal shall not apply.

(Thus amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of the Sentence, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Rules of Orality in Criminal Procedure", Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Cessation of pretrial detention The deprivation of liberty shall end:

• a)When new elements of judgment demonstrate that the grounds that supported it do not concur or make its substitution for another measure convenient, even before three months have elapsed since it was ordered.
• b)When its duration exceeds or is equivalent to the amount of the possible sentence to be imposed, consideration shall even be given to the application of criminal rules relating to the suspension or remission of the sentence, or to early release.
• c)When its duration exceeds twelve months.

At the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the period provided in the preceding article may be extended by the Court of Appeal of Sentence, for up to one more year, provided that it sets the specific time of the extension. In this case, the court must indicate the necessary measures to accelerate the processing of the proceeding.

If the trial court issues a conviction imposing a custodial sentence, the period of pretrial detention may be extended by reasoned decision, for six more months. This last extension shall be added to the periods of pretrial detention indicated in the preceding article and in the first paragraph of this rule.

Once those periods have expired, a new extension of the time of pretrial detention may not be agreed upon, except as provided in the final paragraph of this article, to ensure the holding of the trial or a particular act, to verify the suspicion of flight, or to prevent the obstruction of the investigation of the truth or recidivism. In such cases, the deprivation of liberty may not exceed the time absolutely necessary to fulfill the purpose of the provision.

The Court of Appeal of Sentence, exceptionally and on its own motion, may authorize an extension of the pretrial detention exceeding the previous periods and for up to six more months, when it orders a retrial.

Exceptionally, the Criminal Cassation Chamber may extend, in matters under its cognizance, the pretrial detention for up to six more months beyond the legal terms previously authorized.

(Thus amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of the Sentence, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Rules of Orality in Criminal Procedure", Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Suspension of the periods of pretrial detention The periods provided in the preceding article shall be suspended in the following cases:

(*) a) During the time in which the proceeding is suspended due to the filing of an appeal or action before the Constitutional Chamber. (*) (By decision of the Constitutional Chamber No. 2004-03901 of 04/21/2004, subsection a) of this article was interpreted in the following sense: it is declared that this rule does not contravene Article 39 of the Constitution nor the principles of legal certainty and security, provided it is interpreted that the suspension of the period of pretrial detention established in that rule may in no case exceed the maximum periods established in Article 378, subsection a), of the Code of Criminal Procedure and that, once these are fulfilled, the accused must be released.)

• b)During the time in which the trial is suspended or its commencement is postponed due to the impediment or non-attendance of the accused or his defender, or at their request, provided that the suspension or postponement was not ordered for needs related to the acquisition of evidence or as a consequence of terms for the defense.
• c)When the proceedings must be prolonged due to clearly dilatory actions or incidents formulated by the accused or his defenders, according to a reasoned decision of the court.

Limitations Pretrial detention shall not be ordered for persons over seventy years of age or who are valetudinarian, if the court deems that, in the event of conviction, a sentence greater than five years of imprisonment will not be imposed on them. Nor shall it be ordered in relation to persons affected by a serious and terminal illness. In these cases, if the restriction of liberty is indispensable, house arrest or placement in a medical or geriatric center must be ordered. Pretrial detention may be substituted by house arrest for women in an advanced state of pregnancy or with a child under three months of age, when the deprivation of liberty endangers the life, health, or integrity of the mother, the fetus, or the child.

Incommunicado detention The court may order the incommunicado detention of the accused by reasoned decision, for up to ten consecutive days, when it has previously ordered pretrial detention and there are grounds, which shall be stated in the decision, to believe that he will conspire with his accomplices or otherwise obstruct the investigation. Incommunicado detention shall not prevent the accused from communicating with his defender immediately before making his statement or before carrying out any act requiring his personal intervention. The Public Prosecutor's Office and the judicial police may order the incommunicado detention of the apprehended person only for the period necessary to process the judicial order, which may not exceed six hours.

Internment The court may order the internment of the accused in an assisted-living facility, after verification, by expert opinion, that he suffers from a serious alteration or insufficiency of his mental faculties, which makes him dangerous to himself or to third parties, when the following requirements are met:

• a)The existence of sufficient elements of conviction to reasonably sustain that he is the perpetrator of a punishable act or a participant in it.
• b)The existence of sufficient presumption that he will not submit to the proceeding or will obstruct a specific act of investigation.

Attachment The civil plaintiff may formulate the request for attachment in the initial pleading or subsequently, without prejudice to the power to request the prejudgment attachment.

The attachment shall be ordered by the court, at the request of a party, to guarantee the reparation of damages and losses, and the payment of costs.

Supplementary application With respect to the attachment and all its incidents, the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply insofar as they are applicable.

BOOK V COSTS AND COMPENSATION

Costs of the accused In every proceeding, the State shall cover the expenses in relation to the accused and the other parties who enjoy the benefit of litigating without the collection thereof.

When the accused has financial solvency, he must pay the Judicial Branch for the services of a public defender or any other he has received. For this, the procedure established in the Organic Law of the Judicial Branch regarding the public defender shall be followed. The payment of the official translator or interpreter is excepted from this duty.

Necessary decision The criminal court must rule in a reasoned manner on the payment of procedural and personal costs when issuing the decision that terminates the case.

Fixing of costs Costs shall be borne by the losing party, but the court may exempt it, totally or partially, when there is plausible reason to litigate. When there are several persons condemned to pay costs, the court shall fix the proportional part corresponding to each one, without prejudice to the joint and several liability established by law.

Exempt persons The representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office, lawyers, and agents who intervene in the proceeding may not be condemned in costs, except in cases where the contrary is specifically provided and without prejudice to the civil, criminal, or disciplinary liability they may incur.

Content Costs shall consist of:

• a)The expenses originated by the processing of the proceeding.
• b)The payment of the fees of the lawyers, other professionals, and other persons who have intervened in the proceeding.

Civil action If the civil claim is admitted in the sentence, the accused and the civilly demanded third party shall bear the costs jointly and severally; if the claim is rejected, the civil plaintiff shall bear them. If the action cannot proceed, each of the parties involved shall bear their own costs, unless the parties have agreed on another measure or the court, due to the circumstances of the case, distributes them in another manner.

Duty of compensation. The State must compensate the person who has been unduly subjected to a precautionary measure by a public official who acted arbitrarily or with gross fault, under the terms of Article 199 of the General Law of Public Administration. In this case, the official shall be jointly and severally liable with the State.

Compensation shall also proceed, only at the charge of the State, when a person has been subjected to pretrial detention and is later dismissed or acquitted, with full demonstration of innocence.

(By decision of the Constitutional Chamber No. 2992 of March 5, 2013, it was established that the action filed against the second paragraph of this article is declared without merit, provided that the phrase "with full demonstration of innocence" is interpreted to mean that the acquittal or dismissal was issued because there is certainty as to his innocence.)

Competence The contentious-administrative jurisdiction shall have competence to hear the claims for compensation referred to in the preceding article. When the official's action constitutes a crime, compensation may be claimed in the criminal jurisdiction through the civil action for damages.

Death of the right-holder If the person entitled to compensation has died, his successors shall have the right to collect or process the provided compensation, within the limits of their inheritance portion.

SECOND PART PROCEEDINGS BOOK I ORDINARY PROCEDURE

Purpose The preparatory procedure shall have the purpose of determining whether there is basis for a trial, through the collection of elements that allow supporting the accusation of the prosecutor or the complainant and the defense of the accused.

Investigation file The Public Prosecutor's Office shall form an investigation file, for the purpose of preparing its request, to which it shall add the documents that may be incorporated into the trial.

Validity of actions The actions of the preparatory investigation shall have no evidentiary value to support the conviction of the accused, except for evidence received in accordance with the rules for definitive and irreproducible acts and that which this Code authorizes to be introduced into the trial by reading.

Jurisdictional action It shall be the responsibility of the court of the preparatory procedure to carry out the jurisdictional anticipations of evidence, resolve exceptions and other requests typical of this stage, grant authorizations, and, in general, control compliance with the principles and guarantees established in the Constitution, the International and Community Law in force in Costa Rica, and in this Code. The foregoing shall not prevent the interested party from re-raising the issue at the preliminary hearing. Prosecutors may not carry out properly jurisdictional acts, and judges, except for the exceptions expressly provided for by this Code, may not carry out investigative acts.

First Section Complaint

Power to report Anyone who has knowledge of a crime subject to public prosecution may report it to the Public Prosecutor's Office, to a court with criminal competence, or to the Judicial Police, unless the prosecution depends on a private instance.

In the latter case, only the person with the power to instigate, in accordance with this Code, may report it.

The court that receives a complaint shall immediately inform the Public Prosecutor's Office.

(Note: As a supplement, see Article 152 bis above, which deals with the case of receiving complaints for sexual crimes or attempt, and the obligation of the reported person to provide alimony)

Form The complaint may be filed in written or verbal form, personally or by special agent. In the latter case, it must be accompanied by a power of attorney.

When it is verbal, a record shall be drawn up in accordance with the formalities established in this Code.

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

Content The complaint must contain, to the extent possible, a detailed account of the act, indicating its perpetrators and participants, injured parties, witnesses, and other elements that may lead to its verification and legal classification.

• a)Public officials or employees who become aware of them in the exercise of their functions.
• b)Doctors, midwives, pharmacists, and other persons who practice any branch of the healing arts, who become aware of these acts when providing the aid of their profession, unless the knowledge acquired by them is protected by law under the shield of professional secrecy.
• c)Persons who, by provision of law, by authority, or by a legal act, are in charge of the management, administration, custody, or control of assets or interests of an institution, entity, or person, regarding crimes committed to their detriment or to the detriment of the estate or assets placed under their charge or control, provided they become aware of the act by reason of the exercise of their functions.
• d)Those who hold positions of authority and representation in organizations that provide community, social, religious, or sports services, who have identified indications of sexual crimes to the detriment of a minor or a person with a disability, who are those with long-term physical deficiencies, mental, intellectual, or sensory limitations; must file the criminal complaint immediately, except for those protected by Article 206 of this Code (duty to abstain). The foregoing is without prejudice to other investigations and procedures within their organizations, of which they must notify the authorities.

(Thus the preceding subsection was added by Article 3 of the Law against silence in sexual crimes to the detriment of children and persons with disabilities, joint civil liability, duty to report, and guarantee of compliance with investigation protocols, No. 10813 of November 16, 2025)

In all these cases, the complaint shall not be mandatory if it reasonably risks the criminal prosecution of oneself, of the spouse, or of relatives up to the third degree by consanguinity or affinity, or of a person who cohabits with the complainant and is linked to him by special ties of affection.

When the reported act does not constitute a crime or it is impossible to proceed, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall request the court of the preparatory procedure, through a reasoned request, the dismissal of the complaint, the private criminal complaint, or the police actions.

Dismissal shall not prevent reopening the proceeding when new circumstances so require, nor shall it exempt the Public Prosecutor's Office from the duty to carry out investigative acts that admit no delay.

The decision admitting the dismissal shall be communicated to the victim of known domicile and shall be appealable by the victim, by the complainant, the civil plaintiff, and the Public Prosecutor's Office.

If it concerns a victim who is being protected, the prosecutor in charge of the case must inform her immediately.

When the reported act constitutes a sexual crime against a minor, the Public Prosecutor's Office's request for dismissal must certify compliance with the action protocols in situations of physical, psychological, sexual violence, harassment, and sexual harassment by the National Board of Children (PANI) and the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), as appropriate.

(Thus the preceding paragraph was added by Article 3 of the Law against silence in sexual crimes to the detriment of children and persons with disabilities, joint civil liability, duty to report, and guarantee of compliance with investigation protocols, No. 10813 of November 16, 2025)

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Second Section Intervention of the judicial police

Preliminary inquiries Officials and agents of the judicial police who have knowledge of a crime subject to public prosecution shall inform the Public Prosecutor's Office within six hours following their first intervention. Under the direction and control of the prosecutor in charge of the investigation, they shall carry out the preliminary inquiries to urgently gather or secure the elements of conviction and prevent the flight or concealment of suspects. The same rule shall apply when the Public Prosecutor's Office entrusts them with a preventive investigation.

Action of the administrative police Agents of the administrative police shall be considered officials or agents of the judicial police when they fulfill the functions that the law and this Code impose on the latter, and the employees of the former shall be auxiliaries. The administrative police, to the extent that it performs acts of judicial police, shall be under the authority of the judges and prosecutors, without prejudice to the general administrative authority to which they are subject. They shall act whenever the judicial police cannot do so immediately, but from the moment the judicial police intervenes, the administrative police shall be their auxiliary.

The judicial police, on its own initiative, by complaint, or by order of the competent authority, shall proceed to investigate crimes subject to public prosecution, to prevent the acts committed from being carried out to further consequences; furthermore, it shall proceed to identify and provisionally apprehend the presumed culprits and to gather, secure, and scientifically arrange the evidence and other necessary background information to base the accusation or determine the dismissal.

Likewise, when, during the investigations, it determines the existence of a risk to the life or safety of the victim or a witness, it shall adopt the urgent measures necessary to guarantee their protection and the confidentiality of their identity while informing the Public Prosecutor's Office or the competent judge of the fact. In addition, it shall communicate the fact to the Victim Services Office of the Prosecutor's Office, so that it may initiate what is provided for in this Law for the extra-procedural protection of the person, if applicable.

If the crime is subject to private prosecution, it shall only proceed when it receives an order from the court; but if it is subject to private instigation, it shall act upon the complaint of the person authorized to instigate.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Powers The judicial police shall have the following powers:

• a)Receive complaints.
• b)Ensure that the body and the traces of the crime are preserved.
• c)If there is a danger that any delay may compromise the success of the investigation, record the state of persons, things, and places, through inspections, plans, photographs, technical examinations, and other operations advisable for an adequate investigation.
• d)Proceed with searches and frisks, with the formalities and limitations established in this Code.
• e)Order, if indispensable, the closure of the premises where, by indications, it is suspected that a crime has been committed.
• f)Interview witnesses presumably useful for discovering the truth. When, during the investigations, it determines the existence of a risk to the life or safety of the victim or a witness, it shall adopt the urgent measures necessary to guarantee their protection and the confidentiality of their identity while informing the Public Prosecutor's Office or the competent judge of the fact, within a maximum period of twenty-four hours. In these cases, it may not record in the report the data allowing the identification and location of the victim or the witness, without prejudice to what the competent judge decides.

(Thus the preceding subsection was amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

• g)Summon, apprehend, and hold incommunicado the presumed culprit in the cases and form that this Code authorizes.
• h)Identify the accused and interrogate him in the presence of his defender, during the first six hours of his apprehension or detention, for investigative purposes, respecting the fundamental rights and guarantees established in the Political Constitution and the laws.

(Thus the preceding subsection was amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009).

In the case of subsections b), c), and d), if the inquiry cannot be carried out due to a legal impediment, they must take such precautions as the case requires so that the circumstances to be verified are not altered, while the judge or the prosecutor intervenes.

Precautionary measure When, at the first moment of the investigation of an act, it is not possible to identify the perpetrator, the participants, or the witnesses and it is necessary to proceed urgently so as not to prejudice the investigation of the truth, it may be ordered that those present not move away from the place, nor communicate with each other before giving information, nor modify the state of the things or places, ordering the measures required by the case. The rules of apprehension and incommunicado detention shall be applicable.

Report on preliminary inquiries The officers and auxiliaries of the police shall render a report to the Public Prosecutor's Office on the actions they have carried out to investigate a criminal act.

Third Section Acts of the Public Prosecutor's Office

Purpose of criminal prosecution When the Public Prosecutor's Office learns of a publicly actionable crime, it must prevent it from producing further consequences and will promote its investigation to determine the circumstances of the act and its perpetrators or participants.

Powers of the Public Prosecutor's Office The Public Prosecutor's Office shall carry out the proceedings and actions of the preparatory investigation that do not require judicial authorization or have jurisdictional content. It may demand information from any public official or employee, who are obliged to collaborate with the investigation, according to their respective competencies, and to fulfill the requests or orders for reports made in accordance with the law. Furthermore, it may order reasonable and necessary measures to protect and isolate evidentiary material in the places where a crime is being investigated, in order to avoid the disappearance or destruction of traces, evidence, and other material elements.

Investigative power The Public Prosecutor's Office may carry out proceedings to secure the essential elements of proof concerning the punishable act and to determine its perpetrators and participants, even when the process has been suspended subject to probation or a prosecutorial discretion criterion has been applied.

Participation in acts The Public Prosecutor's Office shall allow the presence of the parties in the acts it carries out; likewise, it will ensure that their participation does not interfere with the normal development of activities. Any of the parties may propose investigative proceedings. The Public Prosecutor's Office must carry them out if it considers them pertinent and useful, and shall state the reasons for its refusal, for the purposes that may later correspond. In this latter case, the parties may appeal to the court of the preparatory procedure, which will rule, without substantiation, on the admissibility of the evidence.

When it is necessary to perform a definitive and irreproducible act that affects fundamental rights, or when a statement must be received that, due to some difficult-to-overcome obstacle, is presumed not to be receivable during the trial, or when, due to the complexity of the matter, there is a probability that the witness will forget essential circumstances about what they know, or when it involves persons who must leave the country, the Public Prosecutor's Office or any of the parties may request the judge to perform or receive it.

This evidence shall be processed immediately, and in all cases, by the Public Prosecutor's Office, when a person is identified through the corresponding procedure as a victim of a sexual crime and is willing to give an interview or statement in the criminal process.

When it involves a witness or victim whose safety, life, or physical integrity is at risk due to their participation in the process, and it is reasonably presumed that their statement at trial will not be possible because the risk will not decrease or could increase, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the private prosecutor, or the defense shall request the judge to order the advance reception of their testimony. In all cases where the reservation of the declarant's physical characteristics has been agreed upon due to the existence of a risk to their life or physical integrity, their testimony shall be received in advance.

The judge shall perform the act, if deemed admissible, summoning all parties, who will have the right to attend, with all the powers and obligations provided for in this Code.

When the advance of evidence is requested in sexual crimes provided for and sanctioned in Costa Rican legislation, in all cases, the judge shall immediately order the taking of the advance of evidence from the victim. For the reception of the jurisdictional advance of evidence, available technological means may be used, such as video conferencing, recordings, closed-circuit television, filming, or any other means, in order to guarantee the purity of the act and the validity of the principles of immediacy and orality inherent to the trial, as well as the right of defense. When the identity of the witness or victim is protected, the advance evidence shall be received, maintaining the reservation of their identification data and with the assistance of available technological means or special cameras that allow their physical characteristics to be hidden or disguised, according to the scope of the protection agreed upon by the judge.

The resolution granting or rejecting the advance evidence shall be appealable by the defense, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the private prosecutor.

The rejection of a request for a jurisdictional advance of evidence shall not prevent its re-filing, if new circumstances or elements of proof so indicate.

(Thus amended by the sole article of Law No. 10521 of September 9, 2024)

Urgency When it is unknown who the accused might be or if any of the acts provided for in the preceding article is extremely urgent, the Public Prosecutor's Office may verbally request the intervention of the judge, and the latter shall perform the act without the summonses provided, and, if necessary, shall appoint a public defender to participate in the act. When proceeding due to urgency, after the act is performed, it must be brought to the attention of the parties. The prior summons may not be dispensed with in cases where a statement must be received from a witness due to the possibility that they will forget essential circumstances.

Privacy of the proceedings The preparatory procedure shall not be public for third parties. The proceedings may only be examined by the parties, directly or through their representatives. Attorneys invoking a legitimate interest shall be informed by the Public Prosecutor's Office of the fact being investigated and of any accused or detainees, so that they may decide whether to accept participation in the case. The parties, the officials participating in the investigation, and any other persons who, for any reason, become aware of the completed proceedings, shall have the obligation to maintain secrecy. Failure to comply with this obligation shall be considered a serious offense.

Secrecy of the proceedings If the accused is not deprived of liberty, the Public Prosecutor's Office may order, only once and by reasoned resolution, the total or partial secrecy of the proceedings, for a period not exceeding ten consecutive days, provided that publicity hinders the discovery of the truth. The period may be extended for an equal amount of time, but in this case, any of the named parties, their defenders, or agents may request the court of the preparatory procedure to examine the grounds of the order and end the reservation. Despite the expiration of the established periods, when the effectiveness of a particular act depends on the partial reservation of the proceedings, the Public Prosecutor's Office may request the judge to order its performance without prior communication to the parties, who shall be informed of the result of the proceeding.

Initial assessment Upon receiving the initial proceedings, the prosecutor shall assess them in order to examine whether to continue with the investigation or request the following:

• a)Dismissal of the complaint, the private criminal action, or the police proceedings.
• b)Dismissal with prejudice (sobreseimiento).
• c)Lack of jurisdiction due to subject matter or territory.
• d)Application of a prosecutorial discretion criterion. e) Suspension of the process subject to probation.
• f)Application of the abbreviated procedure.
• g)Conciliation.
• h)Any other measure tending to conclude the process.

If the accused has not been able to be identified, the Public Prosecutor's Office may, by itself and with grounds, order the archiving of the proceedings. The decision shall be communicated to the victim of known domicile, who may object to the archiving before the court of the preparatory procedure and shall indicate the evidence that would allow the accused to be identified. If the judge admits the objection, they shall order the investigation to continue.

Prosecutorial archiving does not prevent the investigation from being reopened if, subsequently, data appear that allow the accused to be identified.

The victim may also object before the court of the preparatory procedure to errors, omissions, or delays they believe have occurred in the investigation of the facts to their detriment. The judge shall grant a hearing to both the Public Prosecutor's Office and the defense, for a period of five days, and shall resolve accordingly. If the protest relates to the non-production of evidence, the judge shall order what is pertinent, according to the procedure regulated in Article 292 of this Code. The victim may appeal the decision.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

When the Public Prosecutor's Office or the private prosecutor believes that the elements of proof are insufficient to support the accusation, they may request the dismissal or the definitive or provisional dismissal with prejudice (sobreseimiento definitivo o provisional).

They may also request the suspension of the process subject to probation, the application of prosecutorial discretion criteria, the abbreviated procedure, the application of the restorative justice procedure, or that conciliation be promoted. Together with the request, they shall forward to the judge the proceedings, the evidence, and the other material means of proof in their possession.

(Thus amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

When the Public Prosecutor's Office decides to request the application of a prosecutorial discretion criterion or the dismissal with prejudice (sobreseimiento), it must notify the victim of known domicile so that the victim may state whether they intend to become a private prosecutor. In this case, they must indicate it in writing within the following three days. The private criminal action (querella) must be filed before the Public Prosecutor's Office within ten days following the expiration of the previous period. Once the private criminal action is received, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall transfer it to the court of the intermediate procedure, if the accused has already had the opportunity to make their statement; otherwise, it shall first provide them with that possibility. It shall also transfer the proceedings and attach its request.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Referral of the proceedings to the court If the victim does not respond within three days or does not file the private criminal action within the period of ten days, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall transfer the matter to the court of the intermediate procedure so that it may resolve, without substantiation, what is appropriate. If the victim files the private criminal action in time, the court of the intermediate procedure shall notify the parties and make available to them the proceedings and evidence gathered in the investigation, so that they may examine them within a common period of five days. In the same resolution, it shall call the preliminary hearing.

Disagreement When the court considers the opening of the trial appropriate and the Public Prosecutor's Office has requested dismissal or dismissal with prejudice (sobreseimiento), without the victim having filed a private criminal action, the court shall refer the proceedings back to the prosecutor, by reasoned order, so that they may modify their petition within a maximum period of five days. If the prosecutor ratifies their request and the court maintains its position, the proceedings shall be sent to the Prosecutor General or to the superior prosecutor designated by the latter, to petition again or ratify what was proposed by the lower-ranking prosecutor. When the Public Prosecutor's Office reiterates its request, the judge must resolve according to what was petitioned, without prejudice to the challenge of the decision by the victim.

Accusation and request for opening of trial When the Public Prosecutor's Office believes that the investigation provides grounds to subject the accused to public trial, it shall present the accusation requesting the opening of the trial.

The accusation must contain:

• a)Data serving to identify the accused.
• b)The precise and detailed account of the punishable act attributed.
• c)The grounding of the accusation, with the expression of the elements of conviction that motivate it.
• d)Citation of applicable legal precepts.
• e)The offer of evidence to be presented at trial.

With the accusation, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall forward to the judge the proceedings and the evidence in its possession that can be incorporated into the debate.

When the evidence is offered, the list of witnesses and experts shall be presented, indicating name, profession, and domicile. Documents shall also be presented, or the place where they are located shall be indicated, so the court may request them. The means of proof shall be offered indicating the facts or circumstances intended to be proven, under penalty of inadmissibility.

At this same opportunity, the Public Prosecutor's Office or the private prosecutor shall request the judge to adopt the necessary measures for the procedural protection of the witness or victim, as the case may be, or to continue with the protection already granted, until a final judgment (sentencia firme). If it is the first request for protection, the report mentioned in Article 204 bis of this Code shall be attached, and at the preliminary hearing, the parties shall be heard on the matter. The decision shall be adopted and kept in a separate file.

The prosecutor in charge of the case shall be responsible for summoning the witness or victim subject to procedural protection; for this purpose, they may coordinate the pertinent arrangements with the Victim Assistance Office (Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito) of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

(See resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 01-6677 of July eleventh, two thousand one, to the effect that article (*)304 of the Code of Criminal Procedure does not violate the right of abstention recognized in Article 36 of the Political Constitution).

(*)(Note from Sinalevi: The text referred to by the vote of the Constitutional Chamber No. 01-6677 is found in the first paragraph of this article, in accordance with the amendment made by Law No. 8720).

(The Constitutional Chamber, through resolution No. 17907-10 of October 27, 2010, considered that this article is not unconstitutional, "provided it is interpreted that from the debate phase onwards, only extra-procedural protection of the victim or witness is appropriate, so as not to infringe upon the right of defense, and that such protection must be maintained, even after the judgment becomes final, as long as it is necessary for the safety of the witness, expert, deponent, or their family members.")

Alternative or subsidiary accusation In the accusation, the Public Prosecutor's Office or the private prosecutor may indicate, alternatively or subsidiarily, the circumstances of the act that allow qualifying the behavior of the accused as a different crime, in order to enable their correct defense.

Transfer of the accusation The Public Prosecutor's Office must notify the accusation to the victim of known domicile who has requested to be informed of the results of the procedure, so that they may state whether they intend to become a private prosecutor, in which case they must indicate it in writing within the following three days. The private criminal action must be filed before the Public Prosecutor's Office within ten days following the expiration of the previous period.

Amplification of the private criminal action When the victim has filed a private criminal action, the Public Prosecutor's Office must also notify them of the accusation, so that, in view of it, and within the following ten days, they may expand or clarify the account of facts contained in the private criminal action and the legal grounding, and offer new evidence. The silence of the private prosecutor shall not constitute withdrawal.

Claims of the civil plaintiff When the civil action for damages has been exercised, the Public Prosecutor's Office must also notify the accusation to the civil plaintiff, so that, within a period of five days, they may specify their claims, indicate the type and form of reparation demanded, and liquidate the amount of damages and losses they estimate to have suffered up to that moment, without prejudice to expanding the items for future consequences. At this same opportunity, they must offer the evidence for the oral trial in accordance with the requirements indicated for the accusation.

Statement of the accused The accusation or the private criminal action shall not be transferred to the court of the intermediate procedure if the accused has not first been given the opportunity to make a statement.

Procedure When only requests or petitions other than the accusation or the private criminal action are filed, the court of the intermediate procedure shall resolve without substantiation what is appropriate, unless there is a provision to the contrary or it deems it indispensable to hold the preliminary hearing, in which case it shall summon the parties.

Definitive dismissal with prejudice (Sobreseimiento definitivo) Definitive dismissal with prejudice shall be appropriate when:

• a)The denounced act did not occur or was not committed by the accused.
• b)The act does not fit a criminal offense.
• c)A cause of justification or inculpability exists.
• d)The criminal action has been extinguished.
• e)Despite the lack of certainty, there is no reasonable possibility of incorporating new elements of proof and there are no grounds to request, with basis, the opening of the trial.

Content of the resolution The resolution granting definitive dismissal with prejudice (sobreseimiento definitivo) must contain:

• a)The identity of the accused.
• b)The statement of the facts of the accusation.
• c)The description of the proven facts.
• d)The factual and legal grounding.
• e)The operative part, with citation of applicable legal precepts.

Effects of definitive dismissal with prejudice Once the definitive dismissal with prejudice (sobreseimiento definitivo) is final, it shall irrevocably close the procedure in relation to the accused in whose favor it is issued, shall prevent a new criminal prosecution for the same act, and the imposed precautionary measures shall cease.

Provisional dismissal with prejudice (Sobreseimiento provisional) If definitive dismissal with prejudice is not appropriate and the elements of proof are insufficient to proceed to trial, provisional dismissal with prejudice shall be ordered, by reasoned order that specifically mentions the specific elements of proof expected to be incorporated. The precautionary measures imposed on the accused shall cease. If new elements of proof allow the continuation of the procedure, the court, at the request of any of the parties, shall admit the continuation of the investigation. If within one year from the issuance of the provisional dismissal with prejudice, reopening is not requested, the extinction of the criminal action shall be declared ex officio.

Appeal The Public Prosecutor's Office, the private prosecutor, the civil plaintiff, and the victim may file an appeal, with suspensive effect, against the definitive dismissal with prejudice (sobreseimiento definitivo), issued in the preparatory and intermediate stages.

Preliminary hearing When the accusation or the private criminal action is filed, even if other requests or petitions also exist, the court of the intermediate procedure shall notify the parties and make available to them the proceedings and evidence gathered during the investigation, so that they may examine them within a common period of five days.

In the same resolution, it shall summon the parties to an oral and private hearing, which must be held within a period of no less than ten days and no more than twenty.

Powers and duties of the parties Within the period provided in the first paragraph of the second preceding article, the parties may:

• a)Object to the request filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office or the private prosecutor, due to formal or substantial defects.
• b)Raise exceptions.
• c)Request definitive or provisional dismissal with prejudice (sobreseimiento), the suspension of the process subject to probation, the imposition or revocation of a precautionary measure, or the advance of evidence.
• d)Request the application of the abbreviated procedure, a prosecutorial discretion criterion, or conciliation.
• e)Offer evidence for the oral and public trial, in accordance with the requirements indicated for the accusation.
• f)Raise any other question that allows better preparation for the trial.

Within the same period, the parties must offer the means of proof necessary to resolve the issues specific to the preliminary hearing.

The prosecutor and the defender must attend the hearing obligatorily; however, if the latter does not appear, they shall be replaced by a public defender. If applicable, the private prosecutor and the civil plaintiff must also attend, but their non-attendance does not suspend the act. The accused and the civil defendants may also participate.

The victim of known domicile must be summoned to participate in the hearing; however, their non-appearance shall not suspend the proceeding. When it involves a victim who is under protection, the summons to the hearing must be communicated to the Victim Assistance Office of the Public Prosecutor's Office. The court shall try to have the parties conciliate, when this solution is appropriate. If conciliation is not reached or is not appropriate, the preliminary hearing shall continue.

