Criminal Procedure Code — Criminal Action in Environmental CrimesCódigo Procesal Penal — Acción penal en delitos ambientales

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 persons.

The non-observance of a rule of guarantee 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 upon the subjects of the proceeding shall be interpreted restrictively. In this matter, extensive interpretation and analogy are prohibited as long as they do not favor the liberty of the accused or the exercise of a power conferred upon those who intervene in the procedure. Article file

Natural judge No one may be tried by judges specially appointed for the case. The power to apply criminal law shall correspond only to the ordinary courts, established in accordance with the Constitution and the law. Article file

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

(Thus amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of 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)

Independence Judges are subject only to the Constitution, the International and Community Law in force in Costa Rica, and the law. In their judging function, judges are independent of all members of the branches of the State. Under no circumstances may other State bodies arrogate the adjudication of cases, nor the reopening of those concluded by final decision; nor may they interfere in the development of the procedure. They must comply with and enforce what is ordered by the judges, according to what is resolved. In the event of interference in the exercise of their function, the judge must inform the Supreme Court of Justice of the facts that affect their independence. When the interference comes from the full Court, the report must be made known to the Legislative Assembly. Article file

Objectivity Judges must resolve with objectivity the matters submitted to their knowledge. From the beginning of the procedure and throughout its development, administrative and judicial authorities must record in their actions and assess in their decisions not only the circumstances harmful 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 the obstacles that impede its validity or weaken it. Article file

The courts must 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 rights of the victim. For this purpose, it may also be resolved according to the restorative justice procedure.

For these purposes, they will always take into account the opinion of the victim, 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 composition of the court, its members must actively intervene in the deliberation and decision. Article file

State of innocence The accused must be considered innocent at all stages of the procedure, 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, the most favorable to the accused shall prevail. Until the declaration of guilt, no public authority may present a person as guilty nor provide information about her in that sense. In cases of the absent person and the fugitive (rebelde), the publication of the data essential for his apprehension by judicial order shall be admitted. Article file

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

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

Inviolability of the defense The defense of any of the parties in the procedure is inviolable. With the exceptions provided in this Code, the accused shall have the right to intervene in procedural acts that incorporate evidence and to formulate requests and observations he considers opportune, without prejudice to the corresponding authority exercising disciplinary power when the normal course of the procedures is harmed. When the accused is deprived of liberty, the person in charge of guarding him shall transmit to the court the requests or observations he formulates, within the twelve hours following their presentation and shall facilitate communication with the defender. Every authority intervening in the initial acts of the investigation must ensure that the accused immediately knows the rights that, in that condition, are provided by the Constitution, the International and Community Law in force in Costa Rica, and this law. Article file

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 legal assistance and technical defense by a lawyer. For these purposes, he may choose a defender of his trust, but, if he does not do so, a public defender shall be assigned to him. The right to defense is inalienable (irrenunciable). The first act of the procedure shall be understood as any action, judicial or police, that identifies a person as a possible perpetrator of a punishable act or participant in it. Article file

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

The court or the prosecutor who verifies a rectifiable defect in any filing, ordinary recourse, or petition for the constitution of the subjects of the process, shall communicate it to the interested party and grant him a period to correct it, which shall not exceed five days. If it is not corrected within the granted period, he shall resolve accordingly.

(Thus amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of 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)

PROCEDURAL ACTIONS

CRIMINAL ACTION

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

In crimes against the security of the nation, public tranquility, public powers, constitutional order, the environment, the maritime-terrestrial zone, the public treasury, the duties of public office, 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 Office, of October 6, 2004, except for the crime of transnational bribery, the Office of the Attorney General (Procuraduría General de la República) may also exercise that action directly, 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 to address recommendations of the working group on bribery in international business transactions of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)")

Complaint for a crime of public action prosecutable at the request of a private party (instancia privada) When the exercise of the public criminal action requires a request by a private party, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall only exercise it once the complaint is filed, before competent authority, by the offended person over fifteen years of age or, if younger than that age, in excluding order, by his legal representatives, tutor, or guardian. However, before the request, urgent acts may be carried out that prevent the continuation of the act or those essential to preserve the evidence, provided they do not affect the protection of the victim's interest. Defects related to the complaint may be rectified later, when the victim appears to ratify the request before the end of the preliminary hearing. The request by a private party shall allow the prosecution of all perpetrators and participants. The victim or her representative may revoke the request at any time until before the opening of the trial is ordered. The revocation shall include those who have participated in the punishable act. The Public Prosecutor's Office shall exercise the action directly when the crime has been committed against an incapacitated person or a minor, who has no 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 guardian. Article file

Crimes of public action prosecutable only at the request of a private party shall be:

• a)The transmission of disease and the rape of a person of legal age who is in full use of reason.
• b)Sexual aggressions, not aggravated or qualified, against persons of legal age.
• c)Minor injuries (lesiones leves) and negligent injuries that do not originate 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 previous subsection by Article 5 of Law No. 8696 of December 17, 2008) d) Failure to comply with the duty of support or the duty of assistance, and breach or abuse of parental responsibility.

(Thus amended the previous 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)

Crimes of private action Crimes of private action are:

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

Conversion of public action to private The public action may be converted to 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 a crime that requires a request by a private party or a crime against property committed without serious violence against persons is being investigated. If there are multiple offended persons, the consent of all is necessary. Article file

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

Opportunity Criteria

The Public Prosecutor's Office must exercise the 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 waived, totally or partially, that it be limited to one or several infractions or to some of the persons who participated in the act, when:

• a)It is an insignificant act, of minimal guilt of the perpetrator or participant or with a minimal contribution from him, unless there is violence against persons or force against things, the public interest is affected, or the act has been 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 or complex-processing crimes, and the accused collaborates effectively with the investigation, provides essential information to prevent the continuation of the crime or the perpetration of others, helps to clarify the act under investigation or other related acts, or provides useful information to prove the participation of other accused, provided that the conduct of the collaborator is less reprehensible than the punishable acts whose prosecution he facilitates or whose continuation he prevents.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 300, in the cases provided for in this subsection, the victim shall not be informed of the request to apply the opportunity criterion and, if she had not filed a criminal complaint (querellado), she shall not have the right to do so later, unless the court orders the resumption of the procedure according to 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 prerequisites under which the court is authorized to waive the penalty are met.
• d)The penalty or security measure that may be imposed, for the act or the infraction whose prosecution is waived, lacks importance, in consideration of the penalty or security measure imposed, that must be expected for the remaining acts or infractions that were imposed or are to be imposed in a proceeding conducted abroad. In these latter cases, active extradition may be waived and passive extradition granted.