The floor shall be granted, in order, to the private prosecutor, the representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the civil plaintiff, the defender, and the representative of the civil defendant. The prosecutor and the private prosecutor shall summarize the factual and legal grounds supporting their petitions; the civil plaintiff, the defense, and the other parties shall express what they deem pertinent in defense of their interests. During the hearing, the accused may make their statement, in accordance with the provisions of this Code. When the victim is present, they shall be granted the floor.

When the court considers it strictly necessary for its resolution, it shall order the production of evidence, unless it must be received at the oral trial.

The court shall prevent the discussion, in the hearing, of issues that are proper to the oral trial.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Once the hearing is concluded, the court shall resolve immediately and orally the issues raised, unless, due to the late hour or when it involves a matter of complex procedure, the judge may defer the resolution for up to twenty-four hours.

The court shall analyze the admissibility of the accusation or the private criminal action, in order to determine if there is a basis for a trial or, if appropriate, corresponds to totally or partially dismiss the case or grant a dismissal with prejudice (sobreseimiento) to the accused.

The court may also examine, in accordance with the established procedure, whether it is appropriate to apply a prosecutorial discretion criterion, the abbreviated procedure, suspend the procedure subject to probation, or authorize the application of the rules for matters of complex procedure.

Furthermore, the court shall resolve the exceptions raised, order the corresponding advances of evidence, and rule on the separation or consolidation of trials.

It shall decide on the admissibility of the evidence offered for the trial. If the parties have reached an agreement on the civil action, it shall order the necessary steps to execute what was agreed.

At this same opportunity, the court must examine the appropriateness, ratification, revocation, or substitution of precautionary measures. At the same time, it shall rule on the requests for protection of victims or witnesses or on the maintenance, modification, or cessation of the measures already agreed upon.

(Thus amended by Article 1 of Law No. 9021 of January 3, 2012)

(Previously, this numeral had been amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of the Judgment, other reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of new Rules of Orality in the Criminal Process", Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Admission of evidence for the trial The court of the intermediate procedure shall admit the pertinent evidence for the correct solution of the case, and shall order ex officio that which is essential. It shall reject that which it considers evidently abundant or unnecessary. It may ex officio order that evidence be received at the debate only when the negligence of any of the parties is manifest and its source resides in the proceedings already carried out. Against the resolution, only a revocation appeal (recurso de revocatoria) is admissible, without prejudice to reiterating the request for the reception of inadmissible evidence as evidence for better resolution before the trial court.

Prerequisite for the opening of the trial The order of opening of the trial may be issued based on the accusation of the Public Prosecutor's Office or that of the private prosecutor. If the trial is opened based solely on the private accusation, the private prosecutor shall continue the exercise of the action exclusively, without prejudice to the representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office choosing to continue intervening in the procedure, but they shall not be obliged to maintain the claim of the former.

Order of opening of the trial The order of opening of the trial shall indicate the part of the accusation or the private criminal action that is admitted, the order to send the matter to trial, and the summons to the parties so that, within a common period of five days, they appear before the trial court and indicate the place or manner for receiving notifications.

Request for the debate to be held in two phases Within the period provided in the preceding article, the accused may request that the debate be held in two phases, so that in the first phase, matters concerning the existence of guilt are discussed, and in the second phase, if guilt exists, matters relating to the individualization of the penalty and the civil consequences. Within the same period, the civil parties may make the same request, but with respect to civil consequences. Before referring the proceedings, the court shall rule on the request. Once the preceding matters are resolved, the proceedings, documents, and seized objects shall be referred to the trial court, and the detainees shall be placed under its authority.

Within the forty-eight hours following the receipt of the proceedings, the day and hour of the trial shall be set, which shall not be held before five days nor after one month.

When the celebration of the debate in two phases has been ordered, the court shall set the date for the first phase. Upon ruling on guilt, it must set, if necessary, the date for the second hearing, which must be held within the following five days.

The court shall be composed in accordance with the legal provisions regulating the jurisdiction and competence of criminal courts, with one or three judges, as appropriate.

The court clerk shall summon the witnesses and experts; request the objects and documents and arrange the necessary measures to organize and conduct the public trial. It shall be the obligation of the parties and the Public Prosecutor's Office to assist in the location and appearance of the witnesses who have been proposed for the trial; the court clerk's office shall provide them with the necessary assistance through the issuance of summonses, without prejudice to the use of the Public Force, if necessary.

When witnesses who are under procedural protection have been admitted for trial, the court shall adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the reception of their testimony in the manner agreed upon when the protection was ordered; for this purpose, it may order that the hearing be held privately, or that the necessary technological means be used, all without prejudice to what may be resolved on the matter during the course of the debate, without prejudice to dispensing with their reception and incorporating the jurisdictional advance of evidence, when the risk to the life or physical integrity of the declarant has not decreased or has increased due to the trial, in the terms of subparagraph a) of Article 334 of this Code.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Exceptions Exceptions based on new facts may be filed within five days of notification of the hearing date. The trial shall not be postponed due to the processing or resolution of these matters.

Principles The trial is the essential phase of the proceeding. It shall be conducted based on the accusation, orally, publicly, adversarially, and continuously.

Advance evidentiary proceedings The court may order that any evidence be received that is urgent or that, due to some obstacle difficult to overcome, is presumed will not be able to be received at the trial. The acts must be carried out in the manner provided for jurisdictional advance evidentiary proceedings.

Immediacy The trial shall be conducted with the uninterrupted presence of the judges and the parties. The accused may not leave the hearing without the court's permission. If, after giving his statement, he refuses to remain, he shall be guarded in a nearby room, and for all purposes, he may be represented by defense counsel. Only if the accusation is expanded, the presiding judge shall order him to appear for the purposes of the corresponding notification. If his presence is necessary to carry out any act or identification procedure, he may be compelled to appear at the hearing by public force. If defense counsel fails to appear at the hearing or withdraws from it, the defense shall be considered abandoned and his replacement shall proceed. If the civilly demanded third party does not appear at the trial or withdraws from the hearing, the trial shall continue as if he were present.

Limitations on the liberty of the accused If the accused is at liberty, the court may order, to ensure the hearing takes place, his conveyance by public force and pretrial detention; it may even vary the conditions under which he enjoys liberty or impose some of the other precautionary measures provided for in this Code.

The trial shall be public. However, the court may resolve, by reasoned order and even on its own motion, that it be conducted, totally or partially, in private, when:

• a)The modesty, private life, or physical integrity of any of the participants is directly affected.
• b)It seriously affects State security or the interests of justice.
• c)An official, private, commercial, or industrial secret is endangered, the improper disclosure of which is punishable.
• d)It is provided for in a specific rule.
• e)A statement is being received from a minor and the court considers publicity inadvisable, in consideration of their best interests.
• f)The testimony of victims and witnesses of human trafficking is being received.
• g)The testimony of procedurally protected victims or witnesses is being received.

Once the cause has disappeared, the public shall re-enter, and the presiding judge shall briefly relate what occurred, if the court so orders. The court may impose on the parties participating in the act the duty of secrecy regarding the facts they witnessed or became aware of. A record of what occurred shall be left in the trial minutes.

(As amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

To inform the public of what occurs in the courtroom, radio, television, or press companies may install recording, photography, radiophony, filming, or other devices in the courtroom. The court shall indicate, in each case, the conditions under which these faculties will be exercised. However, by reasoned resolution, it may prohibit such installation when it harms the development of the trial or affects any of the interests indicated in the preceding article of this Code.

Such devices may not be installed, nor may any filming or recording be carried out, when dealing with acts committed to the detriment of minors. Likewise, they may not be used in the hearing when receiving the testimony of witnesses or victims who are being protected due to the existence of risks to their life or physical integrity or that of their family members, nor in cases processed through the restorative justice procedure. In such cases, the hearing for receiving such testimonies shall be declared private.

If the accused, the victim, or any person who must give a statement expressly requests that the media companies not record their voice or their image, the court shall ensure their rights are respected.

(As amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

Prohibitions on access Minors under twelve years of age may not enter the courtroom, except when accompanied by an adult who takes responsibility for their conduct. For reasons of discipline and capacity of the room, the court may also order the withdrawal of persons whose presence is not necessary, or limit admission to a specific number.

Orality The hearing shall be oral; in this manner, the accused and the other persons participating in it shall declare. Those who cannot speak or cannot do so intelligibly in Spanish shall formulate their questions or answers in writing or through interpreters, reading or translating the questions or answers. The court's resolutions during the hearing shall be issued verbally; everyone shall be considered notified by their pronouncement, and a record shall be left in the minutes.

Only the following may be incorporated into the trial by their reading:

• a)Evidence received in accordance with the rules of jurisdictional advance evidentiary proceedings, without prejudice to the parties or the court demanding its reproduction, when possible. The advance evidence that was taken due to the existence of a risk to the life or physical integrity of the victim or witness shall be incorporated, if that risk has not diminished or has increased due to the trial being held and conditions do not exist to guarantee the reception of the testimony at the trial.
• b)The complaint, documentary evidence and expert opinions, reports, certifications, and records of identification, registration, inspection, seizure, and search carried out in accordance with this Code.
• c)Statements given by rebel or acquitted co-accused.
• d)The records of evidence ordered to be received during the trial, outside the courtroom.

Any other element of evidence incorporated into the trial by reading shall have no value, unless the parties and the court expressly manifest their consent.

(As amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Direction of the trial The presiding judge shall direct the hearing, order the necessary readings, issue the legal warnings, administer oaths and receive statements, exercise disciplinary authority, and moderate the discussion, preventing impertinent interventions or those that do not lead to the clarification of the truth, without thereby restricting the exercise of the accusation or the breadth of the defense. The full court shall resolve when a decision of the presiding judge is challenged. Those attending shall remain respectfully and in silence, while not authorized to present or respond to the questions posed to them. They may not carry weapons or other objects suitable to disturb or offend, nor adopt intimidating or provocative behavior, nor cause disturbances.

Continuity and suspension The hearing shall be conducted without interruption, during the consecutive sessions that are necessary until its conclusion; however, it may be suspended for a maximum period of ten days in the following cases:

• a)When a motion must be resolved that, due to its nature, cannot be decided immediately.
• b)When it is necessary to carry out an act outside the place of the hearing and it cannot be completed in the interval between one session and another.
• c)When witnesses, experts, or interpreters whose intervention is indispensable do not appear, unless it can continue with the reception of other evidence until the absent person is brought by public force.
• d)If a judge, prosecutor, or defense counsel becomes ill to the point of being unable to continue their participation in the trial, unless the latter two can be immediately replaced or the court was constituted, from the beginning of the hearing, with a greater number of judges than required for its composition, so that alternates can compose the court and allow the hearing to continue.
• e)When it is proven, with a forensic medical report, that the accused is in the situation provided for in the preceding paragraph. In this case, the severance of trials may be ordered and the proceeding continued with the other accused.
• f)If some unexpected revelation or retraction produces substantial alterations in the case, making extraordinary evidence indispensable.
• g)When the accused or his defense counsel so request after the accusation or the complaint has been expanded, provided that, due to the characteristics of the case, it cannot continue immediately.

Effects of the suspension The court shall decide the suspension and announce the day and time of the new hearing; this shall serve as summons for all those appearing. The trial shall continue after the last act completed when the suspension was ordered. Judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel may participate in other trials during the period of suspension.

Impossibility of attendance Persons who cannot attend the hearing due to a justified impediment shall be examined at the place where they are, by one of the judges of the court or by means of a commission to another judge, depending on the circumstances, with the assistance of the parties when they so request. A record of that statement shall be drawn up to be read at the hearing.

Cultural diversity When the adjudication of the case or the individualization of the penalty requires special treatment, because it involves acts committed within a social group with particular cultural norms, or when, due to the personality or life of the accused, it is necessary to know his cultural norms of reference in greater detail, the court may order a special expert opinion, divide the trial into two phases, and, if necessary, transfer the holding of the hearing to the community where the act occurred, to allow for a better defense and facilitate the assessment of evidence.

If a cause extinguishing the criminal action arises, and holding the trial is not necessary to verify it, the court may order the definitive dismissal.

The Public Prosecutor's Office, the victim, the complainant, and the civil plaintiff may file an appeal of the sentence against the decision.

(As amended by Article 1, "Creation of the Appeal of the Sentence, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Orality Rules in Criminal Procedure," Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Opening On the appointed day and time, the court shall convene in the courtroom. The presiding judge shall verify the presence of the parties, witnesses, experts, and interpreters, declare the trial open, warning the accused about the importance and significance of what is about to happen, indicating that he be attentive to what he will hear.

Immediately, he shall order the Public Prosecutor's Office and the complainant, as applicable, to read the accusation and the complaint; they may briefly explain the content. Subsequently, the defense shall be given the floor, so that, if it wishes, it may synthetically indicate its position regarding the accusation.

Processing of incidental issues Incidental issues shall be addressed in a single act, unless the court resolves to do so successively or to defer any for the moment of sentencing, as suits the order of the trial. In the discussion of incidental issues, the parties shall be given the floor only once, for the time established by the presiding judge.

Statement of the accused After the opening of the hearing or after the incidental issues are resolved, the accused's statement shall be received, explaining to him, if necessary, in clear and simple words, the act he is accused of, with the warning that he may abstain from declaring, without his silence prejudicing or affecting him in any way, and that the trial will continue even if he does not declare. He may state whatever he deems appropriate, and then he shall be interrogated by the prosecutor, the complainant, the civil parties, the defense, and the members of the court, in that order. If he incurs contradictions with respect to previous statements, which shall be pointed out to him, the presiding judge may order the reading of those, provided that the rules provided for in this Code were observed in their reception. The statement at trial prevails over previous ones, unless he gives no reasonable explanation for the existence of those contradictions. During the course of the trial, the parties and the court may pose questions to him aimed at clarifying his statements.

Statement of several accused If there are several accused persons, the presiding judge may remove from the courtroom those who are not declaring at that moment; but, after receiving the statements, he shall inform them in a summarized manner of what occurred during the absence.

Faculty of the accused During the course of the hearing, the accused may make the statements he deems opportune, provided they refer to his defense. The accused may speak with his defense counsel at any time, without the hearing being suspended for this reason.

New legal classification If, during the course of the hearing, the court observes the possibility of a legal classification that has not been considered by any of the parties, it may warn the accused about this possibility, so that he may prepare his defense.

During the trial, the prosecutor or the complainant may expand the accusation by including a new fact or a new circumstance not mentioned in the accusation or the complaint, which modifies the legal classification or constitutes a continuing offense. In such case, they must also warn of the variation in the legal classification contained in the accusation. In relation to the new facts or circumstances attributed in the expansion, a new statement shall be received from the accused, and the parties shall be informed that they have the right to request the suspension of the trial to offer new evidence or prepare the defense. The facts or circumstances covered by the expansion shall be included in the accusation.

Correction of errors The correction of simple material errors or the inclusion of any circumstance that does not essentially modify the accusation nor cause defenselessness may be carried out during the hearing, without it being considered an expansion of the accusation or the complaint.

Reception of evidence After the accused's statement, the court shall receive the evidence in the order indicated in the following articles, unless it deems it necessary to alter it.

The experts who were summoned shall be called and shall answer the questions posed to them. If possible, the court shall order that the expert operations be performed at the hearing. Experts shall have the faculty to consult documents, written notes, and publications during their statement. If necessary, the presiding judge shall order the reading of the expert opinions.

Next, the presiding judge shall call the witnesses, beginning with those offered by the Public Prosecutor's Office; continuing with those proposed by the complainant and the civil parties, and concluding with those of the accused. Before testifying, witnesses shall not communicate among themselves; nor shall they see, hear, or be informed of what occurs in the courtroom. After testifying, the presiding judge may order that they remain secluded in the anteroom, that they witness the hearing, or that they withdraw.

However, failure to comply with the seclusion shall not prevent the witness's statement, but the court shall assess this circumstance when evaluating the evidence.

For the reception of testimony from minors, the court shall take the necessary measures in consideration of their best interests and in the interest of avoiding or reducing re‑victimization. It may be assisted by experts or specialists in the subject matter, who accompany the minor in their account or assist them if necessary. To guarantee the minor's rights, the court may order that their testimony be received in a special room, or with the use of special cameras or available technological means that facilitate the minor's account, without contact with the parties, when this is recommended.

Similarly, for the reception of testimony from a protected victim or witness, the court shall order that it be done under the conditions and by the technological means that guarantee the agreed-upon protection, especially when it is necessary to maintain the confidentiality of the individualizing physical characteristics of the declarant, such as their face or their voice, always guaranteeing the interrogation by the parties.

(As amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Interrogation After administering the oath and interrogating the expert or witness about their personal identity and the general circumstances to assess their report or statement, the presiding judge shall give them the floor so they may indicate what they know about the fact proposed as the object of proof. Upon finishing the account, the direct interrogation shall be permitted. The party who proposed them shall begin, the other parties shall continue, in the order the court deems appropriate, and it shall be ensured that the defense interrogates last. The prosecutor may interrogate regarding the statements that the witness made to him during the investigation. Then, the members of the court may interrogate the expert or the witness. The presiding judge shall moderate the interrogation and prevent the declarant from answering misleading, suggestive, or impertinent questions; he shall ensure that the interrogation is conducted without undue pressure and without offending the dignity of persons. The parties may request the revocation of the presiding judge's decisions when they limit the interrogation, or object to the questions posed. Experts and witnesses shall express the reason for their information and the origin of their knowledge.

Failure to appear When the expert or witness, duly summoned, has not appeared, the presiding judge shall order that they be brought by public force and shall request the party who proposed them to collaborate with the diligence. If the witness cannot be located to be brought by public force, the trial shall continue dispensing with that evidence.

Other means of evidence Documents shall be read and exhibited at the hearing, with indication of their origin. Seized objects and other elements of conviction shall be exhibited for their recognition by witnesses, experts, or the accused. Recordings and audiovisual evidentiary elements shall be reproduced. The parties and the court may unanimously agree to the reading, exhibition, or partial reproduction of those means of evidence when such reading or reproduction is sufficient for the purposes of the trial. In such case, one of the members of the court must orally present a synthesis of the content of those evidentiary elements. Failure to comply with this obligation entails the impossibility of considering that evidence in the sentence. Confrontations or reconstructions may be carried out, or a judicial inspection may be ordered.

Evidence for better provision Exceptionally, the court may order, on its own motion or at the request of a party, the reception of any evidence, if, during the course of the hearing, new facts or circumstances arise that require clarification.

Final discussion Once the reception of evidence is finished, the presiding judge shall grant the floor successively to the prosecutor, the complainant, the civil plaintiff, the civil defendant, and the defense counsel, so that in that order they may present their closing arguments. Written memorials may not be read, without prejudice to the partial reading of notes to aid memory. If two or more prosecutors, complainants, or defense counsel intervened, all may speak, distributing their tasks to avoid repetitions or delays. The parties may rebut, with the exception of the civil parties, but the final word belongs to the defense counsel. The rebuttal shall be limited to the refutation of adverse arguments that have not been previously discussed. The presiding judge shall prevent any rambling, repetition, or interruption. In case of manifest abuse of the floor, he shall call the attention of the speaker, and if the speaker persists, the time for the argument may be limited, taking into account the nature of the facts under examination, the evidence received, and the issues to be resolved. At the end of the argument, the speaker shall express his conclusions in a concrete manner.

Request for penalty and civil remedy If the division of the trial into two phases has not been ordered, the prosecutor and the complainant must request the penalty they deem appropriate when seeking a conviction. The civil plaintiff must specify the amount of damages he estimates having suffered subsequent to the specification made in the preparatory procedure. When the division has been ordered, those requests must be formulated in the second hearing.

Closure of the trial If the victim is present and wishes to speak, they shall be granted the floor, even if they have not intervened in the proceeding. Finally, the presiding judge shall ask the accused if he has anything further to state. Immediately afterward, he shall declare the trial closed.

Trial on criminal and civil consequences The trial on the penalty or civil consequences shall begin with the reading of the first part of the sentence. Then the court shall attempt conciliation regarding the civil claims. Next, the evidence offered to individualize the penalty or civil consequences shall be received, and shall proceed, from that point forward, according to the common rules. At the end of the trial, the court shall issue the resolution on the penalty and civil liability and shall complete the full sentence, according to the rules provided for that resolution. The period for challenging the sentence shall begin from the integral notification. If a remand trial has been ordered solely to determine the penalty or civil consequences, the same rules shall apply.

Deliberation Once the trial is closed, the judges shall immediately and without interruption proceed to deliberate in secret session.

Except as provided for complex processes, the deliberation may not extend beyond two days. Once that period has elapsed without a verdict being produced, the trial must be repeated before another court, without prejudice to the disciplinary actions that may apply.

The deliberation may also not be suspended except for the serious illness of any of the judges. In this case, the suspension may not be extended for more than three days, after which the judge must be replaced and the trial conducted again.

Rules for deliberation and voting The court shall assess the evidence produced during the trial, in an integral manner and with strict application of the rules of sound criticism.

The judges shall deliberate and vote on the issues, and shall follow, as far as possible, the following order:

• a)Those relating to their jurisdiction, the admissibility of the criminal action, and any other incidental issue that has been deferred to this moment.
• b)Those relating to the existence of the fact, its legal classification, and culpability.
• c)The individualization of the applicable penalty.
• d)Restitution and costs.
• e)When applicable, matters relating to the reparation of damages.

Decisions shall be adopted by majority. If a majority is not reached regarding the amounts of the penalty and civil remedy, the midpoint shall be applied.

Reopening of the trial If, during the deliberation, the court deems it absolutely necessary to receive new evidence or expand the evidence incorporated, it may order the reopening of the trial for that purpose. The discussion shall then be limited to the examination of the new elements of appraisal provided.

Requirements of the sentence The sentence shall contain:

• a)The mention of the court, the place and date on which it was issued, the names of the judges and the parties, the personal data of the accused, and the enunciation of the act that was the object of the trial.
• b)The vote of the judges on each of the issues raised in the deliberation, with an exposition of the factual and legal grounds on which they are based, without prejudice to adhering to the considerations and conclusions formulated by the judge who voted first.
• c)The precise and detailed determination of the act the court deems proven.
• d)The operative part with mention of the applicable rules.
• e)The signature of the judges.

Drafting and reading The sentence shall be drafted and signed immediately after the deliberation.

Immediately, the court shall convene again in the courtroom, after the parties are summoned verbally. The document shall be read aloud by the clerk before those appearing.

If the sentence is condemnatory and the accused is at liberty, the court may order pretrial detention when there are grounds to reasonably estimate that he will not submit to execution once the sentence is final.

When, due to the complexity of the matter or the lateness of the hour, it is necessary to defer the drafting of the sentence, at that time only its operative part shall be read, and one of the judges shall synthetically relate, to the public, the grounds that motivated the decision; likewise, he shall announce the day and time for the integral reading, which shall take place within a maximum period of five days after the pronouncement of the operative part.

The sentence shall be considered notified with the integral reading, and the parties shall receive a copy thereof.

Correlation between accusation and sentence The sentence may not consider as proven any facts or circumstances other than those described in the accusation and the complaint, and, where appropriate, in the expansion of the accusation, except when they favor the accused. In the sentence, the court may give the fact a legal classification different from that of the accusation or complaint, or apply penalties more serious or different from those requested.

Acquittal The acquittal sentence shall order the release of the accused, the cessation of precautionary measures, the restitution of objects affected by the proceeding that are not subject to confiscation, the necessary registrations, and shall set costs. The release of the accused shall be granted even when the acquittal sentence is not final, and shall be carried out directly from the courtroom, for which the court shall issue a written order.

Conviction The condemnatory sentence shall precisely set the corresponding penalties and, where applicable, shall determine the conditional suspension of the penalty and the obligations that the convicted person must fulfill. Convictions or penalties shall be unified when appropriate. The sentence shall also decide on costs and on the delivery of seized objects to whoever has the best right to possess them, without prejudice to any claims that may be brought before the civil courts. It shall decide on the confiscation and destruction provided for by law.

Civil condemnation When the civil action has been brought, the condemnatory sentence shall also set the reparation for the damages caused and the manner in which the respective obligations must be met. When the evidentiary elements do not allow for the establishment with certainty of the amounts of some of the items claimed by the civil plaintiff and it is not one of the cases where they can be valued prudentially, the court may accept them in the abstract to be liquidated in the execution of the sentence before the civil or contentious-administrative courts, as appropriate, provided that it has found the existence of the damage and the defendant's duty to repair it to be proven.

8837 of May 3, 2010) (By resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 13820 of August 20, 2014, numeral 10 of Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010, "Creation of the appeal recourse against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime and implementation of new orality rules in the criminal process," which repealed this article, was annulled, restoring article 466 bis of the Criminal Procedure Code. Subsequently, by vote 2014-017411 of October 22, 2014, resolution number 2014-013820 of August 20, 2014, was supplemented, so that the following is understood: 1) The unconstitutionality of article 10 of the Law creating the appeal recourse against the judgment is only with respect to the repeal of article 466 bis of the Criminal Procedure Code, not regarding the rest of the norms that said article 10 repealed. 2) The effects of the substantive judgment are dimensioned so that article 466 bis of the Criminal Procedure Code (originally article 451 bis) comes into force again as of the date on which this action was resolved, that is, as of August 20, 2014.

In such a way that, the cassation appeals filed under the assumption of the norm, which had already been resolved by August 20, 2014, remain unaffected, but the cassation appeals filed under the assumption of the norm, which were not resolved by August 20, 2014 (that is, were pending resolution), would be rendered void by virtue of the prohibition that revives (with the new entry into force of article 466 bis of the Criminal Procedure Code) upon the norm that repealed it being declared unconstitutional.)

Forms of recording the hearing A record (acta) of the hearing shall be drawn up, which shall contain:

• a)The place and date of the hearing, with an indication of the start and end time, as well as any suspensions and resumptions.
• b)The name of the judges, the parties, the defenders, and the representatives.
• c)The personal data of the accused.
• d)A brief summary of the development of the hearing, with an indication of the name of the witnesses, experts (peritos), and interpreters, the reference to the documents read and the other evidentiary elements reproduced, with mention of the conclusions of the parties.
• e)The requests and decisions produced in the course of the trial and the objections of the parties.
• f)The observance of essential formalities; a record shall be kept of the publicity or whether it was totally or partially excluded.
• g)The other mentions prescribed by law that the court orders to be made; those requested by the parties, when they are interested in leaving an immediate record of some event or the content of some essential element of evidence, and the revocations or protests of appeal.
• h)The record of the reading of the judgment.
• i)The signature of the clerk.

In cases of complex evidence, the court may order the literal transcription of the hearing, by stenography or another similar method.

The court must make a recording of the debate, at least phonetic, which it must preserve until the judgment becomes final.

The record (acta) and the recording shall demonstrate, in principle, the manner in which the trial was developed, the observance of the formalities provided for it, the persons who have intervened, and the acts that were carried out.

The lack or insufficiency of the recording shall not produce, by itself, a ground for challenging the judgment. In that case, other means of proof may be resorted to in order to accredit a defect that invalidates the decision.

When challenging the judgment, the alleged omission or falsehood shall be indicated.

(Thus reformed by article 1 of Law No. 9021 of January 3, 2012)

Supplementary application to special procedures In the special procedures provided for in the following Book, the rules of the ordinary procedure established in this Book shall be applied, insofar as they are compatible and in the absence of a specific rule in those.

BOOK II SPECIAL PROCEDURES

At any time, up until the opening of the trial is agreed upon, the application of the abbreviated procedure may be proposed when:

• a)The accused admits the act attributed to him and consents to the application of this procedure.
• b)The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), the complainant (querellante), and the civil actor express their conformity.

In those cases where it is appropriate according to the current legal regulations, it may be requested that the abbreviated procedure be processed through the restorative justice procedure.

The existence of co-defendants does not prevent the application of these rules to any of them.

(Thus reformed by article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), the complainant (querellante), and the accused, jointly or separately, shall express their desire to apply the abbreviated procedure and shall accredit compliance with the legal requirements.

The Public Prosecutor's Office and the complainant, as applicable, shall formulate the accusation if they have not already done so, which shall contain a description of the conduct attributed and its legal classification, and shall request the penalty to be imposed. For these purposes, the minimum penalty provided for in the criminal type may be reduced by up to one-third.

The victim of known domicile shall be heard, but their opinion shall not be binding. However, in cases processed with the application of the procedure established in the Restorative Justice Law, the victim's consent to participate in the restorative approach shall indeed be a viability requirement.

If the court deems the request appropriate, it shall so agree and send the matter to the knowledge of the trial court.

(Thus reformed by article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

Once the proceedings are received, the court shall issue a judgment unless, beforehand, it deems it pertinent to hear the parties and the victim of known domicile in an oral hearing.

When resolving, the court may reject the abbreviated procedure and, in this case, forward the matter for its ordinary processing or issue the corresponding judgment. If it orders the forwarding, the previous request regarding the penalty does not bind the Public Prosecutor's Office during the trial, nor may the admission of the facts by the accused be considered as a confession.

If it convicts, the penalty imposed may not exceed that requested by the accusers.

The judgment shall contain the requirements provided for in this Code, in a succinct manner, and shall be challengeable through the recourses and provisions regulated in this Code for appealing the judgment issued in the ordinary criminal process.

(Thus reformed by article 1 of Law No. 9021 of January 3, 2012)

Provenance When the processing is complex due to the multiplicity of the acts, the high number of accused or victims, or when dealing with cases related to the investigation of any form of organized crime, the court, ex officio or at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), may authorize, by reasoned resolution, the application of the special rules provided for in this Title.

In the trial stage, the decision may only be adopted at the moment when the debate is convened.

When the application of the complex procedure is ordered during the preparatory or intermediate phases, the reduction of the statute of limitations term by half, provided for in article 33 of this Code, shall not apply.

(The preceding paragraph was thus added by article 2 of Law No. 8146 of October 30, 2001)

Processing The request shall be substantiated and the court shall resolve within three days. The authorization may be revoked at any time, ex officio or at the request of anyone who considers their rights affected by the procedure. The resolution ordering that the matter is of complex processing is appealable by the accused, during the preparatory and intermediate stages.

Time Limits Once this procedure is authorized, it shall produce the following effects:

• a)The ordinary time limit for pretrial detention shall be extended up to a maximum of eighteen months, the extension up to another eighteen months, and, in the event of a conviction, up to eight more months.
• b)The time limit agreed upon by the court to conclude the preparatory investigation shall be one year.
• c)In the intermediate and trial stages, the time limits established in favor of the parties to carry out any action and those that establish a determined time to hold hearings shall be doubled.
• d)When the duration of the debate is less than thirty days, the maximum time limit for deliberation shall be extended to five days and the time to issue the judgment to ten. When the duration of the debate is greater, those time limits shall be ten and twenty days respectively.
• e)The time limits for filing and processing recourses shall be doubled.

In any case, the rules on delay of justice shall apply.

Common rules In all other respects, the rules of the ordinary procedure shall apply. The courts shall especially ensure that the application of the special rules does not denaturalize the principles and guarantees provided for in the Constitution, in the International or Community Law in force in Costa Rica, and the law.

Complaint and transfer The complaint (querella) shall be filed before the trial court, which shall give a hearing to the defendant (querellado) so that, within a period of five days, he may state what he deems convenient in his defense, offer evidence in accordance with the common rules, and raise the exceptions and recusals he deems convenient. When the civil action has been exercised, a transfer shall be given to him at that same opportunity.