The request must be made before the court that will resolve accordingly, according to the procedure established for the conclusion of the preparatory procedure.

(Thus amended the previous paragraph by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of 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) (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)

Effects of the opportunity criterion If the court admits the request to apply an opportunity criterion, the extinguishment of the criminal action occurs with respect to the perpetrator or participant in 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 previous article, the exercise of the public criminal action is suspended in relation to the acts or persons in whose favor the opportunity criterion was applied. That suspension shall be maintained until fifteen days after the finality of the respective sentence, at which time the court must resolve definitively on the waiver of that prosecution. If the collaboration of the subject or the sentence does not satisfy the expectations for which the exercise of the action was suspended, the Public Prosecutor's Office must request the court to order the resumption of the procedure. Article file

Time limit to request opportunity criteria The opportunity criteria may be requested until before the accusation of the Public Prosecutor's Office is formulated. Article file

Suspension of the Procedure on Probation

When the conditional suspension of the sentence is appropriate or in matters for crimes punishable exclusively with non-custodial sentences, the accused may request the suspension of the procedure on probation provided that, during the previous five years, he has not benefited from this measure nor from the extinguishment of the criminal action for repair of the damage or conciliation. For these purposes, the Judicial Registry (Registro Judicial) shall keep an archive of the beneficiaries.

The measure shall not be applicable in intentional crimes, when the act has been committed by means of force against things or violence against persons. This procedural institution may only be applied in 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 that they have been processed with the application of the Restorative Justice Law.

The request shall contain a plan for 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 fulfill, in accordance with the following article. The plan may consist of conciliation with the victim, natural reparation of the damage caused, or symbolic reparation, immediate or to be fulfilled in installments. If at the time the petition is made there is not yet an accusation, 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 her conformity with the suspension of the process on probation.

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

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

If the request of the accused is not admitted or the procedure is resumed later, 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 public utility 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 determined place.
• b)Frequenting certain places or persons.
• c)Abstaining from consuming drugs or narcotics, or from abusing alcoholic beverages.
• d)Participating in special treatment programs in order to abstain from consuming drugs, alcoholic beverages, or committing criminal acts.
• e)Beginning or completing primary schooling, if not completed; learning a profession or trade or following training courses at the place or institution determined by the court.
• f)Providing services or work in favor of the State or public welfare institutions.
• g)Undergoing medical or psychological treatment, if necessary.
• h)Remaining in a job or employment, or adopting, within the period determined by the court, a trade, art, industry, or profession, if he lacks his own means of subsistence.
• i)Submitting to the supervision determined by the court.
• j)Not possessing or carrying weapons.
• k)Not driving vehicles.
• l)Participating and submitting to the conditions of the treatment program under restorative judicial supervision, in accordance with the provisions of the Restorative Justice Law.
• m)Participating in programs with socio-educational approaches for anger management, masculinity and related issues, for the prevention of domestic and violence against women.

Only at the proposal of the accused may the court 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 fulfill during the probation period and the consequences of failing to comply with them.

It shall be the responsibility of a specialized office, attached to the General Directorate of Social Adaptation (Dirección General de Adaptación Social), to supervise compliance with the rules imposed and to report periodically to the court, within the periods it determines, without prejudice to other persons or entities, such as the restorative seat in accordance with the Restorative Justice Law, also providing reports.

(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 conditions imposed, or commits a new crime, the court shall give a hearing of three days to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the accused and shall resolve, by reasoned order (auto fundado), on the resumption of the criminal prosecution. In the first case, instead of 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 for another proceeding. When the accused is subject to another proceeding and enjoys liberty, the period shall run; but the extinguishment of the criminal action may not be decreed until the resolution that exempts him from responsibility for the new act becomes final. Article file

Extinguishment of the Criminal Action

The criminal action shall be extinguished for the following causes:

• a)The death of the accused.
• b)The withdrawal of the criminal complaint, in crimes of private action.
• c)The payment of the maximum amount provided for the fine penalty, made before the oral trial, in the case of crimes punishable only with that class of penalty, in which case the court shall make the corresponding determination, at the request of the interested party, provided the victim expresses her conformity.
• d)The application of an opportunity criterion, in the cases and forms provided for in this Code.
• e)The statute of limitations.
• f)The fulfillment of the suspension period of the process on probation, without it being revoked.
• g)The pardon or amnesty.
• h)The revocation of the request by a private party, in crimes of public action whose prosecution depends on it.
• i)The death of the offended person, in cases of crimes of private action, unless the action already initiated by the victim is continued by her heirs, in accordance with the provisions of this Code.
• j)The integral reparation, to the full satisfaction of the victim, of the particular or social damage caused, carried out 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 applicable provided that, during the previous five years, the accused has not benefited from this measure nor from the suspension of the process on probation or conciliation. For these purposes, the Judicial Registry shall keep 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 process on probation, or from the integral reparation of the damage.
• l)The failure to comply with the maximum time limits of the preparatory investigation, within the terms established by this Code.
• m)When the investigation has not been reopened, within the period of one year, after the provisional dismissal (sobreseimiento provisional) was ordered.

(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).

If criminal prosecution has not been initiated, the action shall be time-barred:

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

(Thus amended the previous subsection by Article 1 of Law No. 9057 of July 23, 2012, "Reform of various laws on the Limitation of 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 persons, in which the limitation period shall be ten years.

(Thus amended the previous subsection by Article 41 of the law on the Responsibility of legal persons 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 cases of sexual crimes committed against minors, and after twenty-five years from the consummation of the punishable act, from the last act of execution of the attempt, or from the cessation of the continuous crime, as applicable, when these crimes are committed against persons of legal age without volitional or cognitive capacity. The previous rule shall apply indistinctly to every perpetrator, accomplice, or participant responsible for the respective punishable act, provided that at the time of committing the crime they had reached the age of majority.

(Thus added the previous subsection by the sole article of Law No. 9685 of May 21, 2019, "Law of the Right to Time, reform to the Penal Code to extend the limitation period for the criminal action in cases of sexual crimes against minors or persons without volitional or cognitive capacity") (Thus amended the previous 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 crimes contained in Law 8422, Law against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment in Public Office, of October 6, 2004, and in crimes contained within Title XV, "Crimes against the duties of public office," of the Penal Code.

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

The limitation periods shall be governed by the principal penalty provided in the law and shall begin to run, for consummated infractions, from the day of consummation; for attempts, from the day on which the last act of execution took place; and, for continuous or permanent crimes, from the day on which their permanence ceased.

The limitation period 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 multiple crimes, the respective criminal actions resulting from them shall be time-barred 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 begun, the periods established in the article two before this one shall be reduced by half for their computation, for the purposes of suspending or interrupting the limitation period. The limitation periods shall be interrupted by the following:

• a)The appearance to give an investigative statement (declaración indagatoria), in crimes of public action.
• b)The filing of the criminal complaint, in crimes of private action.
• c)The resolution that summons the preliminary hearing.
• d)The setting of the date for the trial.
• 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 issuance of the judgment, even if it is not final.

The interruption of the statute of limitations operates even if the decisions referred to in the preceding paragraphs 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 paragraphs.

(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 cannot be pursued or continued. This provision shall not apply when the act cannot be prosecuted due to the lack of a private complaint. b) In crimes committed by public officials in the exercise of their office or on the occasion thereof, as long as they continue to perform public functions 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 pending abroad. e) When the exercise of the criminal action has been suspended by virtue of an opportunity criterion or by the suspension of the criminal proceeding subject to conditions (suspensión del proceso a prueba) and while those suspensions last. f) Due to the default (rebeldía) of the accused. In this case, the suspension period may not exceed a period equal to the statute of limitations for the criminal action; once this period has elapsed, that time limit shall continue to run.

Once the cause of the suspension ends, the statute of limitations period shall continue its course.

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

In misdemeanors or infractions, in crimes subject to private prosecution, crimes subject to public prosecution upon private complaint, and those that admit the conditional suspension of the sentence, conciliation between the victim and the accused shall be appropriate at any time until the order to open trial is issued. It shall also be appropriate in matters involving crimes punishable exclusively by non-custodial sentences, provided the other requirements established by this law are met. For the application of conciliation, when it involves a crime subject to public prosecution and its application is appropriate, it is a requirement that during the previous five years the accused has not benefited from this measure, from the suspension of the criminal proceeding subject to conditions (suspensión del proceso a prueba), or from integral reparation of the harm.

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. The conciliators must keep secret what they learn in 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 approve 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 contracted. 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 to fulfill, without just cause, the obligations agreed upon in the conciliation, the proceeding shall continue as if no conciliation had occurred.

In the event of non-compliance for justified cause, the parties may extend the period for up to six more 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 proceeding shall continue its course, without the rules on conciliation being applicable again.

The court shall not approve the conciliation when it has reasonable grounds to believe that any of those involved 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 assault, and in crimes punishable under Law No. 8589, Penalization of Violence against Women, the court must not seek conciliation between the parties nor must it convene a hearing for that purpose, except when expressly requested by the victim or their legal representatives.

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

The jurisdictional bodies that approve applying the suspension of the criminal proceeding subject to conditions (suspensión del procedimiento a prueba), integral reparation of the harm, or conciliation, once the decision is final, shall inform the Judicial Registry for its respective 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)

CIVIL ACTION

Exercise The civil action for the restitution of the object that is the subject matter of the criminal act, as well as for the reparation of the damages caused, may be exercised by the injured party, their heirs, their legatees, the estate, or by the beneficiary in the case of personal claims, against the perpetrators of the criminal act and participants in it, and, as applicable, against the person civilly liable.

Civil action for social harm 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 an office specialized in 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.
• 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 Child Welfare Agency (Patronato Nacional de la Infancia).

In criminal proceedings, the compensatory civil action 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 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 must rule on the merits of the validly exercised compensatory civil action, even when an acquittal or a final 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 pursued before the civil courts; but it may not be processed simultaneously in both jurisdictions.

EXCEPTIONS

Enumeration The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) and the parties may raise exceptions on the following grounds:

• a)Lack of jurisdiction or competence.
• b)Lack of action, because it could not be pursued, was not legally initiated, or cannot be continued.
• c)Extinction of the criminal action.

The exceptions shall be submitted to the competent court, which may, on its own motion, address the resolution of any of the foregoing issues.

The exceptions shall be raised orally in the hearings. The evidence justifying the facts on which they are based must be offered. The motion shall be served upon the opposing party.

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

(As amended by Article 1 "Creation of the appeal remedy for 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 a lack of action is declared, the records shall be archived unless the prosecution may continue by reason of another intervenor; 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, a dismissal (sobreseimiento) shall be ordered or the complaint shall be rejected, as appropriate.

BOOK I CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PROCEDURAL SUBJECTS

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

COMPETENCE

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

Maintaining competence When a lack of competence is noticed after the date for the oral trial has been set, the court authorized to judge more serious crimes may not declare itself incompetent because the case corresponds to a court composed to judge less serious criminal acts. Courts with competence to hear crimes shall also have competence to hear infractions, when the principal act has been reclassified at trial or they are connected to 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 challenged.