(The Constitutional Chamber, by resolution No. 3594-12 of March 14, 2012, established that this rule "is not unconstitutional as long as it is interpreted in a broad manner favorable to the guarantees and rights of the defendant (querellado).")

Prior judicial assistance When it has not been possible to identify, individualize the accused, or determine his domicile, or when to describe the act clearly, precisely, and circumstantially, it is essential to carry out proceedings that the complainant (querellante) cannot carry out by himself, he shall require judicial assistance in the accusation, and shall indicate the pertinent measures. The court shall provide the assistance, if appropriate. Subsequently, the accuser shall complete his accusation within five days of obtaining the missing information.

Accumulation of causes The accumulation of causes for private action crimes shall be governed by the common provisions, but they shall not be accumulated with those initiated for public action crimes.

Desistance The complainant (querellante) may expressly desist at any stage of the trial, but shall be subject to liability for his prior acts.

The private action shall be deemed desisted:

• a)If the procedure is paralyzed for one month due to inactivity of the complainant or his agent, and they do not activate it within the third day of having been notified of the resolution, which shall be issued even ex officio, in which they are urged to continue the procedure.
• b)When the complainant or his agent do not appear, without just cause, at the conciliation hearing.
• c)When the complainant or his agent do not appear, without just cause, at the first hearing of the debate, leave the hearing, or do not present conclusions.
• d)When, upon the death or incapacity of the complainant, none of his heirs or legal representatives appear to continue the action, after three months from the occurrence of the death or incapacity.

In cases of non-appearance, the just cause must be accredited before the start of the hearing, if possible, or, otherwise, within forty-eight hours of the date set for it.

Effects of desistance Express desistance shall only comprise the participants specifically indicated. If no person is mentioned, it shall be understood to extend to all. Tacit desistance shall comprise the accused who have participated in the procedure. When the court declares the criminal claim extinguished due to desistance, it shall dismiss the case and impose costs on the complainant (querellante), unless the parties had agreed otherwise in this regard.

Conciliation hearing Once the hearing period on the complaint (querella) has expired, a conciliation hearing shall be convened within the following ten days. In all other respects, the common rules of conciliation shall apply.

Conciliation and retraction When the parties reach a conciliation at the hearing or at any stage of the trial, the case shall be dismissed and the respective costs shall be borne by each of them, unless they agree otherwise. If dealing with crimes against honor, if the defendant (querellado) retracts at the hearing or upon answering the complaint, the case shall be dismissed and the costs shall be borne by him. The retraction shall be published at the request of the complainant (querellante), in the manner that the court deems adequate.

Subsequent procedure If the defendant (querellado) does not appear at the conciliation hearing or if conciliation or retraction does not occur, the court shall convene the trial in accordance with the provisions of this Code and shall apply the rules of the ordinary procedure.

Provenance This procedure shall be followed when there is evidence from which it can be reasonably deduced that it is appropriate to apply a security measure, by virtue of the unimputability of the accused.

Special rules The procedure shall be governed by the ordinary rules, except those established below:

• a)When the accused is incapable, he shall be represented for all purposes by his defender in the proceedings of the procedure, except for acts of a personal nature.
• b)In the case provided for in the preceding subsection, the prior declaration of the accused shall not be required to file an accusation; but his defender may state whatever he deems convenient for the defense of his represented party.
• c)The procedure provided for here shall not be processed jointly with an ordinary one.
• d)The trial shall be held without the presence of the accused when it is inconvenient due to his state or for reasons of order and security.
• e)The rules referring to the abbreviated procedure, nor those of the suspension of the procedure on probation, shall not be applicable.

Ordinary procedure When the court considers that the accused is not unimputable, it shall order the application of the ordinary procedure.

Applicable provisions The judging of the members of the Supreme Powers and of the officials regarding whom the Political Constitution requires that the Legislative Assembly authorize their judging so that they can be subjected to criminal process, shall be governed by the common provisions, except those established in this Chapter.

Popular action If members of the Supreme Powers and referred officials are accused of a public action crime, this action shall be exercised by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), without prejudice to the right to file a complaint (querella) that any person shall have if it deals with a functional crime, or the victim in other cases. If it deals with a private action crime, this action shall be exercised exclusively by the offended party.

Detention in flagrante delicto If the official has been apprehended in flagrante delicto, he shall be placed at the order of the Supreme Court of Justice. The President of the Court shall immediately inform the Legislative Assembly, so that it may rule on the maintenance or cessation of that restriction on liberty, without prejudice to the Public Prosecutor's Office conducting the initial investigation. If the Legislative Assembly authorizes the deprivation of liberty, the Public Prosecutor's Office must formulate the accusation within a period not exceeding twenty-four hours; otherwise, he shall be set free.

Initial investigation When the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) has notice of or a complaint is filed for an alleged crime, attributed to any of the persons subject to preliminary hearing (antejuicio), the Attorney General shall carry out the initial investigation aimed at gathering the indispensable data to formulate the accusation or request the dismissal before the Supreme Court of Justice, as appropriate.

Transfer of the accusation Once the complaint (querella) or accusation is filed before the Supreme Court of Justice, it shall be dismissed by the Court if the accused acts do not constitute a crime or when the accused does not have the right to a preliminary hearing (antejuicio). Otherwise, it shall transfer it to the Legislative Assembly.

Legislative processing The legislative processing shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly.

Authorization for the continuation of the process If the Legislative Assembly authorizes the continuation of the process, the detainees, if any, shall be placed at the order of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, which is responsible for judging the persons referred to in this Title. Said Chamber must rule, within the twenty-four hours following the receipt of the file, whether it maintains the pretrial detention or substitutes it with any of the remaining precautionary measures. In any case, once the judging is authorized by the Legislative Assembly, the Criminal Chamber may decree any of the precautionary measures, if it deems it appropriate.

Jurisdictional procedure The Criminal Chamber shall designate one of its members to carry out the necessary investigative acts that cannot be postponed or carried out at trial. The magistrate shall warn the accused that, within three days, he must appoint a defense attorney, indicate the place and manner for notifications, and shall proceed to take his statement. Subsequently, a hearing shall be granted to the parties so that, within five days, they may offer evidence for the trial. The designated magistrate shall rule on the offering of evidence and shall set the time and date for holding the oral and public trial. At this same opportunity, if applicable, the application of the rules on complex processing matters shall be ordered.

For the holding of the debate and the issuance of the judgment, the common rules shall apply.

Against the decision rendered, an appeal recourse against the judgment (recurso de apelación de sentencia) shall proceed in accordance with the rules provided for the ordinary criminal process, which shall be of the knowledge of the full Supreme Court of Justice, after the substitution of the magistrates who have intervened in the trial.

(Thus reformed by article 1 of Law No. 9021 of January 3, 2012)

Conversion of the procedure and accumulation If, in the course of an investigation under the ordinary procedure, it is determined that one of the accused must be subject to a preliminary hearing (antejuicio), the court hearing the matter shall forward the proceedings to the Attorney General to proceed as provided by the Political Constitution and this Title. When the act is attributed to several accused and only some of them must be subject to a preliminary hearing, the cause must be separated so that it continues in the ordinary jurisdiction against those for whom the preliminary hearing does not apply. Testimony of the documents shall be sent to the Attorney General against the remaining ones, to proceed as provided by this Title. If the Legislative Assembly authorizes the continuation of the procedure, the causes must be accumulated and shall be heard by the Criminal Chamber.

Nor shall it be applicable in contraventional matters, unless accumulation with a criminal process is appropriate.

(By resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 16111 of November 2, 2016, this numeral was interpreted in the sense that this Title does cover substitute magistrates when they are effectively exercising the substitution.)

Conciliation hearing To judge contraventions, once the complaint or the police report is received and when it is possible due to the existence of offended persons, the competent judicial authority shall convene the parties to a conciliation hearing in which the pertinent efforts shall be made so that they reach an agreement. This hearing may be convened again to continue the conciliatory process.

Effect of the agreements When the parties have reached an agreement, they shall sign a document recording it, with the commitments they have acquired. The judge shall homologate the agreements. Thirty calendar days from the signing of the agreement, the case shall be archived, with the character of res judicata, if no party has presented objections.

Convocation If a conciliatory agreement is not reached or if its conditions are not respected, or when, for other reasons, conciliation is not possible, the judicial authority shall convene the parties to appear with the evidence for the prosecution and the defense at an oral trial.

Oral hearing The oral and public hearing shall begin with the reading of the charges. Immediately, the accused shall be heard, then the offended person, if one exists, and, subsequently, the admitted evidence shall be received. Once the hearing is concluded, the judicial authority shall immediately issue the ruling. When the accused acknowledges the charge, the hearing shall conclude without further processing and the ruling shall be issued. The hearing may be extended for a term not exceeding three days, ex officio or at the request of the accused, to prepare evidence. When the accused does not voluntarily appear at the hearing, he may be made to appear by means of the public force, and if necessary, pretrial detention shall be ordered until the hearing is held, which shall be held immediately.

Precautionary measures In contraventional matters, exceptionally, precautionary measures may be applied, when it is indispensable for the protection of the interests of the parties or of justice. However, pretrial detention shall only proceed to guarantee the presence of the accused at the oral trial.

Appeal The judgment issued in contraventional trials shall be appealable, by the accused and the victim, before the court of the intermediate procedure.

Revision shall proceed against final judgments and in favor of the convicted person or of that person to whom a security and correction measure has been imposed, in the following cases:

• a)When the facts taken as the basis for the conviction are irreconcilable with those established by another final criminal judgment.
• b)When the judgment was based on evidence whose falsity has been declared in a subsequent final ruling.
• c)If the conviction was pronounced as a consequence of prevarication, bribery, violence, or any other crime or fraudulent machination, the existence of which has been declared in a subsequent final ruling, unless it is one of the cases provided for in the following subsection.
• d)When it is demonstrated that the judgment is illegitimate as a direct consequence of the introduction of illegal evidence or a serious breach of their duties committed by a judge, even if it is impossible to proceed due to a supervening circumstance.
• e)When, after the conviction, new facts or new evidentiary elements supervene or are discovered that, alone or joined with those already examined in the process, evidence that the act did not exist, that the convicted person did not commit it, or that the act committed fits a more favorable norm.
• f)When a subsequent law declares that the act previously considered as such is not punishable or that it merits a lesser penalty, or, when the law that served as the basis for the conviction has been declared unconstitutional.

Revision shall proceed even in cases where the penalty or the security measure has been executed or is extinguished.

(Thus reformed by article 2 of "Creation of the Appeal Recourse against the Judgment, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Orality Rules in the Criminal Process," Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Legitimized subjects The following may promote the revision:

• a)The convicted person or that person to whom a security and correction measure has been applied; if they are incapable, their legal representatives.
• b)The spouse, the cohabitant with at least two years of common life, ascendants, descendants, or siblings, if the convicted person has died.
• c)The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público).

The death of the convicted person, during the course of the revision, shall not paralyze the development of the process. In such a case, the persons authorized to file it may appear in the proceedings; in their absence, the defender shall continue with the representation of the deceased.

The revision shall be filed, in writing, before the Criminal Cassation Chamber. It shall contain the concrete reference to the grounds on which it is based and the applicable legal provisions. The documentary evidence invoked shall also be attached and, where applicable, the place or archive where it is located shall be indicated.

Likewise, the evidence that accredits the invoked ground for revision must be offered. In the filing document, a defense attorney (abogado) of their choice must be designated. If they do not do so, the court shall warn them without prejudice to appointing a public defender, if necessary.

(Thus reformed by article 2 of "Creation of the Appeal Recourse against the Judgment, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Orality Rules in the Criminal Process," Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

When the application has been filed outside the hypotheses that authorize it or is manifestly unfounded, the court, ex officio, shall declare its inadmissibility.

The court shall substantiate the action and shall rule on the merits, even when it considers that there are defects in its drafting. If it considers that these absolutely prevent it from hearing the claim, it shall warn the party to correct them, in accordance with article 15 of this Code, pointing out the aspects that must be clarified and corrected. If the defects are not corrected, it shall resolve accordingly.

It shall not be admissible to raise, via revision, matters that were already discussed and resolved through the appeal of the judgment or in cassation.

(Thus reformed by article 2 of "Creation of the Appeal Recourse against the Judgment, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Orality Rules in the Criminal Process," Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Suspensive effect The filing of the revision shall not suspend the execution of the judgment. However, at any time during the processing, the court hearing the revision may suspend the execution of the appealed judgment and order the release of the sentenced person or substitute the imprisonment with another precautionary measure.

Once the revision is admitted, the court shall grant a hearing for ten days to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) and to those who have intervened in the main process. The victim who can be located shall be informed of the existence of the procedure. They shall be warned that they must indicate the place or manner for notifications and offer the evidence they deem pertinent.

(Thus reformed by article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and other participants in the Criminal Process, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

The court shall admit the evidence it deems useful for the definitive resolution and shall commission one of its members to receive it. For the reception, the time and date shall be set, and the proceeding shall be held with the participation of the intervening parties who appear.

If the commissioned judge deems it necessary, he shall order the reception of evidence for better resolution.

When oral evidence has been received, the person who received it must be part of the court at the time of the final decision.

(As amended by Article 1 of Law No. 8503 of April 28, 2006, "Opening of Criminal Cassation")

Oral hearing Once the evidence has been gathered, if any of the intervening parties requested it when filing or responding to the review, or if the court deems it necessary, the day and time shall be set to hold a public hearing for the purpose of presenting oral arguments on their claims. The provisions on the oral hearing in the appeal remedy (recurso de apelación) shall apply, to the extent pertinent.

Judgment The court shall reject the review or annul the judgment. If it annuls it, it shall remand for a new trial when the case requires it or directly render the judgment that is legally appropriate.

No acquittal shall be ordered, nor shall the legal classification or the penalty be varied as an exclusive consequence of a new assessment of the same facts known in the prior proceeding or of a new evaluation of the evidence existing in the first trial, regardless of the reasons that made the review admissible.

( The Constitutional Chamber, through resolution No. 15294, of October 31, 2012, interpreted this norm "…in accordance with the parameters and scopes established in this judgment.")

Remand If a remand for a new trial is ordered, none of the judges who heard the prior trial may participate in it. In the retrial, the provisions of the preceding article shall govern, and a sanction more severe than that set forth in the reviewed judgment may not be imposed, nor may benefits that it granted be disregarded.

Effects of the judgment The judgment shall order, if applicable:

• a)The release of the accused.
• b)The total or partial restitution of the sum of money paid as a fine, the restitution of the sum covered as compensation (indemnización), provided that the civil plaintiff (actor civil) has been summoned. When the return of the fine or its excess is ordered, the devaluation of the currency must be calculated.
• c)The cessation of disqualification (inhabilitación) and accessory penalties, and of the security and correction measure.
• d)The return of the assets from the confiscation (comiso) that have not been destroyed. If applicable, a new penalty shall be set or a new computation shall be performed.

The acquittal judgment shall order the cancellation of the registration of the conviction.

Civil reparation for judicial error When, as a result of the review of the proceeding, a judicial error is recognized, as a consequence of which the sentenced person served a penalty they should not have served, or a longer or more severe one than they deserved, the court hearing the review may order the payment of compensation (indemnización) at the expense of the State and at the request of the interested party, provided that the latter has not contributed through intent or negligence to producing the error. The judges who rendered the reviewed judgment shall be jointly and severally liable with the State when they acted arbitrarily or with gross negligence under the terms of article 199 of the General Law of Public Administration. Civil reparation may only be granted in favor of the convicted person or their legitimate heirs.

Publication of the judgment granting the petition for review At the request of the interested party, the court shall order the publication of a summary of the acquittal judgment in the Judicial Bulletin, without prejudice to the publication carried out by the accused on their own account.

Rejection and costs The rejection of a petition for review and the judgment confirming the prior one shall not prejudice the right to file a new remedy of review (recurso de revisión), provided that it is based on different reasons. The costs of a rejected remedy shall always be borne by whoever filed it.

(*)TITLE VIII

(*)(This Title was added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

This special, expedited procedure shall be applied in all cases involving in-flagrante offenses (delitos en flagrancia) as established in Article 236 of this Code and shall commence from the moment the suspect is caught and detained in flagrante delicto.

This special procedure shall omit the intermediate stage of the ordinary criminal proceeding and shall be entirely oral.

Cases of in-flagrante offenses may also be resolved pursuant to the procedure established in the Restorative Justice Law, if applicable.

In those cases where the punishable act meets the requirements of Article 236 of this Code, the criminal proceeding must compulsorily follow the in-flagrante pathway, from its commencement to its conclusion, within the time limits established in Articles 430 and 435 of this Code.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

(Amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen Flagrancy Courts to Guarantee the Timely Prosecution of Accused Persons, No. 10465 of April 10, 2024)

The suspect detained in-flagrante shall be transferred immediately by the acting police authorities to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), together with all available evidence. A written submission of the report or police statement shall not be necessary; the oral statement of the acting authority shall suffice.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

The prosecutor shall process the criminal proceeding immediately to determine whether there is merit to initiate the investigation. For this purpose, they shall have the initial account provided by the police authority that first intervened, as well as all submitted evidence. Additionally, in accordance with the provisions of the Restorative Justice Law, on their own motion or at the request of a party, they shall verify the existence of admissibility requirements and shall inform the victim, the accused person, and their defense counsel of the possibility of processing the case through the application of the restorative justice procedure, in order to communicate the request to the Trial Court (Tribunal de Juicio) to transfer the case to the respective restorative justice office.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

(Amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

From the very first moment a person acquires the status of suspect, the prosecutor shall inform them that they may appoint a defense attorney of their choosing. If the suspect refuses or if their private defense attorney does not appear within twenty-four hours, a public defender shall be appointed ex officio to assist them in the proceeding. Once the accused person's defender is appointed, the prosecutor shall grant them a period of twenty-four hours to prepare their defense for that purpose. The Public Prosecutor's Office shall immediately render a brief oral report on the accusation and the existing evidence.

The defense counsel or public defender, upon verifying the admissibility requirements, must explain to the offending person the possibility of resolving the case through the application of the restorative justice procedure, as well as their rights and obligations established by law, in order to repair the harm caused to the victim and the community by the commission of the criminal act. If the offending person expresses consent to refer the case, they shall communicate this to the Public Prosecutor's Office in order to verify compliance with the requirements, and to communicate the request to the Trial Court to transfer the case to the respective restorative venue.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

(Amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

When the prosecutor deems it pertinent that the matter should go to trial and defense counsel has been appointed, they shall orally request the trial court to hold a hearing to consider their request; the court shall immediately decide, orally, whether the requirements for applying the in-flagrante procedure are met.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

The trial court, for any type of offense tried through this procedure, shall be constituted according to its jurisdiction, as provided by the Organic Law of the Judicial Branch, and shall have jurisdiction to resolve grounds of lack of jurisdiction, disqualifications (impedimentos), recusals (recusaciones), and nullities. It shall also have jurisdiction to apply any of the alternative measures to the proceeding, the restorative justice procedure, as well as the abbreviated procedure (procedimiento abreviado). When none of the preceding measures is applicable, the court shall conduct the trial immediately, unless it is necessary to gather useful, necessary, and indispensable evidence offered by the parties.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

(Amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen Flagrancy Courts to Guarantee the Timely Prosecution of Accused Persons, No. 10465 of April 10, 2024)

Upon receiving the request from the prosecutor, the court shall immediately hold the hearing, which shall be oral and public. A digital video and audio recording shall be kept of the hearing; the parties shall have access to it by means of a copy. In the first part of this hearing, the prosecutor shall orally present the accusation against the accused, describing the facts and determining their legal classification, as well as the offer of evidence. The defense may refer to the accusatory instrument and make its considerations regarding it, in addition to offering evidence for the proceeding.

The judge shall verify that the accusation is clear, precise, and detailed and that the attributed act constitutes an offense (is típico). Otherwise, the prosecutor must correct it orally on the spot.

Immediately, the application of alternative measures, the restorative justice procedure, and the abbreviated procedure shall be considered.

If the referral of the case to the restorative venue is approved, the hearing shall be suspended for a maximum period of eight business days for the corresponding procedure. In the same act, the court shall set the date and time for the continuation of the hearing, at which the restorative agreements shall be approved or the procedure established for in-flagrante cases shall continue. At all times, the confidentiality of the information obtained in restorative justice shall be guaranteed.

If the application of the measures is not applicable, is not proposed by the defense, or is not accepted by the Public Prosecutor's Office or the victim, depending on the measure, or if the court deems them inadmissible, the court shall proceed to hold the trial immediately and in that same hearing, unless there is pending the need to gather useful, necessary, and indispensable evidence offered by the parties. In this case, it must determine the admissibility and pertinence of the evidence offered by the parties. In that same hearing, the court shall set the date and time to hold the oral and public trial, and shall summon the parties to appear for its realization.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

(Amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen Flagrancy Courts to Guarantee the Timely Prosecution of Accused Persons, No. 10465 of April 10, 2024)

In the second part of the initial hearing, the trial shall be held, during which the accused's statement shall be taken. Immediately, testimonial evidence shall be received in the following manner: first, the statement of the victim (ofendido), and then the rest of the evidence; subsequently, documentary evidence shall be introduced, and the parties may waive its reading. Finally, closing arguments shall be made by the prosecutor and then by the defense. Immediately, the court shall deliver judgment orally; if it deems it necessary, it shall retire to deliberate and after a reasonably short period, which may not exceed four hours, except for exceptional cause justifying it and communicated orally to the parties, without the extension of the period exceeding twenty-four hours after the conclusion of the trial hearing. Subsequently, the court shall reconvene in the courtroom, where it shall orally deliver the judgment in its entirety. The oral delivery of the decision shall serve as notification to all parties, even if they do not appear.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

When the representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office deems the imposition of pre-trial detention (prisión preventiva) or any other precautionary measure appropriate for the accused person, they may request it from the court from the beginning or at any other time during the proceeding.

If the court, in accordance with the parameters established in this Code, considers the prosecutor's request proportional and reasonable, it shall establish the pertinent precautionary measure. Pre-trial detention against the accused person may not exceed an ordinary period of fifteen business days, if all evidence offered by the parties and admitted by the judge is available.

If the parties offer useful, necessary, and indispensable evidence that must be gathered for the trial, at the prosecutor's request, the court may extend pre-trial detention for an extraordinary period that may not exceed twenty-five business days, counted from the expiration of the ordinary period indicated in the preceding paragraph.

Once the extraordinary period of pre-trial detention has expired without the trial having commenced, the case must be remanded to the ordinary trial court, which shall decide on the maintenance, modification, or cessation of pre-trial detention or any other precautionary measure, and to conduct the oral and public trial, if the trial has already been ordered in the case.

When a longer period of pre-trial detention must be requested, after the ordinary and extraordinary periods have expired, as well as in cases where the expedited procedure is not applicable because the acts were not committed in-flagrante, pre-trial detention shall proceed, if there is merit for it, according to the rules established in this Code. In such a case, as appropriate, the criminal court (juzgado penal) or the ordinary trial court, if the trial has already been ordered, shall be responsible for deciding on that request.

Upon the oral delivery of the conviction judgment, if the court deems it appropriate, it may extend pre-trial detention against the accused person for a maximum period of six months. When the person is acquitted in the judgment, any precautionary measure imposed against them shall be lifted.

For anything not expressly indicated in this article, the remaining rules on pre-trial detention established in this Code shall govern.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

(Amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen Flagrancy Courts to Guarantee the Timely Prosecution of Accused Persons, No. 10465 of April 10, 2024)

Against the judgment delivered orally, the remedies shall proceed in accordance with the rules established in this Code.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

In the first phase of the hearing, the civil plaintiff (actor civil) and the private complainant (querellante) may also become parties, in which case the court shall order their oral explanation and grant the floor to the defense to express its position; it shall then decide on their admission and the proceeding shall continue. When applicable, the person entitled to bring the civil action for damages may delegate it to the Public Prosecutor's Office to represent them in the proceeding.

When the civil action for damages must be granted, the ruling shall be made in the abstract, and the corresponding amounts shall be liquidated through the civil execution-of-judgment procedure.

The private complainant and the civil plaintiff shall assume the proceeding in the state it is in, so that suspensions of the trial due to other professional or personal commitments are not permissible. If the evidence offered by the civil plaintiff or the private complainant proves incompatible with the celerity objectives of the expedited procedure, the court shall warn the proposing party orally, who shall state whether they waive it or request the application of the ordinary procedure, in which case the court shall order the procedures to be adapted.

The civil action shall not proceed in the expedited procedure when there are third-party civil defendants who are not present nor duly represented by legal counsel at the opening of the trial, without prejudice to the rights conferred by the civil jurisdiction.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

For all purposes, especially labor-related, it shall be understood that the victim and witnesses shall have the right to paid leave from their employer, whether public or private, when they must attend judicial proceedings or appear before a judicial summons and for the time necessary to do so. In order to verify attendance at such acts, the court hearing the case must issue the respective certificate indicating the nature of the act and the effective duration of the proceeding.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

The location and schedules of the judges for in-flagrante cases established by this Law shall be defined by regulation.

The setting of days and hours of public service for these judges must be established during night shifts, weekends, or holidays, for the better provision of the administration of justice service, in such a way that the terms established in this Law can be effectively met.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

When the application of the expedited procedure is appropriate, under no circumstances may a period exceeding fifteen business days elapse between the commencement of the proceeding and the holding of the first part of the hearing established in Article 428 by the court. If the trial is ordered, it shall be held immediately when the evidence offered by the parties and admitted by the court has been gathered.

If the parties offer useful, necessary, and indispensable evidence that has not been gathered, the time limit to begin the trial may be extended for a maximum of twenty-five business days, counted from the expiration of the fifteen-business-day period indicated in the first paragraph.

Once the preceding periods have expired without the trial having commenced, the case must be remanded to the ordinary trial, without prejudice to the disciplinary liability of the official responsible for the delay.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

(Amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen Flagrancy Courts to Guarantee the Timely Prosecution of Accused Persons, No. 10465 of April 10, 2024)

For matters not provided for in this title, the regulations of this Code shall apply supplementarily, insofar as they are compatible with the celeritous nature of the expedited procedure.

(Added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

BOOK III REMEDIES (RECURSOS)

(*)ARTICLE 437.- General rules Judicial decisions shall be appealable only through the means and in the cases expressly established.

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

(*)This article was interpreted by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 2002-08591 of 14:59 hours of 09/04/2002. To the effect that said article is not unconstitutional, to the extent that it is interpreted, in light of Article 41 of the Political Constitution and International Human Rights Law, to mean that the appeal in cassation (recurso de casación) by the victim also proceeds against the order that orders the suspension of the proceeding on probation.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 422 to the current 437)

Conditions for filing Remedies (Recursos) shall be filed under the conditions of time and form determined in this Code, with specific indication of the contested parts of the decision.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 423 to the current 438).

Grievance (Agravio) The parties may only challenge judicial decisions that cause them a grievance, provided they have not contributed to causing it. The remedy (recurso) must be based on the criticism of the defects that cause the harm.

The accused may challenge a judicial decision even if they contributed to causing the defect, in cases where constitutional or legal provisions regarding their intervention, assistance, and representation are violated.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 424 to the current 439)

Whoever has the right to appeal (recurrir) may join (adherirse), within the period for summons, the remedy (recurso) filed by any of the parties, provided they comply with the other formal requirements for filing.

Regarding the joinder, the other parties shall be heard for a period of three days, before the proceedings are sent to the appellate court.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 425 to the current 440)

The victim or any person harmed by the act, when not constituted as parties, may submit a reasoned request to the Public Prosecutor's Office to file the appropriate remedies (recursos). The Public Prosecutor's Office must inform the victim or any harmed person who can be located, according to the information in the case file, within the time limit for appealing, of its decision not to challenge the acquittal judgment, the cessation or modification of the precautionary measure adopted due to the danger of obstruction. It shall explain, in writing and in a reasoned manner, the reason for its action.

If the victim or any harmed person does not agree, they may file the corresponding remedy, within a time limit equal to that which the other parties would have, which shall begin to run from the communication by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

(Amended by Article 16 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 426 to the current 441)

Remedy during hearings During hearings, only the motion for revocation (recurso de revocatoria) shall be admissible, which shall be resolved immediately, without suspending the hearings.

The filing of the remedy constitutes a protest for the curing of the defect.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 427 to the current 442)

Extensive effect When there are co-accused, the remedy (recurso) filed by one of them shall also benefit the others, unless it is based on exclusively personal grounds.

The remedy filed by the civil defendant shall also benefit the accused, to the extent it affects criminal liability.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 428 to the current 443)

Suspensive effect The decision shall not be executed during the time limit for appealing and while the remedy (recurso) is being processed, unless there is a legal provision to the contrary.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 429 to the current 444)

Withdrawal (Desistimiento) The Public Prosecutor's Office may withdraw its remedies (recursos), through a reasoned opinion, even if a lower-ranking representative filed them.

The parties may withdraw the remedies filed by them or their defenders, without prejudicing the other appellants or joiners, but they shall bear the costs. To withdraw a remedy, the defender must have express authorization from the accused.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 430 to the current 445)

Jurisdiction The remedy (recurso) shall grant the appellate court jurisdiction over the proceeding only with respect to the points of the decision to which the grievances (agravios) refer.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 431 to the current 446)

Prohibition of reformation in peius (Reforma en perjuicio) When the decision was only challenged by the accused or their defender, it cannot be modified to their detriment.

Remedies (Recursos) filed by any of the parties shall allow modifying or revoking the decision, even in favor of the accused.

(Its numbering was moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Parties Involved in Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from the former Article 432 to the current 447)

Rectification (Rectificación) Errors of law in the reasoning of the contested judgment or decision, which have not influenced the operative part, shall not annul it; but they shall be corrected, as well as material errors in the designation or computation of penalties.

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 433 al 448 actual)

Availability The revocation appeal (recurso de revocatoria) shall be available only against decrees (providencias) and orders (autos) that resolve a procedural step without substantiation, so that the same court that issued them may re-examine the matter and issue the corresponding decision.

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 434 al 449 actual).

Procedure Except in oral hearings, this appeal shall be filed, in a substantiated writing, within three days following notification. The court shall resolve by order (auto), after a hearing of the interested parties, within the same period.

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 435 al 450 actual)

The resulting decision shall be executed, unless the appeal was filed at the same time as a subsidiary appeal (apelación subsidiaria) and is duly substantiated.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 2° de la ley N° 9021 del 3 de enero de 2012. Anteriormente este numeral había sido derogado por el artículo 10° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Mediante Fe de Erratas, publicada en La Gaceta N° 51 del 12 de marzo de 2012, página 55, se corrigió la redacción del numeral 2° de la ley N° 9021 del 3 de enero de 2012, en el sentido de que solo se adicione el numeral 451, y sin que se corra la numeración subsiguiente)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 436 al 451 actual).

Appealable Decisions In addition to what is provided in the contraventional procedure and in penal execution, the appeal (recurso de apelación) shall be available only against the decisions of the courts of the preparatory and intermediate procedures, provided they are declared appealable, cause irreparable harm, terminate the action, or make it impossible for the action to continue.

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 437 al 452 actual)

The appeal (recurso de apelación) shall be filed before the same court that issued the decision and in the same hearing in which the instance decision was issued. At that time, the appellant shall briefly state the grounds for the grievance.

The basis of the appeal shall be presented before the appellate court. When the appellate court (tribunal de alzada) has its seat in a different location, the party must provide a new address or manner for receiving notifications, if necessary.

When the appellant offers evidence on appeal, it shall present the evidence together with the filing of the appeal and shall specifically indicate the fact it intends to prove.

In exceptional cases where the judicial decision has been issued outside of a hearing or in writing, the appeal may be filed within three days following notification.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9021 del 3 de enero de 2012)

(Anteriormente este numeral había sido reformado por el artículo 3° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 438 al 453 actual)

Once the appeal is filed, the court shall summon the other parties to respond to the appeal within three days and, if applicable, to offer evidence.

If adhesions are filed during the summons period, a copy shall be transferred to the other parties for them to respond to the adhesion within the same period.

Subsequently, without further procedure and immediately, it shall refer the proceedings to the appellate court (tribunal de alzada) for resolution.

Only a copy of the pertinent proceedings shall be referred, or a special file shall be created so as not to delay the processing of the procedure.

Exceptionally, the appellate court may request other copies or the original proceedings; this shall not entail the paralysis of the procedure.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9021 del 3 de enero de 2012)

(Anteriormente este numeral había sido reformado por el artículo 3° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 439 al 454 actual).

Upon receiving the proceedings, the appellate court (tribunal de alzada), within the following three days, shall convene an oral hearing with the presence of the parties, shall decide on the admissibility of the appeal and the appropriateness of the issue raised, all in a single decision.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9021 del 3 de enero de 2012)

(Anteriormente este numeral había sido reformado por el artículo 3° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 440 al 455 actual)

The party who has offered evidence shall be responsible for ensuring its appearance at the hearing. The court clerk shall assist the offeror by issuing the necessary summons or orders, which they shall process. The court shall rule immediately and orally, unless, due to the lateness of the hour or because a matter of complex processing becomes known, the decision may be deferred for up to twenty-four hours.

(Así reformado por el artículo 3° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 441 al 456 actual)

Conduct of the Hearing The hearing shall be conducted with the intervening parties who appear, and their attorneys may speak, without rebuttals being admitted.

Those who participate in the discussion may leave brief written notes regarding their report.

The defendant shall be represented by their defense counsel, but may attend the hearing and, in that case, shall be given the floor last.

At the hearing, the court may question the appellants on the issues raised in the appeal.

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 442 al 457 actual)

(Así reformado el título anterior por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

All judgments (sentencias) and dismissals (sobreseimientos) issued in the trial phase and that resolve criminal, civil, incidental, and other aspects determined by law are appealable.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 443 al 458 actual).

The sentence appeal (recurso de apelación de sentencia) shall allow a comprehensive review of the judgment, when the interested party alleges disagreement with the determination of the facts, the incorporation and assessment of the evidence, the legal reasoning, or the determination of the penalty. The appellate court (tribunal de alzada) shall rule on the points that are expressly challenged, but shall declare, even ex officio, the absolute defects and violations of due process (debido proceso) that it finds in the judgment.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 444 al 459 actual)

The sentence appeal (recurso de apelación de sentencia) shall be filed before the court that issued the decision, within fifteen days of notification, by means of a written document or any other form of register authorized by regulation.

The appellant must express the grounds for their disagreement, the grievance it causes them, and their claim. In the same act, they shall offer evidence in support of their allegations.

When the appellate court (tribunal de alzada) has its seat in a different location, the party must provide a new address or new manner for receiving notifications.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 445 al 460 actual)

Once the appeal is filed, the court that issued the judgment shall grant a hearing to the interested parties for a term of five days, during which they must indicate an address or manner for receiving notifications on appeal and may also file adhesions. If an adhesion is filed, the court shall grant a new hearing to the other parties on this point, for a term of five days. Once these periods have expired, it shall remit the case file to the corresponding sentence appellate court.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 446 al 461 actual)

The sentence appellate court may declare the appeal inadmissible if it considers that the decision is not appealable, that the appeal has been filed untimely, or that the party does not have the right to appeal, in which case it shall declare so and return the proceedings to the court of origin.

If the appeal is admissible, the court shall substantiate it and rule on the merits, even if it considers that there are defects in its drafting. If it considers that these absolutely prevent it from addressing the claim, it shall warn the party to correct them in accordance with Article 15 of this Code, specifying the aspects that must be clarified and corrected. If the defects are not corrected, it shall declare its inadmissibility.

If the appeal is admissible, the court shall convene, when appropriate, an oral and public hearing, and shall admit the evidence that is pertinent and useful for verifying the alleged grievances. Likewise, it shall order that evidence it deems necessary for the same purposes be brought ex officio. In this hearing, according to the points of disagreement of the parties, the acts prior and subsequent to the trial, the records of acts carried out during the trial, the records of the judgment, shall be re-examined, and the admitted evidence shall be taken. During this hearing, the appellant and the parties shall be given the opportunity to present and argue regarding the aspects of the appeal. In any case, the court that finds a violation of a fundamental right of the involved parties may declare it ex officio.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 447 al 462 actual)

If, upon filing the sentence appeal, responding to it, or adhering to it, any of the interested parties has offered evidence that must be received orally or considers it necessary to present their allegations orally, or else, when the court deems it useful, the court shall set an oral hearing within fifteen days of receiving the proceedings.

The rules provided for the appeal of stages prior to the trial shall govern the conduct of the hearing and the taking of evidence.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 448 al 463 actual)

In order to comprehensively review the trial or the judgment issued by the trial court, through the sentence appeal (recurso de apelación de sentencia), the court, at the request of a party, shall have the power to examine the records of the evidence produced at trial, provided it is necessary, pertinent, and useful for the purposes of the appeal, the object of the case, or for the verification of a grievance. The same procedure shall apply with respect to the statements of the defendant.

In the case of testimonial evidence, the records of the debate or the evidence shall be examined and, if there is any doubt about the scope of the statements of a witness or expert, exceptionally, the court may directly receive their deposition or report in an oral, public, and adversarial hearing, in which the provisions regulating the debate in the trial phase shall apply, insofar as they are compatible.

The appellant may offer, in the written filing of the appeal, new evidence regarding the facts that are the object of the proceeding or regarding the manner in which an act was carried out, when what is indicated in the proceedings, in the record, in the trial records, or in the judgment itself is contradicted.

The court shall accept as new only evidence offered in a timely manner but arbitrarily rejected, evidence that appears to be new after the judgment, and evidence that, although previously existing, the interested party was not effectively able to offer at that time.

The sentence appellate court may, in any case, avail itself of the documentation systems within its reach, whether written records, audio recordings, or video recordings, to facilitate the control of what occurred in the trial court, avoiding unnecessary repetitions as much as possible.

When evidence is taken orally, the judges who received it must be part of the court at the time of the final decision.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 449 al 464 actual)

(Así adicionado por el artículo 3° de la Ley N° 8503 del 28 de abril de 2006, "Apertura de la Casación Penal")

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 449 bis al 464 bis actual)

(Mediante resolución de la Sala Constitucional N° 13820 del 20 de agosto de 2014, se anuló el numeral 10 de la Ley N° N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010, "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", el cual derogó este artículo, restituyéndose el artículo 466 bis del Código Procesal Penal. Subsiguientemente mediante voto 2014-017411 del 22 de octubre de 2014, se adicionó la resolución número 2014-013820 del 20 de agosto del 2014, a efectos de que se entienda lo siguiente: 1) La inconstitucionalidad del artículo 10 de la Ley de creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia lo es únicamente respecto de la derogatoria del artículo 466 bis del Código Procesal Penal, no así en cuanto al resto de normas que dicho artículo 10 derogó. 2) Se dimensionan los efectos de la sentencia de fondo para que el artículo 466 bis del Código Procesal Penal (originalmente el artículo 451 bis) entre a tener vigencia nuevamente a partir de la fecha en que se resolvió esta acción, es decir, a partir del 20 de agosto del 2014.

De forma tal que, los recursos de casación planteados en el supuesto de la norma, que ya hubieran sido resueltos al 20 de agosto del 2014 quedan incólumes, pero los recursos de casación planteados en el supuesto de la norma, que no estuviesen resueltos al 20 de agosto del 2014 (es decir, estuviesen pendientes de resolución), quedarían sin efecto en virtud de la prohibición que revive (con la nueva entrada en vigencia del artículo 466 bis del Código Procesal Penal) al ser declarada inconstitucional la norma que la derogó.)

The sentence appellate court shall assess the appropriateness of the claims invoked in the appeal and their grounds, so that it may evaluate the manner in which the trial judges assessed the evidence and substantiated their decision.

It shall make use of the records it has available, shall reproduce the oral evidence of the trial when it deems it necessary, pertinent, and useful for the appropriateness of the claim, and shall carry out the corresponding comprehensive assessment with the rest of the proceedings and the evidence introduced in writing.

If the appellate court deems the appeal to be appropriate, it shall annul, in whole or in part, the challenged decision and shall order the retrial (reposición) of the trial or the decision. When the annulment is partial, the specific object of the new trial or decision shall be indicated. In all other cases, it shall correct the defect and resolve the matter in accordance with the applicable law.

When the appeal has been filed only by the defendant or in their favor, a more severe sanction than that imposed in the annulled judgment may not be imposed in the decision of the sentence appellate court or in the retrial (juicio de reenvío), nor may the benefits that were agreed upon therein be disregarded.

If, as a result of the decision on the appeal, the defendant's imprisonment must cease, the sentence appellate court shall directly order their release.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 450 al 465 actual)

The retrial (juicio de reenvío) must be conducted by the same court that issued the judgment, but composed of different judges.

The sentence appeal (recurso de apelación) filed against the judgment of the retrial must be heard by the respective sentence appellate court, composed of judges other than those who ruled on the prior occasion. If it is not possible to compose it with new judges because the impediment covers regular and substitute judges, or there is not a sufficient number of substitute judges, jurisdiction shall be assumed by the regular judges who are necessary, despite the cause and without disciplinary responsibility for them.

(Así reformado por el artículo 4° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 451 al 466 actual)

The retrial (juicio de reenvío) must be conducted by the same court that issued the judgment, but composed of different judges.

The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), the private prosecutor (querellante), and the civil plaintiff (actor civil) may not file a sentence appeal (recurso de apelación) against the judgment of the Trial Court issued in a retrial that reiterates the acquittal of the accused person ordered in a prior trial.

In the case of the preceding paragraph, the corresponding appeals may be filed regarding the civil action for damages (acción civil resarcitoria), restitution, and costs.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 3° de la Ley N° 8503 del 28 de abril de 2006, "Apertura de la Casación Penal")

(Así corrida su numeración por el artículo 18 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009, que lo traspasó del anterior artículo 451 bis al 466 bis actual)

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la ley N° 10200 del 5 de mayo de 2022)

(Así adicionado el título anterior por el artículo 5° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

The cassation appeal (recurso de casación) shall be available against decisions issued by the sentence appellate courts, which confirm, in whole or in part, or definitively resolve, the judgment issued by the trial court.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9021 del 3 de enero de 2012)

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

The cassation appeal (recurso de casación) may be based on any of the following grounds:

• a)When the existence of contradictory precedents issued by the sentence appellate courts, or by these with precedents of the Criminal Cassation Chamber (Sala de Casación Penal), is alleged.
• b)When the judgment fails to observe or erroneously applies a substantive or procedural legal precept.

For the purposes of subsection a) of this article, a precedent is understood solely as the interpretation and application of law directly related to the object of the decision.

When the legal precept invoked as unobserved or erroneously applied constitutes a procedural defect, for the appeal to proceed it must be directed against acts sanctioned with inadmissibility, expiration, ineffectiveness, or nullity, provided that the appellant has timely claimed the correction of the defect or has made a statement of intent to file a cassation appeal. The provisions of Article 178 of this Code, referring to absolute defects, are reserved.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9021 del 3 de enero de 2012)

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

The cassation appeal (recurso de casación) shall be filed, under penalty of inadmissibility, before the court that issued the decision, within fifteen days of notification, by means of a written document or any other register authorized by regulation. It must be duly substantiated and shall clearly cite the legal provisions considered unobserved or erroneously applied, or else, the mention and content of the precedents considered contradictory; in any case, the grievance and the claim shall be indicated.

Each ground must be indicated separately with its bases. Outside this opportunity, no other ground may be adduced.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

Once the appeal is filed, the court that issued the sentence appeal decision shall grant a hearing to the interested parties for a term of five days, during which they must indicate the address or manner for receiving notifications on appeal and may also file adhesions. If an adhesion is filed, the court shall grant a new hearing to the remaining parties on this point, for a term of five days. Once these periods have expired, it shall remit the case file to the Criminal Cassation Chamber (Sala de Casación).

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

The Criminal Cassation Chamber (Sala de Casación) shall declare the appeal inadmissible when the legal requirements for its filing, as established in Article 469 above, are not met; furthermore, when the decision is not appealable, the party does not have the right to appeal, when the purpose of the appeal is to modify the proven facts, or when the appeal is absolutely unfounded, in which case it shall declare so and return the proceedings to the court of origin.

If the appeal is admissible, it shall be assigned to an instructing magistrate; the Chamber shall substantiate it and rule on the grounds raised.

If the appeal is admissible and it is not considered necessary to convene an oral hearing, the Chamber shall issue a judgment.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9021 del 3 de enero de 2012)

(Así adicionado por el artículo 5° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

If, upon filing the appeal, responding to it, or adhering to it, any of the interested parties considers it necessary to present their allegations orally, they shall request an oral hearing from the Chamber, which shall set it within fifteen days of receiving the proceedings. The same procedure shall be followed if the Chamber, ex officio, deems its holding necessary.

The rules provided for the appeal (recurso de apelación) shall govern the conduct of the oral hearing. The decision of the case shall be issued immediately after the hearing is held, unless the complexity of the matter requires its postponement.

(As added by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010)

If the Court of Cassation finds the appeal based on a violation of procedural law to be admissible, it shall annul, in whole or in part, the challenged decision and order the remand of the proceeding and decision of the trial judgment appellate court. When the annulment is partial, the specific purpose of the new proceeding or decision shall be indicated.

In all other cases, the Court, upon granting the appeal, shall correct the defect and decide the matter in accordance with the applicable law.

When it deems it pertinent, in order to protect the accused's right to an appeal that entails a comprehensive review of the trial and the judgment, the Court may order the annulment of the trial, the decisions dependent upon it, and order its remand by referral back to the trial court.

In making its decision, the Court shall have at its disposal the recordings of the trial and the judgment appeal proceeding. Evidence may only be offered when the appeal is based on a procedural defect and the manner in which an act was carried out is disputed, in contrast to the recordings of the judgment appeal proceeding.

If, as a result of the resolution of the appeal, the Court considers that the accused's imprisonment must cease, it shall directly order their release.

(As added by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010)

When the cassation appeal has been filed solely by the accused or in their favor, and when a judgment appeal has been filed solely by the accused or in their favor, the Court's decision or the retrial upon remand may not impose a more severe sanction than that imposed in the annulled judgment, nor disregard the benefits granted therein.

(As amended by Article 1 of Ley 9021 of January 3, 2012)

(As added by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010)

The retrial upon remand to the trial instance or to the judgment appeal instance shall be conducted by the same court that issued the annulled decision, but composed of different judges.

The cassation appeal filed against the judgment from the retrial upon remand of the appellate court must be heard by the Court of Cassation, composed of different judges than those who ruled on the previous occasion. If it is not possible to compose it with new judges because the impediment covers both regular and substitute judges, or there are not enough substitute judges, jurisdiction shall be assumed by the necessary regular judges, notwithstanding the cause and without disciplinary liability for them.

(As added by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010)

BOOK IV ENFORCEMENT

Rights During the enforcement of the penalty, the convicted person may exercise the rights and powers granted to them by criminal, penitentiary, and regulatory laws, and shall raise before the corresponding court any observations they deem appropriate based on those rules.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 452 to current 467)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 467 to 476)

Jurisdiction Judicial decisions shall be enforced, unless otherwise provided, by the court that issued them in the first or sole instance.

The trial court shall have jurisdiction to make the initial determination of the penalty or security measures, as well as the conditions for their fulfillment. Matters relating to subsequent determinations, extinction, substitution, or modification thereof shall fall under the jurisdiction of the penalty enforcement court.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 453 to current 468)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 468 to 477)

Enforcement motions The Public Prosecutor's Office, the complainant, the convicted person, and their defense counsel may raise, before the penalty enforcement court, motions relating to the enforcement, substitution, modification, or extinction of the penalty or security measures. These must be resolved within five days, after hearing the other intervening parties. If it is necessary to incorporate evidence, the court, even on its own motion, shall order a summary investigation, after which it shall decide.

Motions relating to early release and those in which, due to their importance, the court deems it necessary, shall be resolved in an oral hearing, summoning the witnesses and experts who must report during the proceeding.

The court shall decide by reasoned order, and an appeal against the decision lies before the trial court; filing the appeal shall not suspend the enforcement of the penalty, unless so ordered by the latter court.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 454 to current 469)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 469 to 478)

Suspension of administrative measures During the processing of motions, the penalty enforcement court may order the provisional suspension of penitentiary administration measures that are challenged in the proceeding.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 455 to current 470)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 470 to 479)

Defense The defense counsel's work shall conclude with the final judgment, without prejudice to continuing to provide technical defense during the enforcement of the penalty. Likewise, the convicted person may appoint a new defense counsel; failing that, a public defender shall be appointed for them.

The exercise of the defense during criminal enforcement shall consist of advising the convicted person, when required, on filing the necessary petitions to safeguard their rights.

It shall not be the duty of the defense to monitor the fulfillment of the penalty.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 456 to current 471)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 471 to 480)

Public Prosecutor's Office Penalty enforcement prosecutors shall intervene in enforcement proceedings, ensuring respect for fundamental rights and the provisions of the judgment.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 457 to current 472)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 472 to 481)

Powers of penalty enforcement judges Penalty enforcement judges shall monitor compliance with the penitentiary regime and respect for the constitutional and legal purposes of the penalty and security measures. They may order convicted persons or penitentiary system officials to appear before them for surveillance and control purposes.

They shall be specifically responsible for:

• a)Maintaining, substituting, modifying, or terminating the penalty and security measures, as well as the conditions for their fulfillment.
• b)Visiting detention centers at least once every six months to verify respect for the fundamental and penitentiary rights of inmates, and ordering corrective measures they deem appropriate.
• c)Deciding, applying the procedure provided for enforcement motions, the petitions or complaints that inmates file regarding the penitentiary regime and treatment insofar as they affect their rights.
• d)Deciding, by way of appeal, claims filed by inmates regarding disciplinary sanctions.
• e)Approving isolation sanctions exceeding forty-eight hours in cells.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 458 to current 473)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 473 to 482)

Enforceability The conviction must be final to give rise to its enforcement. Immediately after it becomes final, the corresponding communications and registrations shall be ordered.

If the sentenced person is at liberty, the necessary measures for their capture shall be ordered.

The court shall order the implementation of the necessary measures to enforce the effects of the judgment.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 459 to current 474.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 474 to 483)

Final calculation The trial court shall calculate the penalty, deducting from it the pretrial detention and house arrest served by the convicted person, to determine precisely the date on which the sentence will conclude.

The calculation shall always be subject to amendment, even on the court's own motion, if an error is verified or when new circumstances make it necessary.

The calculation of the penalty shall be communicated immediately to the enforcement court and to the Instituto Nacional de Criminología.

Failure to comply with these provisions shall be considered a serious offense.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 460 to current 475.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 475 to 484)

Illness of the convicted person If, during the enforcement of the custodial sentence, the convicted person suffers an illness that cannot be treated in prison, the penalty enforcement court shall, upon receiving the necessary medical reports, order the placement of the sick person in an appropriate facility and order the necessary measures to prevent escape.

The director of the penitentiary establishment shall have the same powers in urgent cases, but the measure must be communicated immediately to the court, which may confirm or revoke it.

These rules shall apply to pretrial detention, in relation to the court hearing the case, and to other penalties insofar as they are susceptible to suspension due to illness.

The time of placement shall be counted toward the penalty, provided the convicted person is deprived of liberty.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 461 to current 476.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 476 to 485)

Deferred enforcement The penalty enforcement court may suspend the enforcement of a custodial sentence in the following cases:

• a)When it must be served by a woman in an advanced state of pregnancy or with a child under three months of age, provided that the deprivation of liberty endangers the life, health, or integrity of the mother, the fetus, or the child.
• b)If the convicted person is seriously ill and the enforcement of the penalty endangers their life, according to an expert opinion to be requested from the Departamento de Medicina Legal.

When these conditions cease, the sentence shall continue to be enforced.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 462 to current 477.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 477 to 486)

The penalty enforcement judge may order house arrest with electronic monitoring during the enforcement of the penalty, as a substitute for imprisonment, provided the following conditions are met:

• 1)When the convicted woman is in an advanced state of pregnancy at the time of entering prison, is the female head of household of a minor son or daughter up to twelve years of age, or when the child or relative suffers from some type of disability or serious illness, duly proven. This substitute may also be ordered provided the person has been under their care and it is proven that no other person can take charge of the care. In their absence, the father who has assumed this responsibility shall have the same benefit.
• 2)When the convicted person is over sixty-five years of age, provided their personality, the nature, and the manner of the crime justify the substitution of imprisonment.
• 3)When the convicted person is overtaken by a physical, addictive, or psychiatric illness whose treatment, even if it can be provided in prison, is pertinent to carry out outside to ensure recovery, upon the necessary medical and technical reports justifying house arrest.
• 4)When situations arise during the enforcement of the penalty that warrant safeguarding the principle of humanity, provided their personality, the nature, and the manner of the crime justify the substitution of imprisonment.

The judge may order conditions to ensure fulfillment of the penalty, ordering their placement in the program defined by the Ministerio de Justicia y Paz, in order to ensure compliance with the enforcement plan and technical attention, and mandatory obligations. Likewise, they may grant the necessary permits for rigorous medical checks, childbirth, or obligations acquired concerning the care of minor children in their charge or persons with disabilities or dependents, ensuring permanent monitoring. These rules shall apply to pretrial detention in relation to the judicial authority hearing the case. In the event of unjustified non-compliance or commission of a new intentional crime, the competent judge shall be notified, who may modify or revoke this benefit and order entry into prison.

(As added by Article 10 of Ley 9271 of September 30, 2014, "Mecanismos electrónicos de seguimiento en materia penal")

Security measures The rules established in this Chapter shall apply to security measures insofar as they are applicable.

The court shall periodically examine the situation of the person subject to a measure. It shall set a period no longer than six months between each examination, upon a report from the facility and experts. The decision shall concern the cessation or continuation of the measure and, in the latter case, may order modification of the treatment.

When the judge learns, through a reasoned report, that the causes motivating the placement have disappeared, they shall proceed to its substitution or cancellation.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 463 to current 478.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 478 to 487)

Jurisdiction A judgment ordering restitution, compensation, or reparation of damages, when it is not immediately enforced or cannot be enforced by a simple order from the court that issued it, shall be enforced by the interested party before the civil or contentious-administrative judge, as applicable.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 464 to current 479.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 479 to 488)

Forfeiture When a judgment orders the forfeiture of an object, the court shall dispose of it according to its nature, in accordance with the rules governing the matter. Where appropriate, the instruments used to commit the crime shall be sent to the Museo Criminológico of the Corte Suprema de Justicia.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 465 to current 480.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 480 to 489)

Restitution and retention of seized items Seized items not subject to forfeiture, restitution, or attachment shall be returned to the person from whom they were seized immediately after the judgment becomes final. If they were delivered in provisional deposit, the depositary shall be notified of the final delivery.

Items seized that are the property of the convicted person may be retained as security for the costs of the proceeding and the pecuniary liability imposed.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 466 to current 481.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 481 to 490)

Dispute If a dispute arises concerning restitution or its form, the interested parties shall be directed to pursue the matter before the civil jurisdiction.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 467 to current 482.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 482 to 491)

Declaratory judgment of instrumental falsity When a judgment declares a public instrument to be false, the court that issued it shall order that the act be reconstructed, suppressed, or reformed. If applicable, it shall order the corresponding registry corrections.

If the document has been extracted from an archive, it shall be returned to it, with a marginal note on each page, and a copy of the judgment that established the total or partial falsity shall be attached.

If it is a protocolized document, the declaration made in the judgment shall be noted in the margin of the original, on any certified copies that have been presented, and in the respective registry.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 468 to current 483.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 483 to 492)

FINAL PROVISIONS

Practical rules The Corte Suprema de Justicia shall issue the practical rules necessary to apply this Code.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 469 to current 484.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 484 to 493)

Repeals The Code of Criminal Procedure, Ley No. 5377 of October 19, 1973, and the laws that added to or amended it, as well as any provision that opposes or contradicts what is prescribed in this Code, are expressly repealed.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 470 to current 485.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 485 to 494)

Amendments Articles 294 and 298 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Ley No. 5789 of September 1, 1975 (sic: should be Ley Nº 5377 of October 19, 1973) are amended. The texts shall read:

"Article 294.- If the judge deems prima facie that the accused, in the event of conviction, will not be deprived of liberty for a period longer than the imprisonment already served, they shall order, by order, the cessation of imprisonment and the immediate release of the accused.

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

In all cases, the revocatory decision shall be appealable, without suspensive effect, by the Public Prosecutor's Office." "Article 298.- Release from prison shall not be granted:

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.- To anyone declared in contempt.

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

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

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 471 to current 486.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 486 to 495)

Entry into force This Code shall enter into force on January 1, 1998.

(Its numbering changed by Article 18 of Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former Article 472 to current 487.)

(Its numbering changed by Article 5, "Creation of the appeal remedy against the judgment, other reforms to the challenge regime, and implementation of new orality rules in criminal proceedings," Ley 8837 of May 3, 2010, which transferred it from former Article 487 to 496)

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS TRANSITIONAL I.- Application to pending cases Proceedings that, upon the entry into force of this law, have an order for committal to trial or an extraordinary extension, even if not final, shall continue to be processed in accordance with the former Code.

In all other cases, this Code shall apply, and proceedings must be adapted to the new provisions.

TRANSITIONAL II.- Statute of limitations for pending cases The statute of limitations period for criminal proceedings in cases pending before the courts, to which this Code shall apply, shall begin to run from the entry into force of the latter. For cases that must continue to be processed in accordance with the rules of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973, the provisions on statutes of limitations provided in the Criminal Code of 1970 shall apply.

TRANSITIONAL III.- Transitional powers of the Corte Suprema de Justicia In addition to the powers already provided by law, during the first two years of this Code's validity, the Corte Suprema de Justicia may transfer officials from one district to another or from one office to another, open or close offices, assign additional duties, reorganize judicial offices, and redistribute the territorial jurisdiction of the courts, provided this is essential for the better application of this Code.

TRANSITIONAL IV.- Transitional Legislation Before this Code takes effect, a law must be enacted regulating the organization of judicial offices, their jurisdiction, and that of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), and, in general, adapting the organization of the Judicial Branch (Poder Judicial) to the requirements of this Code. That law must contain the rules that will govern the transition from one procedural system to another.

TRANSITIONAL PROVISION V.- Temporary Validity of the Reform to the Code of Criminal Procedure The reform of Articles 294 and 298 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Law No. 5789, of September 1, 1975 (sic: should be understood as Law No. 5377 of October 19, 1973), carried out by this law, shall remain in force from its publication until January 1, 1998.

Done at the Presidency of the Republic.—San José, on the tenth day of April, nineteen ninety-six.

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Nadie podrá ser condenado a una pena ni sometido a una medida de seguridad, sino en virtud de un proceso tramitado con arreglo a este Código y con observancia estricta de las garantías, las facultades y los derechos previstos para las personas.

La inobservancia de una regla de garantía establecida en favor del imputado no podrá hacerse valer en su perjuicio.

Regla de interpretación Deberán interpretarse restrictivamente las disposiciones legales que coarten la libertad personal o limiten el ejercicio de un poder o derecho conferido a los sujetos del proceso. En esta materia, se prohíben la interpretación extensiva y la analogía mientras no favorezcan la libertad del imputado ni el ejercicio de una facultad conferida a quienes intervienen en el procedimiento.

Juez natural Nadie podrá ser juzgado por jueces designados especialmente para el caso. La potestad de aplicar la ley penal corresponderá sólo a los tribunales ordinarios, instituidos conforme a la Constitución y la ley.

Toda persona tendrá derecho a una decisión judicial definitiva en un plazo razonable. Para el logro de este objetivo, se preferirá la tramitación oral mediante audiencias, durante el proceso.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° "Creación del Recurso de Apelación de la Sentencia, otras Reformas al Régimen de Impugnación e Implementación de Nuevas Reglas de Oralidad en el Proceso Penal", Ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

Independencia Los jueces sólo están sometidos a la Constitución, el Derecho Internacional y Comunitario vigentes en Costa Rica y a la ley. En su función de juzgar, los jueces son independientes de todos los miembros de los poderes del Estado. Por ningún motivo, los otros órganos del Estado podrán arrogarse el juzgamiento de las causas, ni la reapertura de las terminadas por decisión firme; tampoco podrán interferir en el desarrollo del procedimiento. Deberán cumplir y hacer cumplir lo dispuesto por los jueces, conforme a lo resuelto. En caso de interferencia en el ejercicio de su función, el juez deberá informar a la Corte Suprema de Justicia sobre los hechos que afecten su independencia. Cuando la interferencia provenga del pleno de la Corte, el informe deberá ser conocido por la Asamblea Legislativa.

Objetividad Los jueces deberán resolver con objetividad los asuntos sometidos a su conocimiento. Desde el inicio del procedimiento y a lo largo de su desarrollo, las autoridades administrativas y judiciales deberán consignar en sus actuaciones y valorar en sus decisiones no solo las circunstancias perjudiciales para el imputado, sino también las favorables a él. Serán funciones de los jueces preservar el principio de igualdad procesal y allanar los obstáculos que impidan su vigencia o lo debiliten.

Los tribunales deberán resolver el conflicto surgido a consecuencia del hecho, de conformidad con los principios contenidos en las leyes, en procura de contribuir a restaurar la armonía social entre las partes y, en especial, el restablecimiento delos derechos de la víctima. Para tal efecto, también podrá resolverse conforme al procedimiento de justicia restaurativa.

Para tales fines, siempre tomarán en cuenta el criterio de la víctima, en la forma y las condiciones que regulan este Código.

(Así reformado por el artículo 47 de la Ley de justicia restaurativa, N° 9582 del 2 de julio del 2018)

Decisiones en tribunales colegiados Cuando la ley exija una integración colegiada del tribunal, sus integrantes deberán intervenir activamente en la deliberación y decisión.

Estado de inocencia El imputado deberá ser considerado inocente en todas las etapas del procedimiento, mientras no se declare su culpabilidad en sentencia firme, conforme a las reglas establecidas en este Código. En caso de duda sobre las cuestiones de hecho, se estará a lo más favorable para el imputado. Hasta la declaratoria de culpabilidad, ninguna autoridad pública podrá presentar a una persona como culpable ni brindar información sobre ella en ese sentido. En los casos del ausente y del rebelde, se admitirá la publicación de los datos indispensables para su aprehensión por orden judicial.

Medidas cautelares Las medidas cautelares sólo podrán ser establecidas por ley. Tendrán carácter excepcional y su aplicación, en relación con el imputado, debe ser proporcional a la pena o medida de seguridad que pudiera llegar a imponerse.