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 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 this purpose. In case of doubt, the one who has first intervened shall hear the proceeding. The one who issued the first ruling or decision in the proceeding shall be considered to have first intervened.
• 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 hear it, 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 intervened in the cognizance of the case shall be competent.
• d)When the place of commission of the criminal act is unknown, the court of the judicial district where the accused resides shall be competent. If the place of commission of the crime is subsequently discovered, the case shall continue before the court of that latter place, unless this would produce 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.

Incompetence At any stage of the proceeding, except for the exceptions provided for in this Code, the court that recognizes its incompetence shall refer the proceedings to the one it considers competent and make the detainees, if any, available to it. If the court receiving the proceedings disagrees with that criterion, it shall refer the proceedings to the court competent to resolve the conflict. Non-observance of the rules on competence shall only produce the ineffectiveness of acts carried out after the incompetence has been declared.

Effects Questions of competence shall not suspend the proceeding. However, if they arise before setting the hearing for the trial, they shall suspend it until the decision on the conflict.

Cases of joinder (conexión) Cases are joined (conexas):

• a)When two or more crimes are attributed to the same person.
• b)If the attributed acts were committed simultaneously by several persons gathered together, or even if they are in different places or times, when there was prior agreement among them.
• c)If one criminal act was committed to perpetrate or facilitate the commission of another, or to procure for the guilty party or others the benefit or impunity.
• d)When the criminal acts were committed reciprocally.

Competence in joined cases When joinder (conexidad) exists, the following shall hear the case:

• a)The court authorized 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 properly established which was committed first, the court that first intervened.
• d)In the last case, the court indicated by the body competent to hear the dispute on competence.

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

Joinder of trials If several crimes are charged in the joined proceedings, 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 decide on guilt at the end of each hearing, and shall set the corresponding penalty for 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, on its own motion or at the request of any of the subjects of the proceeding, must unify the sentences when several convictions have been issued against the same person.

GROUNDS FOR EXCUSAL (EXCUSAS) AND CHALLENGES (RECUSACIONES)

Grounds for excusal (excusa) The judge must be excused (excusarse) from hearing the case:

• a)When in the same proceeding they have pronounced or concurred in pronouncing the order to open trial or the judgment, or have intervened as an official of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), defender, attorney-in-fact, complainant, or private prosecutor (querellante), or have acted as an expert, technical consultant, or have known of the investigated act as a witness, or have a direct interest in the proceeding.
• b)If they are 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 under their care.
• c)If they are or have been guardian or curator, or have been under the guardianship or curatorship of any of the interested parties.
• d)When they, their spouse, cohabitant with more than two years of common life, parents, or children have a pending lawsuit initiated previously, or a partnership or community with any of the interested parties, except for a stock corporation.
• e)If they, their spouse, cohabitant with more than two years of common life, parents, children, or other persons living under their care, are creditors, debtors, or guarantors of any of the interested parties, except for banks of the National Banking System.
• f)When before the commencement of the proceeding they have been the complainant or accuser of any of the interested parties, or have been complained against or accused by them, unless subsequent circumstances demonstrate harmony between both.
• g)If they have given advice or extrajudicially expressed their opinion on the proceeding.
• h)When they have close friendship or manifest enmity with any of the interested parties.
• i)If they, their spouse, cohabitant with more than two years of common life, parents, children, or other persons living under their care, have received or receive significant benefits from any of the interested parties, or if, after the commencement of the proceeding, they have received gifts or donations even of small value.
• j)When in the case any relative of theirs within the second degree of consanguinity has intervened or is intervening 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 do not appear as parties; also, their representatives, defenders, or attorneys-in-fact.

Procedure for excusal (excusa) The judge who is excused (se excuse) shall refer the proceedings, by reasoned decision, to whoever must replace them. The latter shall take cognizance of the matter immediately and order the procedure to be followed, without prejudice to referring the record, in the same manner, to the respective court, if they consider that the excusal (excusa) is unfounded. The incident shall be resolved without further procedure. When the judge forms part of a collegiate court and acknowledges a ground for excusal (excusa), they shall request the remaining members to order their separation.

Challenge (Recusación) The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) and the parties may challenge (recusar) the judge when they consider that a reason for which they should have been excused (excusarse) exists in them.

When filing the challenge (recusación), the grounds on which it is based and the pertinent evidentiary elements shall be indicated, under penalty of inadmissibility. It shall be filed within twenty-four hours of becoming aware of the grounds on which it is based. During hearings, the challenge (recusación) shall be raised orally.

(As amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal Remedy for 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 the challenge (recusación) If the judge admits the challenge (recusación), they shall apply the procedure provided for the excusal (excusa). Otherwise, they shall refer the written challenge (recusación) and their report to the competent court, or, if the judge is part of a collegiate court, request its rejection from the remaining members. If deemed necessary, a date shall be set to hold a hearing in which the evidence shall be received and the parties shall be informed. The competent court shall resolve the incident within twenty-four hours, without any recourse.

Challenge (recusación) of clerks and collaborators The same rules shall apply with respect to clerks and those who perform any function of judicial assistance in the proceeding. The court before which they act shall summarily investigate the invoked reason and resolve as appropriate. Once the excusal (excusa) or challenge (recusación) is accepted, the official shall be separated from the matter.

Effects Once the excusal (excusa) has been made or the challenge (recusación) accepted, the subsequent acts of the separated official shall not be effective. The intervention of the new officials shall be definitive, even if the reasons determining the separation subsequently disappear.

PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE (MINISTERIO PUBLICO) AND JUDICIAL POLICE

THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE (MINISTERIO PUBLICO)

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

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

Objectivity In the exercise of its function, the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) shall adapt its acts to an objective criterion and shall ensure the effective fulfillment of the guarantees recognized by the Constitution, current International and Community Law 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 requests and motions in accordance with that criterion, even in favor of the accused.

Distribution of functions In addition to the functions granted by law, the representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) 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 character, in cases where Costa Rican criminal law must be applied, the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) may form joint investigation teams with foreign or international institutions. Joint investigation agreements must be approved and supervised by the Attorney General (Fiscal General).

Excusal (excusa) and challenge (recusación) To the extent applicable to them, officials of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) must be excused (excusarse) and may be challenged (recusados) on the same grounds established with respect to judges, except for the fact of intervening as accusers in the proceeding. The excusal (excusa) or challenge (recusación) shall be resolved by the hierarchical superior, after the investigation deemed appropriate.

THE JUDICIAL POLICE

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

Direction The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) shall direct the police when it must provide assistance in investigative tasks. The officials and agents of the judicial police must always comply with the orders of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) and those that, during the processing of the proceeding, are directed to them by the judges. In exceptional and justified cases, the Attorney General (Fiscal General) may directly designate the officers of the judicial police who must assist in a specific investigation. In this case, 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 subordinate their acts to the instructions of a general or particular nature issued by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público).

THE VICTIM

RIGHTS OF THE VICTIM

The following shall be considered victims:

• a)The person directly harmed by the crime.
• b)The spouse, the cohabitant with more than two years of common life, the son or daughter, the adoptive mother and father, relatives within the third degree of consanguinity or the second of affinity, and the judicially declared heir, in crimes the result of which is the death of the harmed person.
• c)Partners, associates, or members, with respect to crimes that affect a legal entity, committed by those who direct, administer, or control it.
• d)Associations, foundations, and other entities of a registered nature, 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 Criminal Code, any natural person who has suffered direct harm from it shall be considered a victim.

(Subsection added by Article 2 of the Law against 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 Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Even if they have not appeared as a private prosecutor (querellante), the victim shall have the following rights within the proceeding:

• 1)Rights to information and treatment:
• a)To receive dignified treatment that respects their fundamental rights and seeks to reduce or avoid revictimization as a result of the proceeding.
• b)To have their special needs considered, such as physical, sensory, or mental limitations, as well as social, cultural, or ethnic differences.
• c)To be informed, upon first contact with judicial authorities, of all rights and faculties, as well as their duties, due to their intervention in the proceeding, and also to have access to the judicial file.
• d)To designate a domicile, place, or means through which the decisions adopted can be communicated to them and where they can be located, as well as for that information to be channeled through a reserved means at the discretion of the Victim Assistance Office of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), in the event that they are subject to protection.
• e)To be informed of all final decisions adopted, as well as changes or modifications in the precautionary measures (medidas cautelares) that have been adopted due to the existence of a risk to their safety, life, or physical integrity, provided they have designated a domicile, place, or means through which they can be communicated.
• 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 proceeding.
• g)To be informed of the need for their participation in certain examinations or expert evaluations (pericias), to have their scope explained to them, and to have the presence of a person of their confidence to accompany them in carrying these out, provided this does not jeopardize their safety or endanger 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 (medidas cautelares) adopted due to the existence of a risk to their life or physical integrity, within the formal period to appeal each of those decisions, with an indication of the reasons for doing so, provided they have designated a domicile, place, or means to be informed.
• i)Right to be informed about the possibility of resolving the case through the restorative justice procedure, pursuant to the provisions of the Restorative Justice Law.

(Subsection 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 proceeding. The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), 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 it is intended to provide them with protection. The Victim Assistance Office of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) shall coordinate with all prosecutorial offices in the country the protection of victims and channel, through its office, the necessary information to support protection measures or requests for precautionary measures (medidas cautelares), as regulated in the final paragraph of Article 239 of this Code.

• b)Procedural protection:

When their knowledge represents a risk to their life or physical integrity or that of their family members, due to their complaint or intervention in the proceeding, the victim shall have the right to have their identifying data reserved, such as name, identification number, and domicile, telephone numbers or place of work, and that these do not appear in the documentation of the proceeding; furthermore, in the exceptional cases set forth in Article 204 bis of this Code, they shall have the right to maintain the 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 videoconference or any other similar means may be used, making effective the protection agreed upon, both when using the advance evidentiary hearing (anticipo jurisdiccional de prueba) and at trial, in the terms and according to the procedure regulated in Articles 204 and 204 bis of this Code.

• c)Minor victims, women 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 in the Judicial Branch and in the Ministry of Security and other institutions, in order to reduce revictimization arising from their involvement in the proceeding and to facilitate their participation in various judicial proceedings, such as expert examinations (pericias) or hearings.
• d)Minor victims shall have the right to have their best interest considered when conducting any proceeding or expert examination (pericia) and, especially, when receiving their testimony; to that end, the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), the judge or the trial court hearing the case shall adopt the necessary measures to reduce formalities and to receive their testimony under the special conditions required. When necessary, 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 (perito) or expert, always safeguarding the right of defense, as regulated by articles 212, 221 and 351 of this Code.
• e)The victim shall have the right to leave with pay from their employer, public or private, when they must attend judicial proceedings, expert examinations (pericias) or appear before a judicial summons, and for the time necessary to do so. In order to verify attendance at such acts, the office hearing the case or before which the proceeding is conducted shall issue the respective certificate, indicating the nature of the act and the effective duration of the proceeding. The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), 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; in addition, when possible, hearings shall be scheduled so that testimony is given as soon as possible and the leave granted is not abused.
• 3)Procedural rights:
• a)The victim has the right to report, on their own behalf, through a third party they have authorized, or through an agent, the acts committed to their detriment.
• b)The victim directly harmed by the act has the right to be heard at trial, even if the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) does not offer them as a witness. In all proceedings that this Code authorizes the victim to carry out, their right to be heard shall prevail. The absence of formalities for filing may not be alleged as a cause for failing to resolve 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 dismissal.
• d)When the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) notifies them of its decision not to challenge the acquittal, 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 where they can be located, and to have their opinion considered when the application of the abbreviated procedure, the suspension of the proceeding on probation, conciliation or the application of an opportunity criterion is being considered, 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 (acción civil resarcitoria), under the terms and scope defined by this Code, to file the complaint (querella) in crimes of private action, to revoke the petition in crimes of public action dependent on a private petition, to request the conversion of public action into private action, and to desist from their complaints (querellas) or actions, all under the terms and scope defined by this Code.
• g)To have the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) notify them of 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 (acción civil resarcitoria).
• 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 (Ministerio Público), 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 such purposes, the prosecutor in charge of the case may request information from the Victim Services Office of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del delito del Ministerio Público), in order to substantiate their request, under the terms regulated in the final paragraph of article 239 of this Code.
• i)To go before the judge of the preparatory stage to point out 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 archival under the terms regulated by the cited article 298.
• j)To have returned to them as soon as possible, even as a provisional deposit, all property or valuables belonging to them that have been seized or recovered by the authorities 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 the Criminal Proceeding No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Those cases where procedural and extra-procedural protection has been ordered, pursuant to article 71, shall have priority for conducting any proceeding or expert examination (pericia), for scheduling a preliminary hearing, and for holding oral and public trial.