Unica persecución Nadie podrá ser juzgado penalmente más de una vez por el mismo hecho.

Inviolabilidad de la defensa Es inviolable la defensa de cualquiera de las partes en el procedimiento. Con las excepciones previstas en este Código, el imputado tendrá derecho a intervenir en los actos procesales que incorporen elementos de prueba y a formular las peticiones y observaciones que considere oportunas, sin perjuicio de que la autoridad correspondiente ejerza el poder disciplinario, cuando se perjudique el curso normal de los procedimientos. Cuando el imputado esté privado de libertad, el encargado de custodiarlo transmitirá al tribunal las peticiones u observaciones que aquel formule, dentro de las doce horas siguientes a que se le presenten y le facilitará la comunicación con el defensor. Toda autoridad que intervenga en los actos iniciales de la investigación deberá velar porque el imputado conozca inmediatamente los derechos que, en esa condición, prevén la Constitución, el Derecho Internacional y el Comunitario vigentes en Costa Rica y esta ley.

Defensa técnica Desde el primer momento de la persecución penal y hasta el fin de la ejecución de la sentencia, el imputado tendrá derecho a la asistencia y defensa técnica letrada. Para tales efectos, podrá elegir a un defensor de su confianza, pero, de no hacerlo, se le asignará un defensor público. El derecho de defensa es irrenunciable. Se entenderá por primer acto del procedimiento cualquier actuación, judicial o policial, que señale a una persona como posible autor de un hecho punible o partícipe en él.

Intérprete Cuando el imputado no comprenda correctamente el idioma oficial, tendrá derecho a que se le designe un traductor o intérprete, sin perjuicio de que, por su cuenta, nombre uno de su confianza.

El tribunal o el fiscal que constate un defecto saneable en cualquier gestión, recurso ordinario o instancia de constitución de los sujetos del proceso, lo comunicará al interesado y le otorgará un plazo para corregirlo, el cual no será superior a cinco días. Si no se corrige en el plazo conferido, resolverá lo correspondiente.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° "Creación del Recurso de Apelación de la Sentencia, otras Reformas al Régimen de Impugnación e Implementación de Nuevas Reglas de Oralidad en el Proceso Penal", Ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

La acción penal será pública o privada. Cuando sea pública, su ejercicio corresponderá al Ministerio Público, sin perjuicio de la participación que este Código concede a la víctima o a los ciudadanos.

En los delitos contra la seguridad de la nación, la tranquilidad pública, los poderes públicos, el orden constitucional, el ambiente, la zona marítimo-terrestre, la hacienda pública, los deberes de la función pública, los ilícitos tributarios y los contenidos en la Ley 7557, Ley General de Aduanas, de 20 de octubre de 1995; la Ley 7558, Ley Orgánica del Banco Central de Costa Rica, de 3 de noviembre de 1995 y la Ley 8422, Ley contra la Corrupción y el Enriquecimiento Ilícito en la Función Pública, de 6 de octubre de 2004, excepto el delito de soborno transnacional, la Procuraduría General de la República también podrá ejercer directamente esa acción, sin subordinarse a las actuaciones y decisiones del Ministerio Público. En los asuntos iniciados por acción de la Procuraduría, esta se tendrá como parte y podrá ejercer los mismos recursos que el presente Código le concede al Ministerio Público.

(Así reformado por el artículo 6° de la ley N° 10373 del 20 de setiembre de 2023, "Reformas a leyes en materia de anticorrupción para atender recomendaciones del grupo de trabajo sobre el soborno en las transacciones comerciales internacionales de la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico (OCDE)")

Denuncia por delito de acción pública perseguible a instancia privada Cuando el ejercicio de la acción penal pública requiera instancia privada, el Ministerio Público sólo la ejercerá una vez que formulen denuncia, ante autoridad competente, el ofendido mayor de quince años o, si es menor de esa edad, en orden excluyente, sus representantes legales, tutor o guardador. Sin embargo, antes de la instancia, podrán realizarse los actos urgentes que impidan continuar el hecho o los imprescindibles para conservar los elementos de prueba, siempre que no afecten la protección del interés de la víctima. Los defectos relacionados con la denuncia podrán subsanarse con posterioridad, cuando la víctima se presente a ratificar la instancia hasta antes de finalizar la audiencia preliminar. La instancia privada permitirá perseguir a todos los autores y partícipes. La víctima o su representante podrán revocar la instancia en cualquier momento hasta antes de acordarse la apertura a juicio. La revocatoria comprenderá a los que hayan participado en el hecho punible. El Ministerio Público ejercerá directamente la acción cuando el delito se haya cometido contra un incapaz o un menor de edad, que no tengan representación, o cuando lo haya realizado uno de los parientes hasta tercer grado de consanguinidad o afinidad, el representante legal o el guardador.

Serán delitos de acción pública perseguibles a instancia privada:

• a)El contagio de enfermedad y la violación de una persona mayor de edad que se encuentre en pleno uso de razón.
• b)Las agresiones sexuales, no agravadas ni calificadas, contra personas mayores de edad.
• c)Las lesiones leves y las culposas que no tengan origen en un accidente o hecho de tránsito, el abandono de personas, la ocultación de impedimentos para contraer matrimonio, la simulación de matrimonio, las amenazas, la violación de domicilio y la usurpación.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo 5° de la Ley N° 8696 de 17 de diciembre de 2008)

• d)El incumplimiento del deber alimentario o del deber de asistencia, y el incumplimiento o abuso de la responsabilidad parental.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo 2° punto XI) de la ley que aprobó el Código Procesal de Familia, N° 9747 del 23 de octubre de 2019) e) Cualquier otro delito que la ley tipifique como tal.

(Así reformado por el artículo 2° de la Ley Fortalecimiento de la Lucha Contra La Explotación Sexual de las Personas Menores de Edad, N° 8590 del 18 de julio del 2007)

Delitos de acción privada Son delitos de acción privada:

• a)Los delitos contra el honor.
• b)La propaganda desleal.
• c)Cualquier otro delito que la ley califique como tal.

Conversión de la acción pública en privada La acción pública podrá convertirse en privada a pedido de la víctima, siempre que el Ministerio Público lo autorice y no exista un interés público gravemente comprometido, cuando se investigue un delito que requiera instancia privada o un delito contra la propiedad realizado sin grave violencia sobre las personas. Si existen varios ofendidos, será necesario el consentimiento de todos.

Prejudicialidad Cuando lo que deba resolverse en un proceso penal dependa de la solución de otro procedimiento según la ley y no corresponda acumularlos, el ejercicio de la acción se suspenderá después de la investigación preparatoria hasta que, en el segundo procedimiento, se dicte resolución final.

Criterios de oportunidad

El Ministerio Público deberá ejercer la acción penal pública, en todos los casos en que sea procedente, con arreglo a las disposiciones de la ley.

No obstante, previa autorización del superior jerárquico, el representante del Ministerio Público podrá solicitar que se prescinda, total o parcialmente, de la persecución penal, que se limite a alguna o varias infracciones o a alguna de las personas que participaron en el hecho, cuando:

• a)Se trate de un hecho insignificante, de mínima culpabilidad del autor o el partícipe o con exigua contribución de este, salvo que exista violencia sobre las personas o fuerza sobre las cosas, se afecte el interés público o el hecho haya sido cometido por un funcionario público en el ejercicio del cargo o con ocasión de él.
• b)Se trate de asuntos de delincuencia organizada, criminalidad violenta, delitos graves o de tramitación compleja y el imputado colabore eficazmente con la investigación, brinde información esencial para evitar que continúe el delito o que se perpetren otros, ayude a esclarecer el hecho investigado u otros conexos o proporcione información útil para probar la participación de otros imputados, siempre que la conducta del colaborador sea menos reprochable que los hechos punibles cuya persecución facilita o cuya continuación evita.

No obstante lo dispuesto en el artículo 300, en los casos previstos en este inciso, la víctima no será informada de la solicitud para aplicar el criterio de oportunidad y, si no hubiere querellado, no tendrá derecho de hacerlo con posterioridad, salvo que el tribunal ordene la reanudación del procedimiento conforme al artículo siguiente.

• c)El imputado haya sufrido, como consecuencia del hecho, daños físicos o morales graves que tornen desproporcionada la aplicación de una pena, o cuando concurran los presupuestos bajo los cuales el tribunal está autorizado para prescindir de la pena.
• d)La pena o medida de seguridad que pueda imponerse, por el hecho o la infracción de cuya persecución se prescinde, carezca de importancia, en consideración a la pena o medida de seguridad impuesta, que debe esperar por los restantes hechos o infracciones que se le impuso o que se le impondría en un procedimiento tramitado en el extranjero. En estos últimos casos, podrá prescindirse de la extradición activa y concederse la pasiva.

La solicitud deberá formularse ante el tribunal que resolverá lo correspondiente, según el trámite establecido para la conclusión del procedimiento preparatorio.

(Así reformado el párrafo anterior por el artículo 1° "Creación del Recurso de Apelación de la Sentencia, otras Reformas al Régimen de Impugnación e Implementación de Nuevas Reglas de Oralidad en el Proceso Penal", Ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

(Así reformado por el artículo 16 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009)

Efectos del criterio de oportunidad Si el tribunal admite la solicitud para aplicar un criterio de oportunidad, se produce la extinción de la acción penal con respecto al autor o partícipe en cuyo beneficio se dispuso. Si la decisión se funda en la insignificancia del hecho, sus efectos se extienden a todos los que reúnan las mismas condiciones. No obstante, en el caso de los incisos b) y d) del artículo anterior, se suspende el ejercicio de la acción penal pública en relación con los hechos o las personas en cuyo favor se aplicó el criterio de oportunidad. Esa suspensión se mantendrá hasta quince días después de la firmeza de la sentencia respectiva, momento en que el tribunal deberá resolver definitivamente sobre la prescindencia de esa persecución. Si la colaboración del sujeto o la sentencia no satisfacen las expectativas por las cuales se suspendió el ejercicio de la acción, el Ministerio Público deberá solicitar al tribunal que ordene reanudar el procedimiento.

Plazo para solicitar criterios de oportunidad Los criterios de oportunidad podrán solicitarse hasta antes de que se formule la acusación del Ministerio Público.

Suspensión del procedimiento a prueba

Cuando proceda la suspensión condicional de la pena o en los asuntos por delitos sancionados exclusivamente con penas no privativas de libertad, el imputado podrá solicitar la suspensión del procedimiento a prueba siempre que, durante los cinco años anteriores, no se haya beneficiado con esta medida ni con la extinción de la acción penal por la reparación del daño o la conciliación. Para tales efectos, el Registro Judicial llevará un archivo de los beneficiarios.

No procederá la medida en los delitos dolosos, cuando el hecho se haya cometido por medio de fuerza en las cosas o violencia sobre las personas. Este instituto procesal se podrá aplicar solamente en los delitos de violencia patrimonial contemplados en la Ley N.º 8589, Penalización de la Violencia contra las Mujeres, de 25 de abril de 2007, cuando no exista violencia contra las personas y siempre que se hayan tramitado con aplicación de la Ley de Justicia Restaurativa.

La solicitud deberá contener un plan de reparación del daño causado por el delito, a satisfacción de la víctima de domicilio conocido, y un detalle de las condiciones que el imputado está dispuesto a cumplir, conforme al artículo siguiente. El plan podrá consistir en la conciliación con la víctima, la reparación natural del daño causado o una reparación simbólica, inmediata o por cumplir a plazos. Si efectuada la petición aún no existe acusación, el Ministerio Público describirá el hecho que le imputa.

Para otorgar el beneficio son condiciones indispensables que el imputado admita el hecho que se le atribuye y que la víctima manifieste su conformidad con la suspensión del proceso a prueba.

En audiencia oral, el tribunal oirá sobre la solicitud al fiscal, a la víctima de domicilio conocido, así como al imputado, y resolverá de inmediato, salvo que difiera esa discusión para la audiencia preliminar. La resolución fijará las condiciones conforme a las cuales se suspende el procedimiento o se rechaza la solicitud y aprobará o modificará el plan de reparación propuesto por el imputado, según criterios de razonabilidad.

La suspensión del procedimiento podrá solicitarse en cualquier momento, hasta antes de acordarse la apertura a juicio, sin perjuicio de tramitarse con arreglo a la Ley de Justicia Restaurativa, y no impedirá el ejercicio de la acción civil ante los tribunales respectivos.

Si la solicitud del imputado no se admite o el procedimiento se reanuda con posterioridad, la admisión de los hechos por parte del imputado no podrá considerarse como una confesión.

Cuando el plan de reparación del daño causado por el delito incorpore el servicio de utilidad pública, deberá observar las regulaciones del artículo 56 bis del Código Penal.

(Así reformado por el artículo 47 de la Ley de justicia restaurativa, N° 9582 del 2 de julio del 2018)

El tribunal fijará el plazo de prueba, que no podrá ser inferior a dos años ni superior a cinco, y determinará una o varias de las reglas que deberá cumplir el imputado, entre las siguientes:

• a)Residir en un lugar determinado.
• b)Frecuentar determinados lugares o personas.
• c)Abstenerse de consumir drogas o estupefacientes, o de abusar de las bebidas alcohólicas.
• d)Participar en programas especiales de tratamiento con el fin de abstenerse de consumir drogas, bebidas alcohólicas o cometer hechos delictivos.
• e)Comenzar o finalizar la escolaridad primaria, si no la ha cumplido; aprender una profesión u oficio o seguir cursos de capacitación en el lugar o la institución que determine el tribunal.
• f)Prestar servicios o labores en favor del Estado o de instituciones de bien público.
• g)Someterse a un tratamiento médico o psicológico, si es necesario.
• h)Permanecer en un trabajo o empleo, o adoptar, en el plazo que el tribunal determine, un oficio, arte, industria o profesión, si no tiene medios propios de subsistencia.
• i)Someterse a la vigilancia que determine el tribunal.
• j)No poseer o portar armas.
• k)No conducir vehículos.
• l)Participar y someterse a las condiciones del programa de tratamiento bajo supervisión judicial restaurativa, conforme a lo establecido en la Ley de Justicia Restaurativa.
• m)Participar en programas con abordajes socioeducativos para el manejo de la ira, masculinidad y afines, para la prevención de la violencia intrafamiliar y contra la mujer.

Solo a proposición del imputado, el tribunal podrá imponer otras reglas de conducta análogas cuando estime que resultan razonables.

(Así reformado por el artículo 47 de la Ley de justicia restaurativa, N° 9582 del 2 de julio del 2018)

El tribunal deberá explicarle personalmente al imputado las condiciones que deberá cumplir durante el período de prueba y las consecuencias de incumplirlas.

Corresponderá a una oficina especializada, adscrita a la Dirección General de Adaptación Social, vigilar el cumplimiento de las reglas impuestas e informar periódicamente al tribunal, en los plazos que determine, sin perjuicio de que otras personas o entidades, como la sede restaurativa con arreglo a la Ley de Justicia Restaurativa, también le suministren informes.

(Así reformado por el artículo 47 de la Ley de justicia restaurativa, N° 9582 del 2 de julio del 2018)

Revocatoria de la suspensión Si el imputado incumple el plan de reparación, se aparta, considerable e injustificadamente, de las condiciones impuestas o comete un nuevo delito, el tribunal dará audiencia por tres días al Ministerio Público y al imputado y resolverá, por auto fundado, acerca de la reanudación de la persecución penal. En el primer caso, en lugar de la revocatoria, el tribunal puede ampliar el plazo de prueba hasta por dos años más. Esta extensión del término puede imponerse solo por una vez.

(Así reformado por el inciso b) del artículo 1 de la Ley N° 8146 de 30 de octubre del 2001)

Suspensión del plazo de prueba El plazo de prueba se suspenderá mientras el imputado esté privado de su libertad por otro procedimiento. Cuando el imputado esté sometido a otro procedimiento y goce de libertad, el plazo correrá; pero, no podrá decretarse la extinción de la acción penal sino hasta que quede firme la resolución que lo exima de responsabilidad por el nuevo hecho.

Extinción de la acción penal

La acción penal se extinguirá por las causas siguientes:

• a)La muerte del imputado.
• b)El desistimiento de la querella, en los delitos de acción privada.
• c)El pago del máximo previsto para la pena de multa, realizado antes del juicio oral, cuando se trate de delitos sancionados solo con esa clase de pena, caso en el que el tribunal hará la fijación correspondiente, a petición del interesado, siempre y cuando la víctima exprese su conformidad.
• d)La aplicación de un criterio de oportunidad, en los casos y las formas previstos en este Código.
• e)La prescripción.
• f)El cumplimiento del plazo de suspensión del proceso a prueba, sin que esta sea revocada.
• g)El indulto o la amnistía.
• h)La revocatoria de la instancia privada, en los delitos de acción pública cuya persecución dependa de aquella.
• i)La muerte del ofendido, en los casos de delitos de acción privada, salvo que la iniciada ya por la víctima sea continuada por sus herederos, conforme a lo previsto en este Código.
• j)La reparación integral a entera satisfacción de la víctima, del daño particular o social causado, realizada antes del juicio oral, en delitos de contenido patrimonial sin fuerza en las cosas ni violencia sobre las personas y en delitos culposos, siempre que la víctima o el Ministerio Público lo admitan, según el caso.

Esta causal procede siempre que, durante los cinco años anteriores, el imputado no se haya beneficiado con esta medida ni con la suspensión del proceso a prueba o la conciliación. Para tales efectos, el Registro Judicial llevará un archivo de los beneficiarios.

• k)La conciliación, siempre que durante los cinco años anteriores, el imputado no se haya beneficiado con esta medida, con la suspensión del proceso a prueba ni con la reparación integral del daño.
• l)El incumplimiento de los plazos máximos de la investigación preparatoria, en los términos fijados por este Código.
• m)Cuando no se haya reabierto la investigación, dentro del plazo de un año, luego de dictado el sobreseimiento provisional.

(Así reformado por el artículo 16 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009).

Si no se ha iniciado la persecución penal, la acción prescribirá:

• a)Después de transcurrido un plazo igual al máximo de la pena, en los delitos sancionables con prisión, no podrá exceder de diez años ni ser inferior a tres, excepto en los delitos cometidos contra personas menores de edad, en los cuales la prescripción empezará a correr a partir de que la víctima haya cumplido la mayoría de edad.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9057 del 23 de julio de 2012, "Reforma de varias leyes sobre la Prescripción de Daños causados a Personas Menores de Edad")

• b)A los dos años, en los delitos sancionables solo con penas no privativas de libertad y en las faltas o contravenciones, excepto en los delitos cometidos por personas jurídicas, en los cuales la prescripción será de diez años.

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo 41 de la ley sobre la Responsabilidad de las personas jurídicas sobre cohechos domésticos, soborno transnacional y otros delitos, N° 9699 del 10 de junio del 2019)

• c)Veinticinco años después de que la víctima cumplió la mayoría de edad, cuando se trate de delitos sexuales cometidos contra personas menores de edad y a los veinticinco años desde la consumación del hecho punible, del último acto de ejecución de la tentativa o del cese del delito continuo, según corresponda, cuando estos delitos sean cometidos contra personas mayores de edad sin capacidad volitiva o cognoscitiva. La regla anterior aplicará indistintamente para todo autor, cómplice o partícipe responsable del respectivo hecho punible, siempre que al momento de delinquir hayan adquirido la mayoridad.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo único de la ley N° 9685 del 21 de mayo de 2019, "Ley de Derecho al Tiempo, reforma Código Penal para ampliar el plazo de prescripción de la acción penal en casos de delitos sexuales contra personas menores de edad o sin capacidad volitiva o cognoscitiva")

(Así reformado el inciso anterior por el artículo único de la ley N° 9826 del 10 de marzo de 2020)

• d)Treinta años después de la consumación del hecho delictivo, cuando se trate de los delitos contenidos en la Ley 8422, Ley contra la Corrupción y el Enriquecimiento Ilícito en la Función Pública, del 6 de octubre del 2004, y en los delitos contenidos dentro del título XV, "Delitos contra los deberes de la función pública", del Código Penal.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo 1° de la Ley para perseguir delitos de corrupción y evitar la impunidad por prescripción, N° 10691 del 6 de mayo de 2025)

Los plazos de prescripción se regirán por la pena principal prevista en la ley y comenzarán a correr, para las infracciones consumadas, desde el día de la consumación; para las tentativas, desde el día en que se efectuó el último acto de ejecución y, para los delitos continuos o permanentes, desde el día en que cesó su permanencia.

La prescripción correrá, se suspenderá o se interrumpirá, en forma individual, para cada uno de los sujetos que intervinieron en el delito. En el caso de juzgamiento conjunto de varios delitos, las acciones penales respectivas que de ellos resulten prescribirán separadamente en el término señalado a cada uno.

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la ley N° 9082 del 12 de octubre del 2012)

Iniciado el procedimiento, los plazos establecidos en el artículo trasanterior se reducirán a la mitad para computarlos, a efectos de suspender o interrumpir la prescripción. Los plazos de prescripción se interrumpirán con lo siguiente:

• a)La comparecencia a rendir declaración indagatoria, en los delitos de acción pública.
• b)La presentación de la querella, en los delitos de acción privada.
• c)La resolución que convoca a la audiencia preliminar.
• d)El señalamiento de la fecha para el debate.
• e)Cuando la realización del debate se suspenda por causas atribuibles a la defensa, con el propósito de obstaculizar el desarrollo normal de aquel, según la declaración que efectuará el tribunal en resolución fundada.
• f)El dictado de la sentencia, aunque no se encuentre firme.

La interrupción de la prescripción opera, aun en el caso de que las resoluciones referidas en los incisos anteriores sean declaradas ineficaces o nulas posteriormente.

La autoridad judicial no podrá utilizar como causales de interrupción de la prescripción otras distintas de las establecidas en los incisos anteriores.

(Así reformado por el artículo 81° de la Ley contra la Trata de Personas y Creación de la Coalición Nacional contra el tráfico ilícito de migrantes y la trata de personas (CONATT), N° 9095 del 26 de octubre de 2012)

Suspensión del cómputo de la prescripción El cómputo de la prescripción se suspenderá:

• a)Cuando en virtud de una disposición constitucional o legal, la acción penal no pueda ser promovida ni proseguida. Esta disposición no regirá cuando el hecho no pueda perseguirse por falta de la instancia privada. b) En los delitos cometidos por funcionarios públicos en el ejercicio del cargo o con ocasión de él, mientras sigan desempeñando la función pública y no se les haya iniciado el proceso. c) En los delitos relativos al sistema constitucional, cuando se rompa el orden institucional, hasta su restablecimiento. d) Mientras dure, en el extranjero, el trámite de extradición. e) Cuando se haya suspendido el ejercicio de la acción penal en virtud de un criterio de oportunidad o por la suspensión del proceso a prueba y mientras duren esas suspensiones. f) Por la rebeldía del imputado. En este caso, el término de la suspensión no podrá exceder un tiempo igual al de la prescripción de la acción penal; sobrevenido este, continuará corriendo ese plazo.

Terminada la causa de la suspensión, el plazo de la prescripción continuará su curso.

Renuncia a la prescripción El imputado podrá renunciar a la prescripción.

En las faltas o contravenciones, en los delitos de acción privada, de acción pública a instancia privada, los que admitan la suspensión condicional de la pena, procederá la conciliación entre la víctima y el imputado, en cualquier momento hasta antes de acordarse la apertura a juicio. También procederá en los asuntos por delitos sancionados, exclusivamente, con penas no privativas de libertad, siempre que concurran los demás requisitos exigidos por esta ley. Es requisito para la aplicación de la conciliación, cuando se trate de un delito de acción pública y sea procedente su aplicación, que durante los cinco años anteriores el imputado no se haya beneficiado de esta medida, de la suspensión del proceso a prueba o de la reparación integral del daño.

En esos casos, si las partes no lo han propuesto con anterioridad, en el momento procesal oportuno, el tribunal procurará que manifiesten cuáles son las condiciones en que aceptan conciliarse.

Para facilitar el acuerdo de las partes, el tribunal podrá solicitar el asesoramiento y el auxilio de personas o entidades especializadas para procurar acuerdos entre las partes en conflicto, o instar a los interesados a que designen a un amigable componedor. Los conciliadores deberán guardar secreto sobre lo que conozcan en las deliberaciones y discusiones de las partes. Asimismo, se podrá acordar la conciliación mediante el procedimiento restaurativo regulado en la Ley de Justicia Restaurativa.

Cuando la conciliación se produzca, el tribunal homologará los acuerdos y declarará extinguida la acción penal. Sin embargo, la extinción de la acción penal tendrá efectos a partir del momento en que el imputado cumpla todas las obligaciones contraídas. Para tal propósito, podrá fijarse un plazo máximo de un año, durante el cual se suspende la prescripción de la acción penal.

Si el imputado no cumpliera, sin justa causa, las obligaciones pactadas en la conciliación, el procedimiento continuará, como si no se hubiera conciliado.

En caso de incumplimiento por causa justificada, las partes podrán prorrogar el plazo hasta por seis meses más. Si la víctima no aceptara prorrogar el plazo, o este se extinguiera sin que el imputado cumpla la obligación, aun por justa causa, el proceso continuará su marcha, sin que puedan aplicarse de nuevo las normas sobre la conciliación.

El tribunal no aprobará la conciliación, cuando tenga fundados motivos para estimar que alguno de los que intervienen no está en condiciones de igualdad para negociar o ha actuado bajo coacción o amenaza; tampoco, en los delitos cometidos en perjuicio de las personas menores de edad.

En los delitos de carácter sexual, en las agresiones domésticas y en los delitos sancionados en la Ley N. º 8589, Penalización de la Violencia contra las Mujeres, el tribunal no debe procurar la conciliación entre las partes ni debe convocar a una audiencia con ese propósito, salvo cuando lo soliciten, de forma expresa, la víctima o sus representantes legales.

El plazo de cinco años señalado en el primer párrafo del artículo 25, en los incisos j) y k) del artículo 30 y en este artículo, se computará a partir de la firmeza de la resolución que declare la extinción de la acción penal.

Los órganos jurisdiccionales que aprueben aplicar la suspensión del procedimiento a prueba, la reparación integral del daño o la conciliación, una vez firme la resolución, lo informarán al Registro Judicial, para su respectiva inscripción. El Registro Judicial llevará un archivo de los beneficiarios con estas medidas.

(Así reformado por el artículo 47 de la Ley de justicia restaurativa, N° 9582 del 2 de julio del 2018)

Ejercicio La acción civil para restituir el objeto materia del hecho punible, así como la reparación de los daños y perjuicios causados, podrá ser ejercida por el damnificado, sus herederos, sus legatarios, la sucesión o por el beneficiario en el caso de pretensiones personales, contra los autores del hecho punible y partícipes en él y, en su caso, contra el civilmente responsable.

Acción civil por daño social La acción civil podrá ser ejercida por la Procuraduría General de la República, cuando se trate de hechos punibles que afecten intereses colectivos o difusos.

Delegación La acción civil deberá ser ejercida por un abogado de una oficina especializada en la defensa civil de las víctimas, adscrita al Ministerio Público, cuando:

• a)El titular de la acción carezca de recursos y le delegue su ejercicio.
• b)El titular de la acción sea incapaz de hacer valer sus derechos y no tenga quien lo represente, sin perjuicio de la intervención del Patronato Nacional de la Infancia.

En el procedimiento penal, la acción civil resarcitoria solo podrá ser ejercida mientras esté pendiente la persecución penal. Sobreseído provisionalmente el imputado o suspendido el procedimiento, de conformidad con las previsiones de ley, el ejercicio de la acción civil se suspenderá hasta que la persecución penal continúe y quedará a salvo el derecho de interponer la demanda ante los tribunales competentes.

El Tribunal Penal deberá pronunciarse sobre el fondo de la acción civil resarcitoria válidamente ejercida, aún y cuando se haya dictado sentencia absolutoria o de sobreseimiento definitivo en la fase de juicio.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 10566 del 23 de octubre de 2024)

Ejercicio alternativo La acción civil podrá ejercerse en el proceso penal, conforme a las reglas establecidas por este Código o intentarse ante los tribunales civiles; pero no se podrá tramitar simultáneamente en ambas jurisdicciones.

Enumeración El Ministerio Público y las partes podrán oponer excepciones por los siguientes motivos:

• a)Falta de jurisdicción o competencia.
• b)Falta de acción, porque esta no pudo promoverse, no fue iniciada legalmente o no puede proseguirse.
• c)Extinción de la acción penal.

Las excepciones serán planteadas al tribunal competente, que podrá asumir, de oficio, la solución de alguna de las cuestiones anteriores.

Las excepciones se deducirán oralmente en las audiencias. Deberá ofrecerse la prueba que justifica los hechos en que se basan. Se dará traslado de la gestión a la parte contraria.

El tribunal admitirá la prueba pertinente y resolverá, sin dilación, lo que corresponda.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° "Creación del recurso de apelación de la sentencia, otras reformas al régimen de impugnación e implementación de nuevas reglas de oralidad en el proceso penal", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

Efectos Si se declara la falta de acción, los autos se archivarán salvo si la persecución puede proseguir en razón de otro interviniente; en este caso, la decisión sólo desplazará del procedimiento a quien afecte. En los casos en que deba declararse la extinción de la persecución penal o de la pretensión civil, se decretará el sobreseimiento o se rechazará la demanda, según corresponda.

LIBRO I JUSTICIA PENAL Y SUJETOS PROCESALES

Competencia La competencia de los tribunales de justicia se extiende al conocimiento de los hechos delictivos cometidos en el territorio de la República, así como a los ejecutados en los lugares donde el Estado costarricense ejerce una jurisdicción especial. Además, en los casos previstos en la ley, conocerán de los delitos cometidos fuera del territorio nacional.

Mantenimiento de competencia Cuando se advierta la incompetencia, después de señalada la fecha para el juicio oral, el tribunal facultado para juzgar delitos más graves no podrá declararse incompetente porque la causa corresponde a un tribunal integrado para juzgar hechos punibles más leves. Los tribunales con competencia para conocer de delitos la tendrán también para conocer de contravenciones, cuando el hecho principal se haya recalificado en el juicio o sean conexas con un delito. El procedimiento será el establecido para juzgar el delito más grave. Una vez señalada la fecha para el debate, la competencia territorial de un tribunal de juicio no podrá objetarse.

Reglas de competencia Para determinar la competencia territorial de los tribunales, se observarán las siguientes reglas:

• a)El tribunal tendrá competencia sobre los hechos punibles cometidos dentro de la circunscripción judicial donde ejerza sus funciones. Si existen varios jueces en una misma circunscripción, dividirán sus tareas de modo equitativo, conforme a la distribución establecida al efecto. En caso de duda, conocerá del procedimiento quien haya prevenido. Se considerará que ha prevenido quien haya dictado la primera providencia o resolución del procedimiento.
• b)Cuando el delito cometido en territorio extranjero haya producido sus efectos en la República, conocerán los tribunales de la circunscripción judicial de la capital, aunque el imputado haya sido aprehendido en cualquier otra circunscripción judicial del país.
• c)Cuando el hecho punible haya sido cometido en el límite de dos circunscripciones judiciales o en varias de ellas, será competente el tribunal que haya prevenido en el conocimiento de la causa.
• d)Cuando el lugar de comisión del hecho punible sea desconocido, será competente el tribunal de la circunscripción judicial donde resida el imputado. Si, posteriormente, se descubre el lugar de comisión del delito, continuará la causa el tribunal de este último lugar, salvo que con esto se produzca un retardo procesal innecesario o se perjudique la defensa.
• e)En los delitos cometidos a bordo de naves o aeronaves, cuando naveguen en aguas jurisdiccionales o el espacio aéreo nacional, será competente el juez del lugar donde arribe la nave o aeronave. Cuando la nave o aeronave no arribe al territorio nacional, conocerá del asunto un tribunal de la capital de la República.