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

THE COMPLAINANT IN CRIMES OF PRIVATE ACTION

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

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

Representation The complainant (querellante) must act with the sponsorship of an attorney. 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 card

Form and content of the complaint The complaint (querella) shall be filed in writing, personally or by an agent 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.
• b)The name, surnames and address of the person complained against 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 when it was committed, if known.
• d)The specific request for the reparation sought, if the civil action is exercised.
• e)The evidence offered.
• i)In the case of witnesses and experts (peritos), the name, surnames, profession, address and the facts about which they will be examined must be indicated.
• ii)When the complaint (querella) concerns slander, insults or defamation, the document or recording that, in the opinion of the plaintiff, contains them, if it is possible to present them.
• f)The signature of the person acting or, if they do not know how or cannot sign, that of another person at their request.

A copy of the writing and the power of attorney shall be attached for each person complained against.

THE COMPLAINANT IN CRIMES OF PUBLIC ACTION

Complainant in crimes of public action In crimes of public action, the victim and their representative or guardian, in cases of minority or incapacity, may initiate criminal prosecution, join that already initiated by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), or continue with 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 functions or on the occasion thereof, have violated human rights; when dealing with crimes committed by officials who have abused their position, as well as against those who commit crimes that harm diffuse interests.

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

Timeliness The complaint (querella) may be filed during the preparatory proceeding. The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) shall reject the request to appear as a party when the interested party lacks standing. Once the complainant (querellante) is informed of the rejection, they may, within three days, go before the court of the preparatory proceeding for it to resolve the dispute. Article card

Tacit desistance The complaint (querella) shall be considered desisted when the complainant (querellante), without just cause, fails to appear:

• a)To give witness testimony or to conduct any means of proof for which their presence is necessary, after being summoned.
• b)At the preliminary hearing.
• c)At the first hearing of the trial, withdraws from the hearing, or does not present conclusions.

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

Desistance shall be declared by the court ex officio or at the request of any of the participants. Only the motion to set aside (recurso de revocatoria) shall be admissible against this decision.

Faculties The complaint (querella) shall not alter the faculties granted to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) regarding the exercise of opportunity criteria and the suspension of the proceeding on probation. The complainant (querellante) may file the appeals that this Code authorizes for the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público). Intervention as a complainant (querellante) shall not exempt one from the duty to testify as a witness. Article card

THE ACCUSED PERSON

GENERAL RULES

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

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

• a)To know the cause or the reason for their deprivation of liberty and the official who ordered it, showing them, as appropriate, 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 arrest.
• c)To be assisted, from the first act of the proceeding, by the defense attorney designated by them, their relatives or the group notified of their arrest, and, in the absence thereof, by a public defender.
• d)To appear or be presented before the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) or the court, to be informed and learn of the acts imputed to them.
• e)To abstain from testifying, and if they agree to do so, to have their defense attorney present at the time of giving their statement and during other proceedings where their presence is required.
• f)Not to be subjected to techniques or methods that induce or alter their free will or violate their dignity.
• g)Not to have means used against them that impede their free movement in the place and during the conduct of a procedural act, without prejudice to the surveillance measures that, in special cases, the court or the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) deems appropriate to order.

Identification The accused person (imputado) shall provide the data that allows their personal identification and show their identity document. If they do not provide it or it is deemed necessary, a record shall be requested from the Civil Registry, without prejudice to a technical office carrying out their physical identification using their personal data, fingerprints and distinctive 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 proceeding, and errors regarding them may be corrected at any time, even during the criminal enforcement. These measures may be applied even against the will of the accused person (imputado). Article card

Address At their first intervention, the accused person (imputado) shall indicate their address and designate the place or means for receiving notifications. They must keep this information updated. Article card

Supervening incapacity If during the proceeding the accused person (imputado) suffers a mental disorder that excludes their capacity to understand or to will the acts of the proceeding, or to act in accordance with that knowledge and will, the proceeding shall be suspended until that incapacity disappears. However, it shall not prevent the investigation of the act or the continuation of proceedings with respect to other accused persons (imputados). The incapacity shall be declared by the court, after an expert examination (pericia). Article card

Commitment for observation If the commitment of the accused person (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 person (imputado) committed the act and this measure is not disproportionate to the importance of the penalty or security measure that could be imposed. The commitment may not exceed one month and shall only be ordered if it is not possible to carry it out using another less drastic measure. Article card

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

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

The accused person as an object of proof A bodily investigation of the accused person (imputado) may be ordered to verify circumstances important for discovering the truth. For this purpose and by court order, bodily interventions shall be admissible, which shall be carried out according to the rules of medical knowledge, even without the consent of the accused person (imputado), provided that those measures do not affect their health or physical integrity, nor seriously contravene their beliefs. Taking samples of blood and skin, cutting nails or hair, taking photographs and fingerprints, recording the voice, verifying tattoos and deformities, 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 (Ministerio Público), during the preparatory proceeding, provided they are carried out by an expert (perito) and are not considered risky. Otherwise, court authorization shall be required, which shall decide after consulting an expert (perito) if necessary. These rules are also applicable to other persons, when it is absolutely indispensable to discover the truth. Article card

Default of appearance The accused person (imputado) who, without a serious impediment, fails to appear to a summons, escapes from the establishment or place where they are detained, or absents themselves from their address without notice shall be declared in default (en rebeldía). Article card

Effects The declaration of default (rebeldía) or incapacity shall suspend the preliminary hearing and the trial, unless, in the latter case, the proceeding to apply a security measure is appropriate. The non-appearance of the accused person (imputado) at the preliminary hearing shall not result in their declaration of default (rebeldía). The proceeding shall only be stayed with respect to the person in default and shall continue for the accused persons (imputados) who are present. Upon declaring the default (rebeldía), the arrest of the accused person (imputado) shall be ordered. During the preparatory proceeding, the order shall be requested from the court. If the accused person (imputado) appears after the declaration of default (rebeldía) and justifies their absence by virtue of a serious and legitimate impediment, that declaration shall be revoked and shall produce none of the effects indicated in this rule. Article card

STATEMENT OF THE ACCUSED PERSON

Timing 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 (Ministerio Público) in charge of the investigation shall proceed to take their statement.

If the accused person (imputado) has been apprehended, their statement must be taken immediately or, at the latest, within twenty-four hours from their apprehension. This period shall be extended by an equal amount when necessary for the defense attorney of their choosing to appear.

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

Preliminary warnings When beginning to take the statement, the official receiving it shall inform the accused person (imputado), in detail, of 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 beginning 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 words may be taken into consideration even against them. They shall be warned to indicate the place or means for receiving notifications. In addition, they shall be instructed that they may request the practice of means of proof, dictate their statement and, in general, they shall be informed of their procedural rights. Article card

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

Identification interrogation Next, the accused person (imputado) shall be asked to indicate 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, their place of work or any other where they can be located; in addition, to show their identity document and indicate the name, status, profession or trade and address of their parents. Article card

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

Prohibitions In no case shall the accused person (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 force, 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 person (imputado), their memory or the capacity for understanding and directing their acts are prohibited, especially mistreatment, threats, exhaustion, bodily violence, torture, the administration of psychoactive drugs and hypnosis. The promise of an advantage shall only be admitted when specifically provided for in the 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 demanded peremptorily. Article card

Treatment during the statement The accused person (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 with the presence of the persons authorized to attend the act or in public when the law permits it. Article card

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

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

(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)

Assessment Non-observance of the precepts relating to the statement of the accused person (imputado) shall preclude its use against them, even if they have given their consent to infringe upon a rule or to use their statement. Merely formal non-observances shall be corrected during the act or thereafter. When assessing the act, the judge shall evaluate the nature of those non-observances to determine whether to proceed in accordance with the preceding paragraph. Article card

DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND AGENTS

Right of choice The accused person (imputado) shall have the right to choose an attorney of their confidence as their defense attorney.

The intervention of the defense attorney shall not impair the right of the accused person (imputado) to make requests and observations.

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

Intervention The designated defense attorneys shall be admitted into the proceeding immediately and without any formality, by the police, as well as by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) and the court, as the case may be. Acting as defense attorney shall be mandatory for the attorney who accepts to intervene in the proceeding, except for a duly justified excuse. Article card

Subsequent appointment During the course of the proceeding, the accused person (imputado) may designate a new defense attorney; but the previous one may not withdraw from the defense until the newly appointed one intervenes in the proceeding. Article card

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

Resignation and abandonment The defense attorney may resign from the exercise of the defense. In this case, the court or the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) shall set a period for the accused person (imputado) to appoint another. If they do not appoint one, they shall be replaced by a public defender. The resigning attorney may not abandon the defense until their replacement intervenes. Resignation is not permitted during hearings nor once notice of the scheduling of hearings has been given. If the defense attorney, without justified cause, abandons the defense or leaves the accused person (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 person (imputado), and they shall be instructed on their right to choose another defense attorney. When the abandonment occurs before the trial begins, its commencement may be postponed for a period not exceeding five days, if the new defense attorney so requests. Article card

Sanctions Abandonment of the defense shall constitute a serious offense. The court shall bring the fact to the attention of the Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados), 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. That pecuniary sanction shall be used in training programs by the Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados). Article card

Number of defense attorneys The accused person (imputado) may not be defended simultaneously by more than two attorneys. When two defense attorneys intervene, the notification served on one of them shall be valid for all, and the substitution of one for the other shall not alter procedures or time limits. Article card

Common defense attorney The common defense of several accused persons (imputados) shall be admissible, provided there is no incompatibility. However, if such incompatibility is noted, it shall be corrected ex officio, and the necessary measures shall be taken to replace the defense attorney. Article card

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

Interview with detainees The accused person (imputado) who is detained, including before the police, shall have the right to meet privately with the defense attorney from the beginning of their arrest. Article card

Identification All attorneys who intervene as notaries, advisors or representatives of the parties in the proceeding must record, in the writings in which they appear, their registration number with the Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados). Proceedings shall not be attended to until this requirement is met. Article card

CIVIL PARTIES

CIVIL PLAINTIFF

Appearance as a party To exercise the action for damages (acción resarcitoria), its holder must appear as a civil plaintiff (actor civil).

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

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

Requirements of the initial writing The writing in which the civil plaintiff (actor civil) appears shall contain:

• a)The name and address of the plaintiff and, where applicable, of their representative. If it concerns collective entities, the corporate name, registered office and the name of those who direct it.
• b)The name and address of the civil defendant, if any, and their legal link to the act attributed to the accused person (imputado).
• c)The indication of the proceeding to which it refers.
• d)The grounds on which the action is based, indicating the capacity invoked and the damage for which reparation is sought, even if the amount is not specified.