Incompetencia En cualquier estado del proceso, salvo las excepciones previstas en este Código, el tribunal que reconozca su incompetencia remitirá las actuaciones al que considere competente y pondrá a su disposición a los detenidos, si existen. Si el tribunal que recibe las actuaciones discrepa de ese criterio, elevará las actuaciones al tribunal competente para resolver el conflicto. La inobservancia de las reglas sobre competencia sólo producirá la ineficacia de los actos cumplidos después de que haya sido declarada la incompetencia.

Efectos Las cuestiones de competencia no suspenderán el procedimiento. No obstante, si se producen antes de fijar la audiencia para el debate, lo suspenderán hasta la decisión del conflicto.

Casos de conexión Las causas son conexas:

• a)Cuando a una misma persona se le imputen dos o más delitos.
• b)Si los hechos imputados han sido cometidos simultáneamente por varias personas reunidas o aunque estén en distintos lugares o tiempos, cuando hubiera mediado acuerdo entre ellas.
• c)Si un hecho punible se ha cometido para perpetrar o facilitar la comisión de otro, o para procurar al culpable o a otros el provecho o la impunidad.
• d)Cuando los hechos punibles hayan sido cometidos recíprocamente.

Competencia en causas conexas Cuando exista conexidad conocerá:

• a)El tribunal facultado para juzgar el delito más grave.
• b)Si los delitos son reprimidos con la misma pena, el tribunal que deba intervenir para juzgar el que se cometió primero.
• c)Si los delitos se cometieron en forma simultánea o no consta debidamente cuál se cometió primero, el tribunal que haya prevenido.
• d)En último caso, el tribunal que indique el órgano competente para conocer del diferendo sobre la competencia.

Acumulación material A pesar de que se haya dispuesto la acumulación de dos o más procesos, las actuaciones se compilarán por separado, salvo que sea inconveniente para el desarrollo normal del procedimiento, aunque en todos deberá intervenir el mismo tribunal.

Acumulación de juicios Si en los procesos acumulados se acusan varios delitos, el tribunal podrá disponer que el juicio oral se celebre en audiencias públicas sucesivas, para cada uno de los hechos. En este caso, el tribunal podrá resolver sobre la culpabilidad al finalizar cada audiencia, y fijará la pena correspondiente a todos los casos después de celebrar la audiencia final. Serán aplicables las reglas previstas para la celebración del debate en dos fases.

Unificación de penas El tribunal que dictó la última sentencia, de oficio o a petición de alguno de los sujetos del proceso, deberá unificar las penas cuando se hayan dictado varias condenatorias contra una misma persona.

Motivos de excusa El juez deberá excusarse de conocer en la causa:

• a)Cuando en el mismo proceso hubiera pronunciado o concurrido a pronunciar el auto de apertura a juicio o la sentencia, o hubiera intervenido como funcionario del Ministerio Público, defensor, mandatario, denunciante o querellante, o hubiera actuado como perito, consultor técnico o conociera del hecho investigado como testigo, o tenga interés directo en el proceso.
• b)Si es cónyuge, conviviente con más de dos años de vida en común, pariente dentro del tercer grado de consanguinidad o afinidad, de algún interesado, o este viva o haya vivido a su cargo.
• c)Si es o ha sido tutor o curador, o ha estado bajo tutela o curatela de alguno de los interesados.
• d)Cuando él, su cónyuge, conviviente con más de dos años de vida en común, padres o hijos, tengan un juicio pendiente iniciado con anterioridad, o sociedad o comunidad con alguno de los interesados, salvo la sociedad anónima.
• e)Si él, su esposa, conviviente con más de dos años de vida en común, padres, hijos u otras personas que vivan a su cargo, son acreedores, deudores o fiadores de alguno de los interesados, salvo que se trate de bancos del Sistema Bancario Nacional.
• f)Cuando antes de comenzar el proceso hubiera sido denunciante o acusador de alguno de los interesados, hubiera sido denunciado o acusado por ellos, salvo que circunstancias posteriores demuestren armonía entre ambos.
• g)Si ha dado consejos o manifestado extra-judicialmente su opinión sobre el proceso.
• h)Cuando tenga amistad íntima o enemistad manifiesta con alguno de los interesados.
• i)Si él, su esposa, conviviente con más de dos años de vida en común, padres, hijos u otras personas que vivan a su cargo, hubieran recibido o reciban beneficios de importancia de alguno de los interesados o si, después de iniciado el proceso, él hubiera recibido presentes o dádivas aunque sean de poco valor.
• j)Cuando en la causa hubiera intervenido o intervenga, como juez, algún pariente suyo dentro del segundo grado de consanguinidad.

Para los fines de este artículo, se consideran interesados el imputado, el damnificado, la víctima y el demandado civil, aunque estos últimos no se constituyan en parte; también, sus representantes, defensores o mandatarios.

Trámite de la excusa El juez que se excuse remitirá las actuaciones, por resolución fundada, a quien deba reemplazarlo. Este tomará conocimiento del asunto de inmediato y dispondrá el trámite por seguir, sin perjuicio de que eleve los antecedentes, en igual forma, al tribunal respectivo, si estima que la excusa no tiene fundamento. La incidencia será resuelta sin trámite. Cuando el juez forme parte de un tribunal colegiado y reconozca un motivo de excusa, pedirá a los restantes miembros que dispongan su separación.

Recusación El Ministerio Público y las partes podrán recusar al juez, cuando estimen que concurre en él una causal por la cual debió excusarse.

Al formularse la recusación se indicarán, bajo pena de inadmisibilidad, los motivos en que se funda y los elementos de prueba pertinentes. Será formulada dentro de las veinticuatro horas de conocerse los motivos en que se funda. Durante las audiencias, la recusación será deducida oralmente.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° "Creación del Recurso de Apelación de la Sentencia, otras Reformas al Régimen de Impugnación e Implementación de Nuevas Reglas de Oralidad en el Proceso Penal ", ley N° 8837 del 3 de mayo de 2010)

Trámite de la recusación Si el juez admite la recusación, aplicará el procedimiento previsto para la excusa. En caso contrario, remitirá el escrito de recusación y su informe al tribunal competente o, si el juez integra un tribunal colegiado, pedirá el rechazo de aquella a los restantes miembros. Si se estima necesario, se fijará fecha para celebrar una audiencia en la que se recibirá la prueba y se informará a las partes. El tribunal competente resolverá el incidente dentro de las veinticuatro horas, sin recurso alguno.

Recusación de secretarios y colaboradores Las mismas reglas regirán respecto a los secretarios y a quienes cumplan alguna función de auxilio judicial en el procedimiento. El tribunal ante el cual actúan averiguará sumariamente el motivo invocado y resolverá lo que corresponda. Acogida la excusa o recusación, el funcionario quedará separado del asunto.

Efectos Producida la excusa o aceptada la recusación, no serán eficaces los actos posteriores del funcionario separado. La intervención de los nuevos funcionarios será definitiva, aunque posteriormente desaparezcan los motivos determinantes de la separación.

Funciones El Ministerio Público ejercerá la acción penal en la forma establecida por la ley y practicará las diligencias pertinentes y útiles para determinar la existencia del hecho delictivo. Tendrá a su cargo la investigación preparatoria, bajo control jurisdiccional en los actos que lo requieran.

Los representantes del Ministerio Público deberán formular sus requerimientos y conclusiones en forma motivada y específica.

Objetividad En el ejercicio de su función, el Ministerio Público adecuará sus actos a un criterio objetivo y velará por el cumplimiento efectivo de las garantías que reconocen la Constitución, el Derecho Internacional y el Comunitario vigentes en el país y la ley. Deberá investigar no sólo las circunstancias que permitan comprobar la acusación, sino también las que sirvan para eximir de responsabilidad al imputado; asimismo, deberá formular los requerimientos e instancias conforme a ese criterio, aun en favor del imputado.

Distribución de funciones Además de las funciones acordadas por la ley, los representantes del Ministerio Público actuarán, en el proceso penal, de conformidad con la distribución de labores que disponga el Fiscal General de la República.

Cooperación internacional Cuando las actividades delictivas se realicen, en todo o en parte, fuera del territorio nacional, o se les atribuyan a personas ligadas a una organización de carácter regional o internacional, en los casos en que deba aplicarse la legislación penal costarricense, el Ministerio Público podrá formar equipos conjuntos de investigación con instituciones extranjeras o internacionales. Los acuerdos de investigación conjunta deberán ser aprobados y supervisados por el Fiscal General.

Excusa y recusación En la medida en que les sean aplicables los funcionarios del Ministerio Público deberán excusarse y podrán ser recusados por los mismos motivos establecidos respecto de los jueces, salvo por el hecho de intervenir como acusadores en el proceso. La excusa o la recusación serán resueltas por el superior jerárquico, previa la investigación que estime conveniente.

Función Como auxiliar del Ministerio Público y bajo su dirección y control, la policía judicial investigará los delitos de acción pública, impedirá que se consuman o agoten, individualizará a los autores y partícipes, reunirá los elementos de prueba útiles para fundamentar la acusación y ejercerá las demás funciones que le asignen su ley orgánica y este Código.

Dirección El Ministerio Público dirigirá la policía cuando esta deba prestar auxilio en las labores de investigación. Los funcionarios y los agentes de la policía judicial deberán cumplir siempre las órdenes del Ministerio Público y las que, durante la tramitación del procedimiento, les dirijan los jueces. En casos excepcionales y con fundamentación, el Fiscal General podrá designar directamente a los oficiales de la policía judicial que deberán auxiliarlo en una investigación específica. En este caso, las autoridades policiales no podrán ser separadas de la investigación, si no se cuenta con la expresa aprobación de aquel funcionario.

Formalidades Los funcionarios y agentes de la policía judicial respetarán las formalidades previstas para la investigación, y subordinarán sus actos a las instrucciones de carácter general o particular que emita el Ministerio Público.

Serán consideradas víctimas:

• a)La persona directamente ofendida por el delito.
• b)El cónyuge, la persona conviviente con más de dos años de vida en común, el hijo o la hija, la madre y el padre adoptivos, los parientes dentro del tercer grado de consanguinidad o el segundo de afinidad y el heredero declarado judicialmente, en los delitos cuyo resultado sea la muerte del ofendido.
• c)Las personas socias, asociadas o miembros, respecto de los delitos que afecten a una persona jurídica, cometidos por quienes la dirigen, administran o controlan.
• d)Las asociaciones, fundaciones y otros entes que tengan carácter registral, en los delitos que afecten intereses colectivos o difusos, siempre que el objeto de la agrupación se vincule directamente con esos intereses.
• e)Para los efectos del delito de desaparición forzada de personas, tipificado en el Código Penal, se considerará como víctima a toda persona física que haya sufrido un perjuicio directo por este.

(Así adicionado el inciso anterior por el artículo 2° de la Ley contra la desaparición forzada de personas, N° 10534 del 18 de setiembre de 2024)

(Así reformado por el artículo 16 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009)

Aunque no se haya constituido como querellante, la víctima tendrá los siguientes derechos dentro del proceso:

• 1)Derechos de información y trato:
• a)A recibir un trato digno, que respete sus derechos fundamentales y que procure reducir o evitar la revictimización con motivo del proceso.
• b)A que se consideren sus necesidades especiales, tales como limitaciones físicas, sensoriales o mentales, así como las diferencias sociales, culturales o étnicas.
• c)A ser informada, en el primer contacto que tenga con las autoridades judiciales, de todos los derechos y facultades, así como sus deberes, con motivo de su intervención en el proceso, además, tener acceso al expediente judicial.
• d)A señalar un domicilio, lugar o un medio en el que puedan serle comunicadas las decisiones que se adopten y en el que pueda ser localizada, así como a que se canalice esa información, por una vía reservada a criterio de la Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito del Ministerio Público, en caso de que se encuentre sujeta a protección.
• e)A ser informada de todas las resoluciones finales que se adopten, así como de los cambios o las modificaciones en las medidas cautelares que se hayan adoptado por la existencia de un riesgo para su seguridad, vida o integridad física, siempre y cuando haya señalado un domicilio, sitio o medio en que puedan serle comunicadas.
• f)A ser informada de su derecho a solicitar y obtener protección especial, en caso de riesgos o amenazas graves para sí misma o su familia, con motivo de su denuncia o intervención en el proceso.
• g)A ser informada sobre la necesidad de su participación en determinados exámenes o pericias, a que se le expliquen sus alcances y a contar con la presencia de una persona de su confianza, que la acompañe en la realización de estas, siempre que ello no arriesgue su seguridad ni ponga en riesgo la investigación.
• h)A ser informada por el fiscal a cargo del caso, de su decisión de no recurrir la sentencia absolutoria o el cese o la modificación de las medidas cautelares adoptadas por la existencia de riesgo para su vida o su integridad física, dentro del plazo formal para recurrir cada una de esas resoluciones y con indicación de las razones para no hacerlo, siempre y cuando haya señalado un domicilio, lugar o medio para ser informada.
• i)Derecho a ser informada sobre la posibilidad de resolver el caso mediante el procedimiento de justicia restaurativa, conforme a lo estipulado en la Ley de Justicia Restaurativa.

(Así adicionado el subinciso anterior por el artículo 47 de la Ley de justicia restaurativa, N° 9582 del 2 de julio del 2018)

• 2)Derechos de protección y asistencia:
• a)Protección extraprocesal:

La víctima tendrá derecho a solicitar y a obtener protección especial, en caso de riesgos o amenazas graves para su vida o integridad física o la de sus familiares, con motivo de su denuncia o intervención en el proceso. El Ministerio Público, la policía, el juez o el tribunal de juicio que conozcan de la causa adoptarán las medidas necesarias para que se brinde esta protección. La víctima será escuchada, en todo procedimiento en que se pretenda brindarle protección. La Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito del Ministerio Público, coordinará con todas las fiscalías del país la protección de las víctimas y canalizará, por su medio, la información necesaria para sustentar las medidas de protección o las solicitudes de medidas cautelares, según lo regulado en el párrafo final del artículo 239 de este Código.

• b)Protección procesal:

Cuando su conocimiento represente un riesgo para su vida o su integridad física o la de sus familiares, con motivo de su denuncia o intervención en el proceso, la víctima tendrá derecho a que se reserven sus datos de identificación, como nombre, cédula y domicilio, números de teléfono o lugar de trabajo y que no consten en la documentación del proceso; además, en los casos excepcionales señalados en el artículo 204 bis de este Código, tendrá derecho a mantener reserva de sus características físicas individualizantes, cuando, por la naturaleza del hecho, estas no sean conocidas por el imputado u otras personas relacionadas con él, sin perjuicio del derecho de defensa. Para asegurar su testimonio y proteger su vida, podrán utilizarse los medios tecnológicos disponibles como la videoconferencia o cualquier otro medio similar, que haga efectiva la protección acordada, tanto cuando se haga uso del anticipo jurisdiccional de prueba como en juicio, en los términos y según el procedimiento regulado en los artículos 204 y 204 bis de este Código.

• c)Las personas menores de edad víctimas, las mujeres víctimas de abuso sexual o de violencia y las víctimas de trata de personas y de hechos violentos, tendrán derecho a contar con medidas de asistencia y apoyo, por parte del personal designado para tal efecto, tanto en el Poder Judicial como en el Ministerio de Seguridad y otras instituciones, a fin de reducir la revictimización con motivo de su intervención en el proceso y facilitar su participación en las distintas diligencias judiciales, como pericias o audiencias.
• d)Las personas menores de edad víctimas tendrán derecho a que se considere su interés superior a la hora de practicar cualquier diligencia o pericia y, especialmente, a la hora de recibir su testimonio; para ello, el Ministerio Público, el juez o el tribunal de juicio que conozca de la causa, adoptarán las medidas necesarias para que se reduzcan los trámites y se reciba su testimonio, en las condiciones especiales que se requieran. Podrá solicitarse, en caso necesario, un dictamen al Departamento de Trabajo Social y Psiquiatría y Psicología Forense o de algún otro perito o experto, debidamente nombrado, resguardando siempre el derecho de defensa, tal y como lo regulan los artículos 212, 221 y 351 de este Código.
• e)La víctima tendrá derecho a licencia con goce de sueldo por parte de su patrono, público o privado, cuando tenga que asistir a diligencias judiciales, a pericias o a comparecer ante el llamamiento judicial y por el tiempo necesario para ello. Con el objeto de comprobar la asistencia a tales actos, el despacho que conoce de la causa o ante quien se realice la diligencia, deberá extender el comprobante respectivo, en el que se indique la naturaleza del acto y la duración efectiva del trámite. El Ministerio Público, el juez o el tribunal de juicio que conozca de la causa, adoptarán las medidas necesarias para evitar que la víctima sea sometida a múltiples citaciones o comparecencias; además, cuando sea posible, deberán programarse las audiencias, para que se rinda el testimonio, a la brevedad posible y no se haga uso abusivo de la licencia concedida.
• 3)Derechos procesales:
• a)La víctima tiene derecho a denunciar por sí, por un tercero a quien haya autorizado o por mandatario, los hechos cometidos en su perjuicio.
• b)La víctima directamente ofendida por el hecho tiene el derecho de ser escuchada en juicio, aun si el Ministerio Público no la ofreciera como testigo. En todas las gestiones que este Código autoriza realizar a la víctima, prevalecerá su derecho a ser oída. No podrá alegarse la ausencia de formalidades de interposición, como causa para no resolver sus peticiones, y tendrá derecho a que se le prevenga la corrección de los defectos en los términos del artículo 15 de este Código.
• c)A apelar el sobreseimiento definitivo, en las etapas preparatoria, intermedia y de juicio, así como la desestimación.
• d)Cuando el Ministerio Público le comunique su decisión de no impugnar la sentencia absolutoria, el cese o la modificación de las medidas cautelares adoptadas por la existencia de un riesgo para su vida o integridad física y la víctima no esté conforme, tendrá el derecho de recurrir a tales decisiones, en los términos establecidos en el artículo 426 de este Código.
• e)A ser convocada a la audiencia preliminar, en todos los casos, siempre y cuando haya señalado un domicilio, lugar o medio en que pueda ser localizada y a que se considere su criterio, cuando se conozca de la aplicación del procedimiento abreviado, la suspensión del proceso a prueba, la conciliación o la aplicación de un criterio de oportunidad, en los términos y alcances definidos en este Código. En cualquier caso en que se encuentre presente se le concederá la palabra.
• f)A ejercer la acción civil resarcitoria, en los términos y alcances que define este Código, a plantear la querella en los delitos de acción privada, a revocar la instancia en los delitos de acción pública dependiente de instancia privada, a solicitar la conversión de la acción pública en acción privada, así como a desistir de sus querellas o acciones, todo en los términos y alcances que define este Código.
• g)A que el Ministerio Público le comunique su decisión de acusar, solicitar el sobreseimiento o la aplicación de un criterio de oportunidad, a fin de que, en los términos regulados en este Código, decida si formula querella y se constituye en querellante, o si formula la acción civil resarcitoria.
• h)Cuando se solicite la prisión preventiva por la existencia de riesgos o amenazas a la vida o la integridad física de la víctima o de sus familiares, tendrá derecho a ser escuchada por el juez, al resolver de la solicitud que le formule el Ministerio Público, siempre y cuando haya señalado un domicilio, lugar o medio para ser localizada. Podrá hacer su manifestación por escrito para ser presentada por el fiscal junto a la solicitud de prisión, sin perjuicio de que el juez decida escucharla. Para tales efectos, el fiscal a cargo del caso podrá requerir información a la Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del delito del Ministerio Público, con el objeto de fundamentar su solicitud, en los términos que se regulan en el párrafo final del artículo 239 de este Código.
• i)A acudir ante el juez de la etapa preparatoria, a señalar los errores, las omisiones o los retrasos que estime han ocurrido en la investigación de los hechos en su perjuicio, en los términos establecidos en el último párrafo del artículo 298 de este Código. Asimismo, podrá objetar el archivo fiscal en los términos que regula el numeral 298 citado.
• j)A que le sean devueltos a la brevedad posible, aun en carácter de depósito provisional, todos los bienes o valores de su propiedad que hayan sido incautados o recuperados por las autoridades, con el propósito de ser utilizados como evidencia.

(Así reformado por el artículo 16 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009)

Aquellas causas donde se haya ordenado protección procesal y extraprocesal, conforme al numeral 71, tendrán prioridad para la realización de cualquier diligencia o pericia, para el señalamiento a audiencia preliminar y para la celebración de juicio oral y público.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 10380 del 2 de octubre de 2023)

Querellante en delitos de acción privada Toda persona con capacidad civil que se pretenda ofendida por un delito de acción privada, tendrá derecho a presentar querella y a ejercer conjuntamente la acción civil resarcitoria, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en este Código.

El representante legal del menor o el incapaz por los delitos cometidos en su perjuicio gozarán de igual derecho.

Representación El querellante deberá actuar con el patrocinio de un abogado. Cuando los querellantes sean varios, deberán actuar bajo una sola representación, la que se ordenará de oficio si no llegan a un acuerdo.

Forma y contenido de la querella La querella será presentada, por escrito, personalmente o por mandatario con poder especial, y deberá expresar bajo pena de inadmisibilidad:

• a)El nombre, los apellidos y el domicilio del querellante y, en su caso, también los del mandatario.
• b)El nombre, los apellidos y el domicilio del querellado o, si se ignoran, cualquier descripción que sirva para identificarlo.
• c)Una relación clara, precisa y circunstanciada del hecho, con indicación del lugar y el momento en que se ejecutó, si se saben.
• d)La solicitud concreta de la reparación que se pretenda, si se ejerce la acción civil.
• e)Las pruebas que se ofrezcan.
• i)Si se trata de testigos y peritos, deberán indicarse el nombre, los apellidos, la profesión, el domicilio y los hechos sobre los que serán examinados.
• ii)Cuando la querella verse sobre calumnias, injurias o difamaciones, el documento o la grabación que, en criterio del accionante, las contenga, si es posible presentarlos.
• f)La firma del actuante o, si no sabe o no puede firmar, la de otra persona a su ruego.

Se agregará, para cada querellado, una copia del escrito y del poder.

Querellante en delitos de acción pública En los delitos de acción pública, la víctima y su representante o guardador, en caso de minoridad o incapacidad, podrán provocar la persecución penal, adherirse a la ya iniciada por el Ministerio Público o continuar con su ejercicio, en los términos y las condiciones establecidas en este Código.

El mismo derecho tendrá cualquier persona contra funcionarios públicos que, en el ejercicio de su función o con ocasión de ella, hayan violado derechos humanos; cuando se trate de delitos cometidos por funcionarios que han abusado de su cargo así como contra quienes cometen delitos que lesionan intereses difusos.

Formalidades de la querella La querella por delito de acción pública deberá reunir, en lo posible, los mismos requisitos de la acusación, y será presentada ante el representante del Ministerio Público que realiza o debe realizar la investigación. Si el querellante ejerce la acción civil, deberá indicar el carácter que invoca y el daño cuya reparación pretende, aunque no precise el monto. El querellante deberá actuar con el patrocinio de un abogado. La querella podrá ser iniciada y proseguida por un mandatario, con un poder especial para el caso.

Oportunidad La querella podrá ser formulada en el procedimiento preparatorio. El Ministerio Público rechazará la solicitud de constitución cuando el interesado no tenga legitimación. Informado el querellante del rechazo podrá acudir, dentro del tercer día, ante el tribunal del procedimiento preparatorio para que resuelva el diferendo.

Desistimiento expreso El querellante podrá desistir de su demanda en cualquier momento. En este caso, tomará a su cargo las costas propias y quedará sujeto a la decisión general que, sobre ellas, dicte el tribunal, salvo que las partes convengan lo contrario.

Desistimiento tácito Se considerará desistida la querella cuando el querellante, sin justa causa, no concurra:

• a)A prestar declaración testimonial o a realizar cualquier medio de prueba para cuya práctica sea necesaria su presencia, luego de ser citado.
• b)A la audiencia preliminar.
• c)A la primera audiencia del debate, se aleje de la audiencia o no presente conclusiones.

En los casos de incomparecencia, si es posible la justa causa deberá acreditarse antes de iniciar la audiencia o, en caso contrario, dentro de cuarenta y ocho horas de la fecha fijada para aquella.

El desistimiento será declarado por el tribunal de oficio o a pedido de cualquiera de los intervinientes. Contra esta resolución, sólo se admitirá el recurso de revocatoria.

Facultades La querella no alterará las facultades concedidas al Ministerio Público respecto del ejercicio de los criterios de oportunidad y la suspensión del proceso a prueba. El querellante podrá interponer los recursos que este Código autoriza al Ministerio Público. La intervención como querellante no eximirá del deber de declarar como testigo.

Denominación Se denominará imputado a quien, mediante cualquier acto de la investigación o del procedimiento, sea señalado como posible autor de un hecho punible o partícipe en él.

Derechos del imputado La policía judicial, el Ministerio Público y los jueces, según corresponda, harán saber al imputado, de manera inmediata y comprensible, que tiene los siguientes derechos:

• a)Conocer la causa o el motivo de su privación de libertad y el funcionario que la ordenó, exhibiéndole, según corresponda, la orden emitida en su contra.
• b)Tener una comunicación inmediata y efectiva con la persona, asociación, agrupación o entidad a la que desee comunicar su captura.
• c)Ser asistido, desde el primer acto del procedimiento, por el defensor que designe él, sus parientes o la agrupación a la que se comunicó su captura y, en defecto de éste, por un defensor público.
• d)Presentarse o ser presentado al Ministerio Público o al tribunal, para ser informado y enterarse de los hechos que se le imputan.
• e)Abstenerse de declarar y si acepta hacerlo, de que su defensor esté presente en el momento de rendir su declaración y en otras diligencias en las cuales se requiera su presencia.
• f)No ser sometido a técnicas ni métodos que induzcan o alteren su libre voluntad o atenten contra su dignidad.
• g)No se utilicen, en su contra, medios que impidan su libre movimiento en el lugar y durante la realización de un acto procesal, sin perjuicio de las medidas de vigilancia que, en casos especiales, estime ordenar el tribunal o el Ministerio Público.

Identificación El imputado deberá suministrar los datos que permitan su identificación personal y mostrar su documento de identidad. Si no los suministra o se estima necesario, se solicitará constancia al Registro Civil, sin perjuicio de que una oficina técnica practique su identificación física utilizando sus datos personales, impresiones digitales y señas particulares. También podrá recurrirse a la identificación por testigos en la forma prescrita para los reconocimientos, o a otros medios que se consideren útiles. La duda sobre los datos obtenidos no alterará el curso del procedimiento y los errores referentes a ellos podrán corregirse en cualquier oportunidad, aun durante la ejecución penal. Estas medidas podrán aplicarse aun en contra de la voluntad del imputado.

Domicilio En su primera intervención, el imputado deberá indicar su domicilio y señalar el lugar o la forma para recibir notificaciones. Deberá mantener actualizada esta información.

Incapacidad sobreviniente Si durante el proceso sobreviene trastorno mental del imputado, que excluya su capacidad de querer o entender los actos del procedimiento, o de obrar conforme a ese conocimiento y voluntad, el procedimiento se suspenderá hasta que desaparezca esa incapacidad. Sin embargo, no impedirá la investigación del hecho ni la continuación de las actuaciones con respecto a otros imputados. La incapacidad será declarada por el tribunal, previo examen pericial.

Internación para observación Si es necesario el internamiento del imputado para elaborar el informe pericial sobre su capacidad, la medida podrá ser ordenada por el tribunal, a solicitud de los peritos, sólo cuando exista la probabilidad de que el imputado haya cometido el hecho y esta medida no sea desproporcionada respecto de la importancia de la pena o medida de seguridad que podría imponerse. La internación no podrá prolongarse por más de un mes y sólo se ordenará si no es posible realizarla con el empleo de otra medida menos drástica.

Examen mental obligatorio El imputado será sometido a un examen psiquiátrico o psicológico cuando:

• a)Se le atribuya la comisión de delitos de carácter sexual contra menores de edad o agresiones domésticas.
• b)Se trate de una persona mayor de setenta años de edad.
• c)Prima facie, se pueda estimar que, en caso de condena, se le impondrá pena superior a quince años de prisión.
• d)El tribunal considere que es indispensable para establecer la capacidad de culpabilidad en el hecho.

El imputado como objeto de prueba Se podrá ordenar la investigación corporal del imputado para constatar circunstancias importantes para descubrir la verdad. Con esta finalidad y por orden del tribunal, serán admisibles intervenciones corporales, las cuales se efectuarán según las reglas del saber médico, aun sin el consentimiento del imputado, siempre que esas medidas no afecten su salud o su integridad física, ni se contrapongan seriamente a sus creencias. Tomas de muestras de sangre y piel, corte de uñas o cabellos, tomas de fotografías y huellas dactilares, grabación de la voz, constatación de tatuajes y deformaciones, alteraciones o defectos, palpaciones corporales y, en general, las que no provoquen ningún perjuicio para la salud o integridad física, según la experiencia común, ni degraden a la persona, podrán ser ordenadas directamente por el Ministerio Público, durante el procedimiento preparatorio, siempre que las realice un perito y no las considere riesgosas. En caso contrario, se requerirá la autorización del tribunal, que resolverá previa consulta a un perito si es necesario. Estas reglas también son aplicables a otras personas, cuando sea absolutamente indispensable para descubrir la verdad.

Rebeldía Será declarado en rebeldía el imputado que, sin grave impedimento, no comparezca a una citación, se fugue del establecimiento o lugar donde esté detenido, o se ausente de su domicilio sin aviso.

Efectos La declaración de rebeldía o de incapacidad suspenderá la audiencia preliminar y el juicio, salvo que corresponda, en este último caso, el procedimiento para aplicar una medida de seguridad. La incomparecencia del imputado a la audiencia preliminar no producirá su rebeldía. El procedimiento sólo se paralizará con respecto al rebelde y continuará para los imputados presentes. Al decretarse la rebeldía se dispondrá la captura del imputado. Durante el procedimiento preparatorio se solicitará la orden al tribunal. Si el imputado se presenta después de la declaratoria de rebeldía y justifica su ausencia en virtud de un impedimento grave y legítimo, aquella será revocada y no producirá ninguno de los efectos señalados en esta norma.

Oportunidades y autoridad competente Cuando exista motivo suficiente para sospechar que una persona ha participado en la comisión de un hecho punible, el funcionario del Ministerio Público encargado de la investigación procederá a recibirle la declaración.

Si el imputado ha sido aprehendido, se le deberá recibir la declaración inmediatamente o, a más tardar, en el plazo de veinticuatro horas contadas desde su aprehensión. El plazo se prorrogará por otro tanto, cuando sea necesario para que comparezca el defensor de su confianza.

El imputado tendrá derecho a declarar cuando lo estime indispensable, siempre que su declaración sea pertinente y no constituya una medida dilatoria del procedimiento.

Advertencias preliminares Al comenzar a recibirse la declaración, el funcionario que la reciba comunicará, detalladamente, al imputado el hecho que se le atribuye, su calificación jurídica y un resumen del contenido de la prueba existente. También, se pondrán a su disposición las actuaciones reunidas hasta ese momento. Antes de comenzar la declaración, se le advertirá que puede abstenerse de declarar sobre los hechos, sin que su silencio le perjudique o en nada le afecte y que, si declara, su dicho podrá ser tomado en consideración aun en su contra. Se le prevendrá que señale el lugar o la forma para recibir notificaciones. Además, será instruido acerca de que puede solicitar la práctica de medios de prueba, dictar su declaración y, en general, se le informará de sus derechos procesales.

Nombramiento de defensor Antes de que el imputado declare sobre los hechos, se le requerirá el nombramiento de un abogado, si no lo tiene, para que lo asista y se le informará que puede exigir su presencia y consultar con él todo lo relacionado con su defensa. En ese caso, si no está presente el defensor, se le dará aviso inmediato, por cualquier medio, para que comparezca. De no ser hallado, se fijará una nueva audiencia para el día siguiente, y se procederá a su citación formal. Si el defensor no comparece o el imputado no lo designa, se le proveerá inmediatamente de un defensor público.

Interrogatorio de identificación A continuación se le solicitará al imputado indicar su nombre, apellidos, sobrenombre o apodo, edad, estado civil, profesión u oficio, nacionalidad, fecha y lugar de nacimiento, domicilio, lugar de trabajo y condiciones de vida, números telefónicos de su casa, su lugar de trabajo o cualquier otro en donde pueda ser localizado; además, exhibir su documento de identidad e indicar nombre, estado, profesión u oficio y domicilio de sus padres.

Declaración sobre el hecho Cuando el imputado manifieste que desea declarar, se le invitará a expresar cuanto tenga por conveniente, en descargo o aclaración de los hechos, y a indicar las pruebas que estime oportunas. Su declaración se hará constar fielmente y, en lo posible, con sus propias palabras. La autoridad que recibe la declaración y las partes podrán dirigirle preguntas, siempre que estas sean pertinentes. La declaración sobre el hecho sólo podrá recibirse en presencia del defensor.

Prohibiciones En ningún caso, se le requerirá al imputado juramento ni promesa de decir la verdad, ni será sometido a ninguna clase de coacción o amenaza, ni se usará medio alguno para obligarlo, inducirlo o determinarlo a declarar contra su voluntad, ni se le formularán cargos ni reconvenciones tendentes a obtener su confesión. Estarán prohibidas las medidas que menoscaben la libertad de decisión del imputado, su memoria o la capacidad de comprensión y dirección de sus actos, en especial, los malos tratos, las amenazas, el agotamiento, la violencia corporal, la tortura, la administración de sicofármacos y la hipnosis. La promesa de una ventaja sólo se admitirá cuando esté específicamente prevista en la ley. Si por la duración del acto se notan signos de fatiga o falta de serenidad, la declaración será suspendida, hasta que desaparezcan. Las preguntas serán claras y precisas; no estarán permitidas las capciosas o sugestivas y las respuestas no serán instadas perentoriamente.

Tratamiento durante la declaración El imputado declarará siempre con libertad de movimiento, sin el uso de instrumentos de seguridad, salvo cuando sea absolutamente indispensable para evitar su fuga o daños a otras personas. Esta circunstancia se hará constar en el acta. Asimismo, declarará únicamente con la presencia de las personas autorizadas para asistir al acto o en público cuando la ley lo permita.

Durante las primeras seis horas, desde su aprehensión o detención, y en presencia de su defensor de confianza y/o defensor público que se le asigne, los agentes del OIJ, en cumplimiento de sus funciones, y respetando las garantías constitucionales y los derechos procesales de los detenidos, podrán constatar su identidad e interrogarlo con fines investigativos.

Si en un momento posterior, al indicado en el primer párrafo de este artículo, el detenido manifiesta su deseo de declarar o ampliar sus manifestaciones, deberá comunicarse ese hecho al Ministerio Público para que estas también se reciban con las formalidades previstas en la ley.

(Así reformado por el artículo 16 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009)

Valoración La inobservancia de los preceptos relativos a la declaración del imputado impedirá que esta se utilice en su contra, aun cuando él haya dado su consentimiento para infringir alguna regla o utilizar su declaración. Las inobservancias meramente formales serán corregidas durante el acto o después de él. Al valorar el acto, el juez apreciará la calidad de esas inobservancias, para determinar si procede conforme al párrafo anterior.

Derecho de elección El imputado tendrá el derecho de elegir como defensor un abogado de su confianza.

La intervención del defensor no menoscabará el derecho del imputado a formular solicitudes y observaciones.

Cuando no perjudique la eficacia de la defensa técnica, podrá defenderse por sí mismo.

Intervención Los defensores designados serán admitidos en el procedimiento de inmediato y sin ningún trámite, tanto por la policía como por el Ministerio Público y el tribunal, según sea el caso. El ejercicio como defensor será obligatorio para el abogado que acepta intervenir en el procedimiento, salvo excusa fundada.

Nombramiento posterior Durante el transcurso del procedimiento, el imputado podrá designar un nuevo defensor; pero el anterior no podrá separarse de la defensa, sino hasta que el nombrado intervenga en el procedimiento.

Defensor mandatario En el procedimiento por delito de acción privada o por delitos que no prevén pena privativa de libertad, el imputado podrá ser representado por un defensor con poder especial para el caso, quien podrá reemplazarlo en todos los actos, excepto en la declaración. No obstante, el tribunal podrá exigir la presencia del imputado cuando lo considere indispensable.

Renuncia y abandono El defensor podrá renunciar al ejercicio de la defensa. En este caso, el tribunal o el Ministerio Público le fijará un plazo para que el imputado nombre otro. Si no lo nombra, será reemplazado por un defensor público. El renunciante no podrá abandonar la defensa mientras su reemplazante no intervenga. No se podrá renunciar durante las audiencias ni una vez notificado del señalamiento de ellas. Si el defensor, sin causa justificada, abandona la defensa o deja al imputado sin asistencia técnica, se nombrará uno público y aquel no podrá ser nombrado nuevamente. La decisión se comunicará al imputado, y se le instruirá sobre su derecho de elegir otro defensor. Cuando el abandono ocurra antes de iniciarse el juicio, podrá aplazarse su comienzo, por un plazo no mayor de cinco días, si el nuevo defensor lo solicita.

Sanciones El abandono de la defensa constituirá una falta grave. El tribunal pondrá el hecho en conocimiento del Colegio de Abogados, para que este, conforme al procedimiento establecido, fije la sanción correspondiente. Esa falta será sancionada con la suspensión para ejercer la profesión durante un lapso de un mes a un año y con el pago de una suma de dinero equivalente al costo de las audiencias que debieron repetirse a causa del abandono. Para esto, se tomarán en cuenta los salarios de los funcionarios públicos intervinientes y los de los particulares. Esa sanción pecuniaria deberá utilizarse en programas de capacitación por parte del Colegio de Abogados.

Número de defensores El imputado no podrá ser defendido, simultáneamente, por más de dos abogados. Cuando intervengan dos defensores, la notificación practicada a uno de ellos tendrá validez respecto de todos y la sustitución de uno por otro no alterará trámites ni plazos.

Defensor común La defensa común de varios imputados será admisible, siempre que no exista incompatibilidad. No obstante, si esta se advierte, será corregida de oficio y se proveerá lo necesario para reemplazar al defensor.

Garantías para el ejercicio de la defensa No será admisible el decomiso de cosas relacionadas con la defensa; tampoco, la interceptación de las comunicaciones del imputado con sus defensores, consultores técnicos y sus auxiliares, ni las efectuadas entre estos y las personas que les brindan asistencia.

Entrevista con los detenidos El imputado que se encuentre detenido, incluso ante la policía, tendrá derecho a entrevistarse privadamente con el defensor desde el inicio de su captura.

Identificación Todos los abogados que intervengan como autenticantes, asesores o representantes de las partes en el proceso, deberán consignar, en los escritos en que figuren, su número de inscripción ante el Colegio de Abogados. Las gestiones no se atenderán mientras no se cumpla con ese requisito.

Constitución de parte Para ejercer la acción resarcitoria, su titular deberá constituirse en actor civil.

Quienes no tengan capacidad para actuar en juicio deberán ser representados o asistidos del modo prescrito por la ley civil.

El actor civil deberá actuar con el patrocinio de un abogado y podrá hacerse representar por un mandatario con poder especial.

Requisitos del escrito inicial El escrito en que se apersone el actor civil contendrá:

• a)El nombre y domicilio del accionante y, en su caso, de su representante. Si se trata de entes colectivos, la razón, el domicilio social y el nombre de quienes lo dirigen.
• b)El nombre y el domicilio del demandado civil, si existe, y su vínculo jurídico con el hecho atribuido al imputado.
• c)La indicación del proceso a que se refiere.
• d)Los motivos en que la acción se basa, con indicación del carácter que se invoca y el daño cuya reparación se pretenda, aunque no se precise el monto.

Imputado civilmente responsable El ejercicio de la acción civil procederá aun cuando no esté individualizado el imputado. Si en el proceso existen varios imputados y civilmente responsables, la pretensión resarcitoria podrá dirigirse contra uno o varios de ellos. Cuando el actor no mencione a ningún imputado en particular, se entenderá que se dirige contra todos.

Oportunidad La solicitud deberá plantearse ante el Ministerio Público durante el procedimiento preparatorio, antes de que se formule el requerimiento fiscal o la querella, o conjuntamente con esta.

Traslado de la acción civil El Ministerio Público comunicará el contenido de la acción al imputado, al demandado civil, a los defensores y, en su caso, al querellante, en el lugar que hayan señalado y, si no lo han hecho, personalmente o en su casa de habitación. Cuando no se haya individualizado al imputado, la comunicación se hará en cuanto este haya sido identificado. Cualquier interviniente podrá oponerse a la participación del actor civil, planteando las excepciones que correspondan. En tal caso, la oposición se pondrá en conocimiento del actor y su resolución se reservará para la audiencia preliminar. La aceptación del actor civil no podrá ser discutida nuevamente por los mismos motivos. La inadmisiblidad de la instancia no impedirá el ejercicio de la acción ante la jurisdicción civil.

Facultades El actor civil actuará en el procedimiento sólo en razón de su interés civil. Limitará su intervención a acreditar la existencia del hecho y a determinar a sus autores y partícipes, la imputación de ese hecho a quien considere responsable, el vínculo con el tercero civilmente responsable, la existencia, extensión y cuantificación de los daños y perjuicios cuya reparación pretenda. El actor civil podrá recurrir contra las resoluciones únicamente en lo concerniente a la acción por él interpuesta. La intervención por sí misma, como actor civil, no exime del deber de declarar como testigo.

Desistimiento El actor civil podrá desistir expresamente de su demanda, en cualquier estado del procedimiento.

La acción se considerará tácitamente desistida, cuando el actor civil no concrete sus pretensiones oportunamente o cuando sin justa causa no concurra:

• a)A prestar declaración testimonial o a la realización de cualquier medio de prueba para cuya práctica se requiera su presencia, luego de ser citado.
• b)A la audiencia preliminar.
• c)A la primera audiencia del debate, se aleje de la audiencia o no presente conclusiones.

En los casos de incomparecencia, la justa causa deberá acreditarse, de ser posible, antes del inicio de la audiencia; en caso contrario, dentro de las cuarenta y ocho horas siguientes a la fecha fijada para aquella.

Efectos del desistimiento El desistimiento tácito no perjudicará el ejercicio posterior de la acción reparatoria ante los tribunales competentes, según el procedimiento civil. Declarado el desistimiento, se condenará al actor civil al pago de las costas que haya provocado su acción.

Demandado civil Quien ejerza la acción resarcitoria podrá demandar a la persona que, según las leyes, responda por el daño que el imputado hubiera causado con el hecho punible.

Efectos de la incomparecencia La falta de comparecencia del demandado civil o su inasistencia a los actos, no suspenderá el trámite, que continuará como si él estuviera presente. No obstante, podrá apersonarse en cualquier momento. Si ha sido notificado por edictos, se le nombrará como representante a un defensor público, mientras dure su ausencia.

Intervención espontánea El tercero que pueda ser civilmente demandado podrá solicitar su participación en el procedimiento, cuando se ejerza la acción civil resarcitoria. Su solicitud deberá cumplir, en lo aplicable, con los requisitos exigidos para el escrito en el que se apersona el actor civil y será admisible antes de que el Ministerio Público requiera la apertura del juicio o el sobreseimiento. La intervención será comunicada a las partes y a sus defensores.

Oposición Podrá oponerse a la intervención forzosa o espontánea del demandado civil, según el caso, el propio demandado, quien ejerza la acción civil, si no ha pedido la citación, o el imputado. Cuando la exclusión del demandado civil haya sido pedida por el actor civil, este último no podrá intentar posteriormente la acción contra aquel. Serán aplicables las reglas sobre oposición a la participación del actor civil.

Exclusión La exclusión del actor civil o el desistimiento de su acción, cesará la intervención del tercero civilmente demandado.

Facultades Desde su intervención en el procedimiento, el tercero civilmente demandado gozará de todas las facultades concedidas al imputado para su defensa, en lo concerniente a sus intereses civiles. La intervención como tercero no eximirá del deber de declarar como testigo. El demandado civil deberá actuar con el patrocinio de un abogado y podrá recurrir contra la sentencia que declare su responsabilidad.

Asistentes Las partes podrán designar asistentes para que colaboren en su tarea.

En tal caso, asumirán la responsabilidad por su elección y vigilancia.

Los asistentes sólo cumplirán con tareas accesorias, pero no podrán sustituir a quienes ellos auxilian. Se les permitirá concurrir a las audiencias, sin intervenir directamente en ellas.

Esta norma regirá también para la participación de los estudiantes que realizan su práctica jurídica.

Consultores técnicos Si, por las particularidades del caso, el Ministerio Público o alguno de los intervinientes consideran necesaria la asistencia de un consultor en una ciencia, arte o técnica, lo propondrán al Ministerio Público o al tribunal, el cual decidirá sobre su designación, según las reglas aplicables a los peritos, sin que por ello asuman tal carácter. El consultor técnico podrá presenciar las operaciones periciales, acotar observaciones durante su transcurso, sin emitir dictamen, y se dejará constancia de sus observaciones. Podrán acompañar, en las audiencias, a la parte con quien colaboran, auxiliarla en los actos propios de su función o interrogar, directamente, a peritos, traductores o intérpretes, siempre bajo la dirección de la parte a la que asisten.

Deber de lealtad Las partes deberán litigar con lealtad, evitando los planteamientos dilatorios, meramente formales y cualquier abuso de las facultades que este Código les concede.

Vigilancia Los tribunales velarán por la regularidad del litigio, el ejercicio correcto de las facultades procesales y la buena fe. Bajo ningún pretexto podrán restringir el derecho de defensa ni limitar las facultades de las partes.

Régimen disciplinario Salvo lo dispuesto en este Código para el abandono de la defensa, cuando se compruebe que las partes o sus asesores han actuado con evidente mala fe, han realizado gestiones o han asumido actitudes dilatorias o litigado con temeridad, el tribunal podrá sancionar la falta con apercibimiento o hasta con cincuenta días multa.

Cuando el tribunal estime que existe la posibilidad de imponer esta sanción, dará traslado al presunto infractor, a efecto de que se manifieste sobre la falta y ofrezca la prueba de descargo, que se recibirá de inmediato. Cuando el hecho ocurra en una audiencia oral, el procedimiento se realizará en ella.

Quien resulte sancionado será requerido para que cancele la multa en el plazo de tres días.

En caso de incumplimiento de pago por parte de algún abogado, el tribunal lo suspenderá en el ejercicio profesional hasta tanto cancele el importe respectivo y lo separará de la causa mientras dure la suspensión.

Se expedirá comunicación a la Corte Suprema de Justicia y al Colegio de Abogados.

Contra la resolución que le impone la medida disciplinaria, el abogado sancionado podrá interponer recurso de revocatoria y, en las estapas [Sic] preparatoria e intermedia, también de apelación.

LIBRO II ACTOS PROCESALES

Idioma Los actos procesales deberán realizarse en español.

Cuando una persona no comprenda o no se exprese con facilidad en español, se le brindará la ayuda necesaria para que el acto se pueda desarrollar en este idioma.

Deberá proveérseles traductor o intérprete, según corresponda, a las personas que ignoren el español, a quienes se les permita hacer uso de su propio idioma, así como a los sordomudos y a quienes tengan algún impedimento para darse a entender.

Los documentos y las grabaciones en un idioma distinto del español deberán ser traducidos cuando sea necesario.

Declaraciones e interrogatorios con intérpretes Las personas serán también interrogadas en español o por intermedio de un traductor o intérprete, cuando corresponda. El tribunal podrá permitir, expresamente, el interrogatorio directo en otro idioma o forma de comunicación; pero, en tal caso, la traducción o la interpretación precederán a las respuestas.

Lugar El tribunal podrá constituirse en cualquier lugar del territorio nacional, cuando estime indispensable conocer directamente elementos probatorios decisivos en una causa bajo su conocimiento y competencia. El debate se llevará a cabo y la sentencia se dictará en la circunscripción territorial en la que es competente el tribunal, excepto si ello puede provocar una grave alteración del orden público, no garantiza la defensa de alguno de los intereses comprometidos en el juicio, u obstaculiza seriamente su realización.

Tiempo Salvo disposición legal en contrario, los actos procesales podrán ser realizados cualquier día y a cualquier hora. Se consignarán el lugar y la fecha en que se cumplan. La omisión de estos datos no tornará ineficaz el acto, salvo que no pueda determinarse, de acuerdo con los datos del acta u otros conexos, la fecha en que se realizó.

Juramento Cuando se requiera la prestación del juramento, se recibirá por las creencias de quien jura, después de instruirlo sobre las penas con que la ley reprime el falso testimonio. El declarante prometerá decir la verdad en todo cuanto sepa y se le pregunte. Si el deponente se niega a prestar juramento en virtud de creencias religiosas o ideológicas, se le exigirá promesa de decir la verdad, con las mismas advertencias del párrafo anterior.

Interrogatorio Las personas que sean interrogadas deberán responder de viva voz y sin consultar notas ni documentos, con excepción de los peritos y de quienes sean autorizados para ello, en razón de sus condiciones o de la naturaleza de los hechos. En primer término, el declarante será invitado a manifestar cuanto conozca sobre el asunto de que se trate y después, si es necesario, se le interrogará. Las preguntas que se le formulen no serán impertinentes, capciosas ni sugestivas.

Regla general Cuando uno o varios actos deban hacerse constar en un acta, el funcionario que los practique la levantará haciendo constar el lugar y la fecha de su realización. La hora constará cuando la ley o las circunstancias lo requieran.

El acta será firmada por quien practica el acto y, si se estima necesario, por los que intervinieron en él, previa lectura. Si alguien no sabe firmar, podrá hacerlo, en su lugar, otra persona, a su ruego o bien un testigo de actuación.

Invalidez del acta Si por algún defecto, el acta se torna ineficaz, el acto que se pretendía probar con ella podrá acreditarse por otros elementos válidos del mismo acto o de otros conexos.

Reemplazo del acta El acta podrá ser reemplazada, total o parcialmente, por otra forma de registro, salvo disposición expresa en contrario. En ese caso, quien preside el acto determinará el resguardo conveniente para garantizar la inalterabilidad y la individualización futura.

Poder coercitivo El tribunal y el Ministerio Público podrán requerir la intervención de la fuerza pública y disponer las medidas necesarias para el cumplimiento seguro y regular de los actos que ordenen en el ejercicio de sus funciones.

Facultad especial En cualquier estado de la causa y a solicitud del ofendido, el tribunal puede ordenar, como medida provisional, el restablecimiento de las cosas al estado que tenían antes del hecho, siempre que haya suficientes elementos para decidirlo.

Resoluciones Los tribunales dictarán sus resoluciones en forma de providencias, autos y sentencias. Dictarán sentencia para poner término al procedimiento; providencias, cuando ordenen actos de mero trámite y autos, en todos los demás casos. Las resoluciones judiciales deberán señalar el lugar y la fecha en que se dictaron.

Fundamentación Las sentencias y los autos contendrán una fundamentación clara y precisa. En ella se expresarán los razonamientos de hecho y de derecho en que se basan las decisiones, así como la indicación del valor otorgado a los medios de prueba. La simple relación de las pruebas o la mención de los requerimientos de las partes no reemplazará, en ningún caso, la fundamentación. Será insuficiente cuando se utilicen formularios, afirmaciones dogmáticas, frases rutinarias, la simple descripción de los hechos o la sola mención de los elementos de prueba. No existe fundamentación cuando se hayan inobservado las reglas de la sana crítica, con respecto a medios o elementos probatorios de valor decisivo. Los autos y las sentencias sin fundamentación serán ineficaces.

Presupuesto de la valoración En la resolución, el tribunal deberá consignar, una breve y sucinta descripción del contenido de la prueba oral, antes de proceder a su valoración.

Firma Sin perjuicio de disposiciones especiales, las resoluciones serán firmadas por los jueces. La falta de alguna firma provocará la ineficacia del acto, salvo que el juez no haya podido firmar por un impedimento invencible surgido después de haber participado en la deliberación y votación. No invalidará la resolución el hecho de que el juez no la haya firmado oportunamente, siempre que la falta sea suplida y no exista ninguna duda sobre su participación en el acto que debió suscribir, sin perjuicio de la responsabilidad disciplinaria.

Plazos Los tribunales dictarán, de oficio e inmediatamente, las disposiciones de mero trámite. Los autos y las sentencias que sucedan a una audiencia oral serán deliberados, votados y redactados inmediatamente después de cerrada esa audiencia. En las actuaciones escritas, las resoluciones se dictarán dentro de los tres días siguientes. Se aplicarán estas disposiciones salvo que la ley establezca otro plazo.

Errores materiales Los tribunales podrán corregir, en cualquier momento, los errores puramente materiales contenidos en sus actuaciones o resoluciones.

En cualquier momento, el tribunal podrá aclarar los términos oscuros, ambiguos o contradictorios en que estén redactadas las resoluciones o adicionar su contenido, si se ha omitido resolver algún punto controversial, siempre que tales actos no importen una modificación de lo resuelto.

Las partes y el Ministerio Público podrán solicitar la aclaración o adición de los pronunciamientos que se dicten oralmente, solicitud que deberán presentar en forma oral inmediatamente después de que finalice el dictado de la resolución.

En las resoluciones emitidas por escrito, las partes y el Ministerio Público podrán solicitar la aclaración o adición de los pronunciamientos, dentro de los tres días posteriores a su notificación. La solicitud interrumpirá el término para interponer los recursos que procedan.

(Así reformado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 9021 del 3 de enero de 2012)

Resolución firme En cuanto no sean oportunamente recurridas, las resoluciones judiciales quedarán firmes y serán ejecutables, sin necesidad de declaración alguna. Contra la sentencia firme sólo procede la revisión, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en este Código.

Copia auténtica Cuando, por cualquier causa se destruya, se pierda o sea sustraído el original de las sentencias o de otros actos procesales necesarios, la copia auténtica tendrá el valor de aquel. Para tal fin, el tribunal ordenará, a quien tenga la copia, entregarla a la Secretaría, sin perjuicio del derecho de obtener otra gratuitamente. La reposición también podrá efectuarse utilizando los archivos informáticos del tribunal.

Restitución y renovación Si no existe copia de los documentos, el tribunal ordenará que se repongan, para lo cual recibirá las pruebas que evidencien su preexistencia y su contenido. Cuando esto sea imposible, dispondrá la renovación, prescribiendo el modo de realizarla.

Copias, informes o certificaciones Si el estado del proceso no lo impide, ni obstaculiza la normal sustanciación, el tribunal podrá ordenar la expedición de copias, informes o certificaciones que hayan sido pedidos por una autoridad pública o por particulares que acrediten legítimo interés en obtenerlos.

Nuevo delito. Si durante el procedimiento, el tribunal conoce de otro delito perseguible, de oficio, remitirá los antecedentes al Ministerio Público.

(Así reformado por el artículo 15 de la Ley de Reorganización Judicial No.7728 de 15 de diciembre de 1997)

forma simultánea, le ordenará depositar una cantidad de dinero que fijará prudencialmente y que el imputado deberá pagar en un plazo de ocho días, a fin de sufragar los gastos de habitación y alimentos de los integrantes del grupo familiar económicamente dependientes de él. Esta obligación se regirá por las normas propias de las pensiones alimentarias; por ello, se ordenará el apremio corporal del obligado, en caso de incumplimiento.

De oficio, la autoridad penal ordenará el testimonio de piezas y lo remitirá al tribunal correspondiente, para que tramite lo relacionado con la pensión alimentaria impuesta al agresor.

(Este segundo artículo 152 fue adicionado por el artículo 67 de la Ley N° 7654 de 19 de diciembre de 1996, Ley de Pensiones Alimentarias. No obstante; la norma que realizó la afectación no específica que sea un numeral 152 bis)

Reglas generales Cuando un acto procesal deba ejecutarse por intermedio de otra autoridad, el tribunal o el Ministerio Público podrán encomendarle su cumplimiento.

Esas comunicaciones podrán realizarse con aplicación de cualquier medio que garantice su autenticidad.

La autoridad requerida, colaborará con los jueces, el Ministerio Público y la policía, y tramitará, sin demora, los requerimientos que reciban de ellos. La desobediencia a estas instrucciones será sancionada disciplinariamente, sin perjuicio de la responsabilidad penal que corresponda.

Exhortos a autoridades extranjeras Los requerimientos dirigidos a jueces o autoridades extranjeras se efectuarán por exhortos y se tramitarán en la forma establecida por la Constitución, el Derecho Internacional y el Comunitario vigentes en el país. Por medio de la Secretaría de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, se canalizarán las comunicaciones al Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, el cual las tramitará por la vía diplomática. No obstante, en casos de urgencia podrán dirigirse comunicaciones a cualquier autoridad judicial o administrativa extranjera, anticipando el exhorto o la contestación a un requerimiento, sin perjuicio de que, con posterioridad, se formalice la gestión, según lo previsto en el párrafo anterior.

• a)Citación de testigos, personas investigadas y peritos.
• b)Recibir testimonios o tomar declaración a personas.
• c)Notificación de actos procesales.
• d)Entregar originales o copias certificadas de documentos y expedientes.
• e)Proporcionar información, elementos de prueba debidamente certificados y realización de pericias.
• f)Localización e identificación de personas, bienes, instrumentos u otros elementos con fines probatorios.
• g)Efectuar congelamiento de fondos, secuestros, decomiso y comiso de bienes.
• h)Examinar objetos, personas y lugares.
• i)Facilitar la comparecencia voluntaria de personas en el Estado requirente, para prestar declaración o para colaborar en las investigaciones.
• j)Identificar, secuestrar, decomisar y comisar el producto del delito.
• k)La coordinación internacional de investigaciones.
• l)Cualquier otra forma de asistencia acorde con los instrumentos internacionales aprobados por Costa Rica y con el derecho interno.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 12° de la ley N° 10373 del 20 de setiembre de 2023, "Reformas a leyes en materia de anticorrupción para atender recomendaciones del grupo de trabajo sobre el soborno en las transacciones comerciales internacionales de la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico (OCDE)")

Regla general Las resoluciones deberán notificarse a quien corresponda, dentro de las veinticuatro horas después de ser dictadas, salvo que el tribunal disponga un plazo menor. No obligarán sino a las personas debidamente notificadas.

Notificador Las notificaciones serán practicadas por el secretario, el notificador o quien designe especialmente el tribunal. Cuando deba practicarse una notificación fuera del asiento del tribunal, se solicitará el auxilio de la autoridad respectiva, sin perjuicio de que el notificador del despacho se desplace si así lo dispone el tribunal. Cuando convenga, oficinas especializadas podrán encargarse de la notificación de resoluciones de varios despachos judiciales.

Lugar para notificaciones Al comparecer en el proceso, las partes deberán señalar, dentro del perímetro judicial, un lugar para ser notificadas. Cualquiera de los intervinientes podrá ser notificado en la secretaría del tribunal. Los defensores, fiscales y funcionarios públicos que intervienen en el procedimiento serán notificados en sus respectivas oficinas, siempre que estas se encuentren dentro del perímetro judicial.

Notificaciones a defensores o mandatarios Si las partes tienen defensor o mandatario, las notificaciones deberán ser dirigidas solamente a estos, excepto si la ley o la naturaleza del acto exigen que aquellas también sean notificadas.

Formas de notificación Cuando la notificación deba practicarse por medio de lectura, se leerá el contenido de la resolución y si el interesado solicita copia se le entregará. En los demás casos, se practicará la notificación entregándole una copia de la resolución al interesado, con indicación del nombre del tribunal y el proceso a que se refiere. El funcionario dejará constancia del acto, señalará el lugar, el día y la hora de la diligencia y firmará juntamente con quien reciba la copia o indicará que se negó a hacerlo o que no pudo firmar. Cuando la diligencia no se practique por lectura y el notificado se niegue a recibir la copia, esta será fijada en la puerta del lugar donde se practique el acto, en presencia de un testigo que firmará la constancia correspondiente.

Forma especial de notificación Cuando el interesado lo acepte expresamente, podrá notificársele por medio de carta certificada, facsímil o cualquier otro medio electrónico. En este caso, el plazo correrá a partir del envío de la comunicación, según lo acredite el correo o la oficina de transmisión. También podrá notificarse mediante otros sistemas autorizados por la Corte Suprema de Justicia, siempre que no causen indefensión.

Notificación a persona ausente Cuando la persona por notificar no sea encontrada en el lugar, la copia será entregada a alguna persona mayor de edad que se encuentre allí o bien a uno de sus vecinos más cercanos, quienes tendrán la obligación de identificarse y entregar la copia al interesado.

Notificación por edictos Cuando se ignore el lugar donde se encuentra la persona que deba ser notificada, la resolución se le hará saber por edicto que se publicará en el Boletín Judicial, sin perjuicio de las medidas convenientes para localizarlo. El Consejo Superior del Poder Judicial podrá ordenar que se publiquen, en medios de comunicación colectiva, listas de personas requeridas por los tribunales penales.

Notificación en caso de urgencia En caso de urgencia, podrá notificarse por teléfono o por cualquier otro medio de comunicación similar. Se dejará constancia sucinta de la conversación y de la persona que dijo recibir el mensaje.

Vicio de la notificación Siempre que cause indefensión, la notificación no surtirá efecto cuando:

• a)Haya existido error sobre la identidad de la persona notificada.
• b)La resolución haya sido notificada en forma incompleta.
• c)En la diligencia no conste la fecha o, cuando corresponda, la fecha de entrega de la copia.
• d)Falte alguna de las firmas requeridas.
• e)Exista disconformidad entre el original y la copia recibida por el interesado.

Citación Cuando, para algún acto procesal, sea necesaria la presencia de una persona, la autoridad que conoce del asunto deberá ordenar su citación, mediante carta certificada, telegrama con aviso de entrega, teléfono o cualquier medio de comunicación que garantice la autenticidad del mensaje. En tal caso, deberá hacerse saber el objeto de la citación y el procedimiento en que esta se dispuso; además, se deberá advertir que si la orden no se obedece, sin perjuicio de la responsabilidad penal correspondiente, la persona podrá ser conducida por la fuerza pública y pagar las costas que ocasione, salvo justa causa.

Comunicación de actuaciones del Ministerio Público Cuando, en el curso de una investigación, un fiscal deba comunicarle alguna actuación a una persona, podrá realizarla por cualquier medio que garantice la recepción del mensaje. Serán aplicables, en lo que corresponda, las disposiciones de este Capítulo.

Regla general Los plazos individuales correrán desde que comienza el día siguiente a aquel en que se efectuó la notificación al interesado; los plazos comunes, desde el día siguiente a la última notificación que se practique.

En los plazos por día no deberán contarse los días inhábiles. Los plazos restantes que venzan en día inhábil, se tendrán por prorrogados hasta el día hábil siguiente.

Cómputo de plazos fijados en protección de la libertad del imputado No obstante lo dispuesto en el artículo anterior, en los plazos establecidos en protección de la libertad del imputado, contarán los días naturales y no podrán ser prorrogados.

Renuncia o abreviación Las partes en cuyo favor se haya establecido un plazo, podrán renunciar a él o consentir en su abreviación mediante manifestación expresa.

Reposición del plazo Quien no haya podido observar un plazo por causa no atribuible a él o por un acontecimiento insuperable, podrá solicitar su reposición, con el fin de realizar el acto omitido o ejercer la facultad concedida por la ley.

Duración del procedimiento preparatorio El Ministerio Público deberá concluir la investigación preparatoria en un plazo razonable.

Cuando el imputado estime que el plazo se ha prolongado indebidamente, le solicitará al tribunal del procedimiento preparatorio que le fije término para que finalice la investigación.

El tribunal le solicitará un informe al fiscal y, si estima que ha habido una prolongación indebida según la complejidad y dificultad de la investigación, le fijará un plazo para que concluya, el cual no podrá exceder de seis meses.

Extinción de la acción penal por incumplimiento del plazo Cuando el Ministerio Público no haya concluido la investigación preparatoria en la fecha fijada por el tribunal, este último pondrá el hecho en conocimiento del Fiscal General, para que formule la respectiva requisitoria en el plazo de diez días. Transcurrido este plazo sin que se presente esa requisitoria, el tribunal declarará extinguida la acción penal, salvo que el procedimiento pueda continuar por haberse formulado querella, sin perjuicio de la responsabilidad personal de los representantes del Ministerio Público.

Audiencias orales Los tribunales celebrarán las audiencias orales sin dilación y fijarán el tiempo absolutamente indispensable para realizarlas.

Queja por retardo de justicia Si los representantes del Ministerio Público o los jueces no cumplen con los plazos establecidos para realizar sus actuaciones y, en su caso, dictar resoluciones, el interesado podrá urgir pronto despacho ante el funcionario omiso y si no lo obtiene dentro del término de cinco días naturales, podrá interponer queja por retardo de justicia ante el Fiscal General, la Corte Suprema de Justicia o la Inspección Judicial, según corresponda. Cuando sea demorado o rechazado el diligenciamiento de una comisión dirigida a otro tribunal, a un representante del Ministerio Público o a una autoridad administrativa, el funcionario requirente podrá dirigirse al Presidente de la Corte Suprema de Justicia o al Fiscal General de la República, según corresponda, quienes, si procede, gestionarán u ordenarán la tramitación. Los funcionarios judiciales podrán ser sancionados disciplinariamente con suspensión o el despido, según la magnitud de la falta, cuando la justicia se haya retardado por causa atribuible a ellos.

Principio general No podrán ser valorados para fundar una decisión judicial ni utilizados como presupuestos de ella, los actos cumplidos con inobservancia de las formas y condiciones previstas en la Constitución, en el Derecho Internacional o Comunitario vigentes en Costa Rica y en este Código salvo que el defecto haya sido saneado, de acuerdo con las normas que regulan la corrección de las actuaciones judiciales.

Protesta Excepto en los casos de defectos absolutos, el interesado deberá protestar por el vicio, cuando lo conozca. La protesta deberá describir el defecto y proponer la solución correspondiente.

Convalidación Salvo los casos de defectos absolutos, los vicios quedarán convalidados en los siguientes casos:

• a)Cuando las partes o el Ministerio Público no hayan solicitado oportunamente su saneamiento.
• b)Cuando quienes tengan derecho a impugnarlo hayan aceptado, expresa o tácitamente, los efectos del acto.
• c)Si, no obstante su irregularidad, el acto ha conseguido su fin respecto de los interesados o si el defecto no ha afectado los derechos y las facultades de los intervinientes.

El saneamiento no procederá cuando el acto irregular no modifique, de ninguna manera, el desarrollo del proceso ni perjudique la intervención de los interesados.

Defectos absolutos No será necesaria la protesta previa y podrán ser advertidos aun de oficio, los defectos concernientes:

• a)A la intervención, asistencia y representación del imputado en los casos y formas que la ley establece o los que impliquen inobservancia de derechos y garantías previstos por la Constitución Política, el Derecho Internacional o Comunitario vigentes en el país y la ley.
• b)Al nombramiento, capacidad y constitución de jueces o tribunales.
• c)A la iniciativa del Ministerio Público en el ejercicio de la acción penal y su participación en el procedimiento.

Saneamiento Los defectos deberán ser saneados, siempre que sea posible, renovando el acto, rectificando el error o cumpliendo con el acto omitido, de oficio o a instancia del interesado. Bajo pretexto de renovación del acto, rectificación del error o cumplimiento del acto omitido, no puede retrotraerse el proceso a períodos ya precluidos, salvo los casos expresamente previstos por este Código.

LIBRO III MEDIOS DE PRUEBA

Objetividad El Ministerio Público y los tribunales tienen el deber de procurar por sí la averiguación de la verdad mediante los medios de prueba permitidos, cumpliendo estrictamente con los fines de la persecución penal y los objetivos de la investigación.

Los elementos de prueba solo tendrán valor si ban sido obtenidos por un medio licito e incorporados al procedimiento, conforme a las disposiciones de este Código.

No podrá utilizarse información obtenida mediante tortura, maltrato, coacción, amenaza, engaño, indebida intromisión en la intimidad del domicilio, la correspondencia, las comunicaciones, los papeles y los archivos privados, ni información obtenida por otro medio que menoscabe la voluntad o viole los derechos fundamentales de las personas.

Sin embargo, en caso de que ocurran estas conductas ilícitas y sin perjuicio de las sancionas aplicables a las personas responsables, la información obtenida a través de ellas solo podrá ser utilizada única y exclusivamente en lo que beneficie a la víctima de dichas conductas en su condición de imputada o en los procesos penales que se entablen contra los autores de estas conductas ilícitas únicamente como prueba de la comisión del hecho punible. Para estos efectos, deberá contarse con el consentimiento expreso de la víctima y se adoptarán las medidas necesarias para resguardar su derecho a la intimidad y a la no revictimización.

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la ley N° 10011 del 24 de agosto de 2021)

Libertad probatoria Podrán probarse los hechos y las circunstancias de interés para la solución correcta del caso, por cualquier medio de prueba permitido, salvo prohibición expresa de la ley.

Admisibilidad de la prueba Para ser admisible, la prueba deberá referirse, directa o indirectamente, al objeto de la averiguación y deberá ser útil para descubrir la verdad. Los tribunales podrán limitar los medios de prueba ofrecidos para demostrar un hecho o una circunstancia, cuando resulten manifiestamente superabundantes. El tribunal puede prescindir de la prueba cuando esta sea ofrecida para acreditar un hecho notorio.

Valoración El tribunal asignará el valor correspondiente a cada uno de los elementos de prueba, con aplicación estricta de las reglas de la sana crítica. Debe justificar y fundamentar, adecuadamente, las razones por las cuales les otorga determinado valor, con base en la apreciación conjunta y armónica de toda la prueba esencial.

Inspección y registro del lugar del hecho Cuando sea necesario inspeccionar lugares o cosas por existir motivos suficientes para sospechar que se encontrarán rastros del delito o por presumirse que, en determinado lugar, se oculta el imputado o alguna persona evadida, se procederá a su registro.

Mediante la inspección se comprobará el estado de las personas, los lugares, las cosas, los rastros y otros efectos materiales existentes, que resulten de utilidad para averiguar el hecho o individualizar a sus autores o partícipes.

El representante del Ministerio Público será el encargado de realizar la diligencia, salvo que se disponga lo contrario.

Se invitará a presenciar la inspección a quien habite el lugar o esté en él cuando se efectúa o, en su ausencia, a su encargado o a cualquier persona mayor de edad. Se preferirá a familiares del primero.

Acta De la diligencia de inspección y registro, se levantará un acta que describirá, detalladamente, el estado de las cosas y las personas y, cuando sea posible, se recogerán o se conservarán los elementos probatorios útiles. Si el hecho no dejó rastros, ni produjo efectos materiales o si estos desaparecieron o fueron alterados, el encargado de la diligencia describirá el estado existente y, en lo posible, verificará el anterior. En caso de desaparición o alteración, averiguará y hará constar el modo, el tiempo y la causa que la provocó.

Facultades coercitivas Para realizar la inspección y el registro, podrá ordenarse que, durante la diligencia, no se ausenten quienes se encuentran en el lugar o que cualquier otra persona comparezca inmediatamente.

Inspección corporal Cuando sea necesario, el juez o el fiscal encargado de la investigación podrá ordenar la inspección corporal del imputado y, en tal caso cuidará que se respete su pudor. Con la misma limitación, podrá disponer igual medida respecto de otra persona, en los casos de sospecha grave y fundada o de absoluta necesidad. Si es 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.

Requisa El juez, el fiscal o la policía podrán realizar la requisa personal, siempre que haya motivos suficientes para presumir que alguien oculta pertenencias entre sus ropas o que lleva adheridos a su cuerpo objetos relacionados con el delito. Antes de proceder a la requisa, deberá advertir a la persona acerca de la sospecha y del objeto buscado, invitándola a exhibirlo. La advertencia e inspección se realizará en presencia de un testigo, que no deberá tener vinculación con la policía. Las requisas se practicarán separadamente, respetando el pudor de las personas. Las requisas de mujeres las harán otras mujeres. Se elaborará un acta, que podrá ser incorporada al juicio por lectura.

Registro de vehículos El juez, el fiscal o la policía podrán registrar un vehículo, siempre que haya motivos suficientes para presumir que una persona oculta en él objetos relacionados con el delito. En lo que sea aplicable, se realizará el mismo procedimiento y se cumplirá con las mismas formalidades previstas para la requisa de personas.

En los casos de muerte violenta o cuando se sospeche que una persona falleció a consecuencia de un delito culposo, si el levantamiento del cadáver se debe realizar en vías públicas, lotes baldíos, sitios de acceso común o espacios abiertos al público, la policía judicial practicará una inspección en el lugar de los hechos, dispondrá el levantamiento del cadáver y el peritaje para establecer la causa y la manera de muerte, sin necesidad de presencia de otra autoridad. En estos casos, el Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) comunicará a la autoridad judicial competente los resultados obtenidos en la diligencia, en un plazo máximo de veinticuatro horas.

Cuando se trate o se presuma que una persona falleció a consecuencia de un delito doloso o que el hecho haya ocurrido en espacios de acceso restringido deberá ser el juez quien ordene y practique la diligencia, salvo que delegue su ejecución en la policía judicial.

La identificación del cadáver se efectuará por cualquier medio técnico y, si no es posible, por medio de testigos. Si por los medios indicados no se obtiene la identificación, y su estado lo permite, el cadáver se expondrá al público por un tiempo prudencial en la morgue del Departamento de Medicina Legal, a fin de que quien posea datos que puedan contribuir al reconocimiento se los comunique al juez.

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la Ley para fomentar eficiencia en el levantamiento de cadáveres, N° 10405 del 14 de noviembre de 2023)

Reconstrucción del hecho Se ordenará la reconstrucción del hecho para comprobar si se efectuó o pudo efectuarse de un modo determinado. Nunca se obligará al imputado a intervenir en el acto, que deberá practicarse con la mayor reserva posible.

Cuando el registro deba efectuarse en un lugar habitado, en sus dependencias, casa de negocio u oficina, el allanamiento y registro será realizado por el juez personalmente y podrá realizarse a cualquier hora y día de la semana, incluyendo días feriados; también podrá procederse a cualquier hora, cuando el morador o su representante consienta.

Cuando se requiera orden de juez para practicar un allanamiento, presentada la solicitud, la persona juzgadora contará con el siguiente plazo para emitir la resolución:

• a)En los casos de tramitación ordinaria, el plazo máximo para resolver es de hasta tres días naturales.
• b)En procesos con declaratoria de procedimiento especial de criminalidad organizada o tramitación compleja, el plazo máximo de resolución será de hasta cinco días naturales.

(Así reformado por el artículo único de la ley N° 10802 del 16 de noviembre del 2025)

Allanamiento de otros locales El allanamiento de locales públicos, establecimientos de reunión o recreo mientras estén abiertos al público y no estén destinados a habitación, será acordado por el juez, quien podrá delegar la realización de la diligencia en funcionarios del Ministerio Públiico o de la policía judicial. No regirán las limitaciones horarias establecidas en el artículo anterior. En estos casos, deberá avisarse a las personas encargadas de los locales, salvo que sea perjudicial para la investigación.

Contenido de la resolución que ordena el allanamiento La resolución que ordena el allanamiento deberá contener:

• a)El nombre y cargo del funcionario que autoriza el allanamiento y la identificación del procedimiento en el cual se ordena.
• b)La determinación concreta del lugar o los lugares que habrán de ser registrados.
• c)El nombre de la autoridad que habrá de practicar el registro, en el caso de que la diligencia se delegue en el Ministerio Público o en la policía, por proceder así conforme lo dispuesto en este Título.
• d)El motivo del allanamiento.
• e)La hora y la fecha en que deba practicarse la diligencia.

Formalidades para el allanamiento Una copia de la resolución que autoriza el allanamiento será entregada a quien habite o posea el lugar donde se efectúe o, cuando esté ausente, a su encargado, y, a falta de este, a cualquier persona mayor de edad que se halle en el lugar. Se preferirá a los familiares. Cuando no se encuentre a nadie, ello se hará constar en el acta. Practicado el registro, en el acta se consignará el resultado, con expresión de las circunstancias útiles para la investigación. La diligencia se practicará procurando afectar lo menos posible la intimidad de las personas. El acta será firmada por los concurrentes; no obstante, si alguien no la firma, así se hará constar.

Allanamiento sin orden Podrá procederse al allanamiento sin previa orden judicial cuando:

• a)Por incendio, inundación u otra causa semejante, se encuentre amenazada la vida de los habitantes o la propiedad.
• b)Se denuncia que personas extrañas han sido vistas mientras se introducen en un local, con indicios manifiestos de que pretenden cometer un delito.
• c)Se introduzca en un local algún imputado de delito grave a quien se persiga para su aprehensión.
• d)Voces provenientes de un lugar habitado, sus dependencias o casa de negocio, anuncien que allí se está cometiendo un delito o pidan socorro.

Orden de secuestro El juez, el Ministerio Público y la policía podrán disponer que sean recogidos y conservados los objetos relacionados con el delito, los sujetos a confiscación y aquellos que puedan servir como medios de prueba; para ello, cuando sea necesario, ordenarán su secuestro. En los casos urgentes, esta medida podrá delegarse en un funcionario de la policía judicial.

Procedimiento para el secuestro Al secuestro se le aplicarán las disposiciones prescritas para el registro. Los efectos secuestrados serán inventariados y puestos bajo custodia segura.

Podrá disponerse la obtención de copias o reproducciones de los objetos secuestrados, cuando estos puedan desaparecer o alterarse, sean de difícil custodia o cuando convenga así para la instrucción.

Devolución de objetos Será obligación de las autoridades devolver, a la persona legitimada para poseerlos, los objetos secuestrados que no estén sometidos a comiso, restitución o embargo, inmediatamente después de realizadas las diligencias para las cuales se obtuvieron. Esta devolución podrá ordenarse provisionalmente, en calidad de depósito judicial y al poseedor se le podrá imponer la obligación de exhibirlos.

Interceptación y secuestro de comunicaciones y correspondencia En relación con la interceptación y el secuestro de comunicaciones y correspondencia, se estará a lo dispuesto en la ley especial a que se refiere el artículo 24 de la Constitución Política.

Clausura de locales Cuando, para averiguar un hecho punible, sea indispensable clausurar un local o movilizar cosas muebles que, por su naturaleza o dimensiones, no puedan ser mantenidas en depósito, se procederá a asegurarlas, según las reglas del registro.

Control Las partes podrán objetar, ante el tribunal, las medidas que adopte la policía o el Ministerio Público, con base en las facultades a que se refiere este apartado. El tribunal resolverá en definitiva lo que corresponda, sin recurso alguno.

Salvo disposición en contrario, toda persona tendrá la obligación de concurrir al llamamiento judicial y de declarar la verdad de cuanto conozca y le sea preguntado; asimismo, no deberá ocultar hechos, circunstancias ni elementos, sin perjuicio de la facultad del juez para valorar el testimonio, de acuerdo con las reglas de la sana crítica. El testigo no estará en la obligación de declarar sobre hechos que puedan depararle responsabilidad penal. Para los efectos de cumplir esta obligación, el testigo tendrá derecho a licencia con goce de salario por parte de su patrono, público o privado, cuando tenga que asistir a diligencias judiciales, pericias o comparecer ante el llamamiento judicial y por el tiempo necesario para ello. Con el objeto de comprobar la asistencia a tales actos, el despacho que conoce de la causa o ante quien se realice la diligencia, deberá extender el comprobante respectivo en el que se indique la naturaleza del acto y la duración efectiva del trámite. El Ministerio Público, el juez o el tribunal de juicio que conozca la causa, adoptarán las medidas necesarias para evitar que el testigo sea sometido a múltiples citaciones o comparecencias; además, cuando sea posible, deberán programarse las audiencias, para que se rinda el testimonio, a la brevedad posible y no se haga uso abusivo de la licencia concedida.

Protección extraprocesal:

Si, con motivo del conocimiento de los hechos que se investigan y de su obligación de testificar, la vida o la integridad física del testigo se encuentran en riesgo, tendrá derecho a requerir y a obtener protección especial. El Ministerio Público, la policía, el juez o el tribunal que conozcan de la causa, adoptarán las medidas necesarias a fin de brindar la protección que se requiera. La Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito del Ministerio Público, será la encargada de tramitar las solicitudes y de brindar la protección requerida.

Protección procesal:

Cuando, por las características del hecho, los datos de identificación del testigo, como su nombre, cédula, dirección, trabajo o números telefónicos, no sean conocidos por el imputado ni por las partes, y su efectivo conocimiento represente un riesgo para la vida o la integridad física del declarante, el Ministerio Público, la defensa o el querellante, podrán solicitarle al juez, durante la fase de investigación, que ordene la reserva de estos datos.

El juez autorizará dicha reserva en resolución debidamente motivada. Una vez acordada, esta información constará en un legajo especial y privado, que manejará el juez de la etapa preparatoria e intermedia, según la fase en la que la reserva sea procedente y se haya acordado, y en el que constarán los datos correctos para su identificación y localización. Para identificar al testigo protegido dentro del proceso, podrá hacerse uso de seudónimos o nombres ficticios. En dicho legajo, se dejará constancia de cualquier dato relevante que pueda afectar el alcance de su testimonio, tales como limitaciones físicas o problemas de salud, y deberá ponerlos en conocimiento de las partes, siempre y cuando ello no ponga en peligro al declarante.

Cuando el riesgo para la vida o la integridad física del testigo no pueda evitarse o reducirse con la sola reserva de los datos de identificación y se trate de la investigación de delitos graves o de delincuencia organizada, el juez o tribunal que conoce de la causa podrán ordenar, mediante resolución debidamente fundamentada, la reserva de sus características físicas individualizantes, a fin de que, durante la etapa de investigación, estas no puedan ser conocidas por las partes. Cuando así se declare, el juez en la misma resolución, ordenará la realización del anticipo jurisdiccional de prueba, de conformidad con lo establecido en el artículo 293 de este Código.

La participación del testigo protegido en los actos procesales, deberá realizarse adoptando las medidas necesarias para mantener en reserva su identidad y sus características físicas, cuando así se haya acordado.

La reserva de identidad del testigo protegido rige únicamente para la fase preliminar e intermedia.

(Así reformado por el artículo 16 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009)

• 1)Procedimiento:

Para lograr la protección a que se refiere el artículo 204 de este Código, el Ministerio Público, el querellante o la defensa, solicitarán las medidas de reserva de identidad o de protección de las características físicas individualizantes del testigo, al juez de la etapa preparatoria o intermedia, según la fase en que el riesgo se presente. La solicitud se acompañará de los elementos de prueba en que se sustenten la existencia del riesgo y su importancia, así como la necesidad de la protección. Para tal efecto, podrán requerir un informe breve de la Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito del Ministerio Público, en el cual se documenten el tipo de riesgo y la necesidad de la protección.

El juez convocará al Ministerio Público, al querellante y a la defensa, a una audiencia oral, en la que se expondrán la petición y las objeciones que se tengan; concluida dicha audiencia, el juez deberá resolver de inmediato, pudiendo diferir la resolución hasta por cuarenta y ocho horas, a fin de requerir los informes y datos que estime necesarios para resolver. No podrán revelarse la identidad ni los datos personales de aquel cuya protección se solicite mientras se realiza este trámite.

En casos urgentes podrá disponerse la reserva de los datos del testigo con carácter provisional y por un período que no podrá exceder de las setenta y dos horas, plazo dentro del cual se convocará a la audiencia y se resolverá lo pertinente. Para valorar la protección se tomará en cuenta la importancia y entidad del riesgo, así como la relevancia del testimonio para el descubrimiento de la verdad en el hecho investigado.

• 2)Contenido de la resolución:

La resolución que acuerde la protección procesal del testigo, deberá estar debidamente fundamentada y contendrá la naturaleza e importancia del riesgo, el tipo de protección, así como su alcance, los fundamentos de la decisión y la duración de la medida.

En los casos en que se acuerde la reserva de identidad, el juez deberá consignar un breve resumen del conocimiento de los hechos que tenga el testigo, para posibilitar el derecho de defensa de las partes. Todo el trámite se realizará en un legajo separado y cuya custodia corresponderá al juez o tribunal que conozca de la causa. Si se concede, además, la reserva de las características físicas individualizantes, en la misma resolución se ordenará la realización del anticipo jurisdiccional de este testimonio y se convocará a las partes para su realización, en los términos que señala el artículo 293 de este Código.

Las medidas de protección acordadas podrán prolongarse por el tiempo necesario en atención al tipo de riesgo, a excepción de la etapa de juicio. En ningún caso, la protección del testigo impedirá su interrogatorio, que podrá realizarse mediante la utilización de los medios tecnológicos señalados y que permitan mantener ocultas o disimuladas las características físicas del declarante, cuando ello se haya dispuesto al acordar la protección.

• 3)Recursos:

La decisión que acuerde o deniegue la protección será apelable por el Ministerio Público, el querellante, la víctima y la defensa. La apelación no suspenderá las medidas acordadas. Una vez firme la decisión, las partes estarán obligadas a respetar la reserva dispuesta, sin perjuicio de reiterar su reclamo en sede de juicio. Si el tribunal de apelaciones rechaza la protección o la reduce, el juez deberá poner en conocimiento de la defensa los datos cuya protección no haya sido autorizada.

Si se deniega la protección de las características físicas individualizantes y se mantiene la reserva de su identidad, el testigo comparecerá hasta el debate, salvo que su presencia se estime indispensable en alguna diligencia o acto procesal de la etapa de investigación, en cuyo caso deberán adoptarse las medidas necesarias para respetar la reserva concedida.

• 4)Levantamiento de las medidas:

Cuando una parte estime absolutamente necesario para el adecuado ejercicio del derecho de defensa, conocer la identidad del testigo o la víctima, solicitará al juez o al tribunal que conozca de la causa que se levanten las medidas acordadas. De la petición, se dará audiencia por veinticuatro horas a las partes. Contra lo resuelto cabrá el recurso de apelación.

El juez o tribunal podrán disponer, de oficio o a solicitud de parte, el levantamiento de las medidas, previa audiencia por veinticuatro horas a las partes, si nuevos elementos de prueba evidencian que la protección procesal no es necesaria, por demostrarse que las partes conocen la identidad del testigo, sin perjuicio de la protección extraprocesal que pueda darse.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 17 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009)

Aquellas causas donde se haya ordenado protección procesal y extraprocesal a una persona en calidad de testigo, conforme al numeral 204, tendrán prioridad para la realización de cualquier diligencia o pericia, para el señalamiento a audiencia preliminar y para la celebración de juicio oral y público.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 1° de la ley N° 10380 del 2 de octubre de 2023)

Facultad de abstención Podrán abstenerse de declarar, el cónyuge o conviviente, con más de dos años de vida en común, del imputado y sus ascendientes, descendientes o parientes colaterales, hasta el tercer grado inclusive de consanguinidad o afinidad. Deberá informarse a las personas mencionadas de la facultad de abstención, antes de que rindan testimonio. Ellas podrán ejercer esa facultad aun durante su declaración, incluso en el momento de responder determinadas preguntas.

Deberán abstenerse de declarar sobre los hechos secretos que hayan llegado a su conocimiento ,en razón del propio estado, oficio o profesión, los ministros religiosos, abogados y notarios, médicos, psicólogos, farmacéuticos, enfermeros y demás auxiliares de las ciencias médicas, así como los funcionarios públicos sobre secretos de Estado.

Sin embargo, estas personas no podrán negar su testimonio, cuando sean liberadas por el interesado del deber de guardar secreto, con excepción del secreto de confesión. En caso de ser citadas, estas personas deberán comparecer y explicar las razones de su abstención. Si el tribunal estima que el testigo invoca erróneamente la facultad de abstenerse o la reserva del secreto, ordenará su declaración mediante resolución fundada.

(Así reformado por el artículo 2° de la Ley contra el silencia en delitos sexuales en perjuicio de la niñez y personas con discapacidad, responsabilidad civil solidaria, deber de denuncia y garantía de cumplimiento de protocolos de investigación, N° 10813 del 16 de noviembre del 2025)

Citación Para el examen de testigos, se librará orden de citación. En los casos de urgencia podrán ser citados verbalmente o por teléfono, lo cual se hará constar. Además, el testigo podrá presentarse a declarar espontáneamente. Si, el testigo reside en un lugar lejano al asiento de la oficina judicial y carece de medios económicos para trasladarse, se dispondrá lo necesario para asegurar la comparecencia.

Compulsión Si el testigo no se presenta a la primera citación, se le hará comparecer por medio de la fuerza pública. Si, después de comparecer, se niega a declarar sin derecho a hacerlo, se comunicará ese hecho al Ministerio Público.

Residentes en el extranjero Si el testigo se halla en el extranjero, se procederá conforme a las reglas nacionales o del Derecho Internacional para el auxilio judicial. Sin embargo, podrá requerirse la autorización del Estado en el cual se encuentre, para que sea interrogado por el representante consular, por un juez o por un representante del Ministerio Público, según sea la fase del procedimiento y la naturaleza del acto de que se trate.

Aprehensión inmediata El tribunal podrá ordenar la aprehensión de un testigo cuando haya temor fundado de que se oculte o se fugue. Esta medida durará el tiempo indispensable para recibir la declaración y no podrá exceder de veinticuatro horas. El Ministerio Público podrá ordenar la aprehensión del testigo por el plazo máximo de seis horas, para gestionar la orden judicial.

Forma de la declaración Antes de comenzar la declaración, el testigo será instruido acerca de sus obligaciones y de las responsabilidades por su incumplimiento, prestará juramento y será interrogado sobre su nombre, apellido, estado civil, profesión, domicilio, vínculo de parentesco y de interés con las partes, y sobre cualquier otra circunstancia útil para apreciar su veracidad. Si el testigo teme por su integridad física o la de otra persona, podrá autorizársele para no indicar públicamente su domicilio y se tomará nota reservada de él, pero el testigo no podrá ocultar su identidad ni se le eximirá de comparecer en juicio. A continuación, se le interrogará sobre el hecho.

Cuando deba recibirse la declaración de personas menores de edad víctimas o testigos, deberá considerarse su interés superior a la hora de su recepción; para ello el Ministerio Público, el juez o tribunal de juicio que conozca de la causa y según la etapa procesal en la que se encuentre, adoptarán las medidas necesarias para que se reduzcan los trámites y se reciba el testimonio en las condiciones especiales que se requieran, disponiendo su recepción en privado o mediante el uso de cámaras especiales para evitar el contacto del menor con las partes, y permitiendo el auxilio de familiares o de los peritos especializados. Podrá requerirse un dictamen al Departamento de Trabajo Social y Psiquiatría y Psicología Forense o de algún otro perito o experto debidamente nombrado, de conformidad con el título IV de esta Ley, sobre las condiciones en que deba recibirse la declaración. Se resguardará siempre el derecho de defensa. Las mismas reglas se aplicarán, cuando haya de recibirse el testimonio de víctimas de abuso sexual, trata de personas o de violencia intrafamiliar.

(Así reformado por el artículo 16 de la Ley de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y demás intervinientes en el Proceso Penal, N° 8720 de 4 de marzo de 2009)

Peritaje Podrá ordenarse un peritaje cuando, para descubrir o valorar un elemento de prueba, sea necesario poseer conocimientos especiales en alguna ciencia, arte o técnica.

Título habilitante Los peritos deberán poseer título habilitante en la materia relativa al punto sobre el cual dictaminarán, siempre que la ciencia, el arte o la técnica estén reglamentadas. En caso contrario, deberá designarse a una persona de idoneidad manifiesta. No regirán las reglas de la prueba pericial para quien declare sobre hechos o circunstancias que conoció espontáneamente, aunque para informar utilice las aptitudes especiales que posee en una ciencia, arte o técnica. En este caso, regirán las reglas de la prueba testimonial.

Nombramiento de peritos El Ministerio Público, durante la investigación preparatoria, y el tribunal competente seleccionarán a los peritos y determinarán cuántos deban intervenir, según la importancia del caso y la complejidad de las cuestiones por plantear, atendiendo a las sugerencias de los intervinientes. Al mismo tiempo, fijarán con precisión los temas de la peritación y deberán acordar con los peritos designados el plazo dentro del cual presentarán los dictámenes. Serán causas de excusa y recusación de los peritos, las establecidas para los jueces. En todo lo relativo a los traductores e intérpretes, regirán análogamente las disposiciones de este apartado.

Facultad de las partes Antes de comenzar las operaciones periciales, se notificará, en su caso, al Ministerio Público y a las partes la orden de practicarlas, salvo que sean sumamente urgentes o en extremo simples. Dentro del plazo que establezca la autoridad que ordenó el peritaje, cualquiera de las partes podrá proponer por su cuenta, a otro perito para reemplazar al ya designado o para dictaminar conjuntamente con él, cuando en las circunstancias del caso, resulte conveniente su participación por su experiencia o idoneidad especial. Las partes podrán proponer, fundadamente, temas para el peritaje y objetar los admitidos o propuestos por otra de las partes.