Civically responsible accused person The exercise of the civil action shall proceed even when the accused person (imputado) is not identified. If there are several accused persons (imputados) and civically responsible persons in the proceeding, the claim for damages may be directed against one or several of them. When the plaintiff does not mention any accused person (imputado) in particular, it shall be understood to be directed against all. Article card

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

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 criminal complainant (querellante), at the address they have designated or, 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 the accused has been identified. Any intervening party may oppose the participation of the civil plaintiff by raising the corresponding objections. In such 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 exercise of the action before the civil jurisdiction. Article sheet

Powers The civil plaintiff shall act in the proceeding solely by reason of their civil interest. Their intervention shall be limited to proving the existence of the act and determining its authors and participants, the imputation of that act to whomever they consider responsible, the link with the third-party civilly liable, and the existence, extent, and quantification of the damages and losses for which they seek compensation. The civil plaintiff may appeal against resolutions only with respect to the action they have filed. The intervention itself, as a civil plaintiff, does not exempt one from the duty to testify as a witness. Article sheet

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

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 performance of any evidentiary proceeding requiring their presence, after having been summoned.
• b)To the preliminary hearing.
• c)To the first hearing of the trial, they leave the hearing, or do not present closing arguments.

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

Article sheet

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

THE CIVIL DEFENDANT

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

Article sheet

Effects of non-appearance The failure of the civil defendant to appear or their absence from the proceedings shall not suspend the process, which shall continue as if they were present. Nevertheless, they may appear at any time. If they have been notified by edicts, a public defender shall be appointed as their representative for the duration of their absence. Article sheet

Spontaneous intervention A third party who may be civilly sued may request their participation in the proceeding when the civil compensatory action is exercised. Their request must comply, where 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. Article sheet

Opposition The intervention, whether forced or spontaneous, of the civil defendant may be opposed, as the case may be, 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 the action against that defendant. The rules on opposition to the participation of the civil plaintiff shall be applicable. Article sheet

Exclusion The exclusion of the civil plaintiff or the withdrawal of their action shall terminate the intervention of the third-party civilly sued. Article sheet

Powers From their intervention in the proceeding, the third-party civilly sued shall enjoy all the powers granted to the accused for their defense, with respect to their civil interests. The 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. Article sheet

AUXILIARIES OF THE PARTIES

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

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

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

This rule shall also apply to the participation of students completing their legal practice.

Article sheet

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 it to the Public Prosecutor's Office or the court, which shall decide on their appointment, according to the rules applicable to experts, without them thereby assuming such character. The technical consultant may witness the expert operations, make observations during their course, without issuing an opinion, and a record shall be kept of their observations. In hearings, they may accompany the party with whom they collaborate, assist them in the acts proper to their function, or directly question experts, translators, or interpreters, always under the direction of the party they assist. Article sheet

DUTIES OF THE PARTIES

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

Article sheet

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. Article sheet

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 conducted proceedings or assumed dilatory attitudes, or litigated recklessly, the court may sanction the offense with a warning or a fine of up to fifty days.

When the court considers there is a possibility of imposing this sanction, it shall give notice to the alleged offender so that they may respond to the charge and offer exculpatory evidence, which shall be received immediately. When the act occurs in an oral hearing, the procedure shall be carried out during it.

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 for the duration of the suspension.

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

Against the resolution imposing the disciplinary measure, the sanctioned attorney may file a motion to revoke and, in the preparatory and intermediate stages, also an appeal.

Article sheet BOOK II PROCEDURAL ACTS

GENERAL PROVISIONS

FORMALITIES

Language Procedural acts must be conducted in Spanish.

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

A translator or interpreter, as appropriate, shall be provided for persons who do not know Spanish, who shall be 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.

Article sheet

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

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 within the territorial jurisdiction where the court is competent, except if this may cause a serious disturbance of public order, does not guarantee the defense of any of the interests at stake in the trial, or seriously hinders its holding. Article sheet

Time Unless a legal provision provides otherwise, 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 this information shall not render the act ineffective, unless the date on which it was performed cannot be determined from the data in the record or other related records. Article sheet

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

Interrogation Persons who are interrogated must answer orally and without consulting notes or documents, except for experts and those authorized to do so due to their conditions or the nature of the facts. First, the declarant shall be invited to state everything they know about the matter in question, and thereafter, if necessary, they shall be interrogated. The questions asked shall not be irrelevant, misleading, or suggestive. Article sheet

RECORDS

General rule When one or more acts must be recorded in an official record, the official performing them shall draft it, stating the place and date of their performance. The time shall be recorded when the law or the 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 aloud. If someone does not know how to sign, another person may do so on their behalf, at their request, or a witness to the proceeding may do so.

Article sheet

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

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

JUDICIAL ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS

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 orderly fulfillment of the acts they order in the exercise of their functions.

Article sheet

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. Article sheet

Resolutions The courts shall issue their resolutions in the form of procedural decrees, interlocutory orders, and judgments. They shall issue a judgment to terminate the proceeding; procedural decrees, when ordering purely procedural acts; and interlocutory orders, in all other cases. Judicial resolutions must indicate the place and date on which they were issued. Article sheet

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 evidentiary elements. A simple listing of the evidence or a mention of the parties' requests shall in no case replace the reasoning. It shall be insufficient when forms, dogmatic assertions, routine phrases, a simple description of the facts, or a mere mention of the evidentiary elements are used. There is no reasoning when the rules of sound criticism have been disregarded with respect to evidentiary elements of decisive value. Interlocutory orders and judgments without reasoning shall be ineffective. Article sheet

Prerequisite for assessment In the resolution, the court must include a brief and succinct description of the content of the oral evidence, before proceeding to its assessment. Article sheet

Signature Without prejudice to special provisions, resolutions shall be signed by the judges. The lack of any signature shall cause the act to be ineffective, unless the judge was unable to sign due to an insurmountable impediment arising after having participated in the deliberation and voting. The resolution shall not be invalidated if the judge did not sign it promptly, provided the deficiency is remedied and there is no doubt about their participation in the act they should have signed, without prejudice to disciplinary liability. Article sheet

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

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

At any time, the court may clarify obscure, ambiguous, or contradictory terms in which resolutions are drafted, or supplement their content if a controversial point has been omitted from the ruling, provided such acts do not entail a modification of the decision.

The parties and the Public Prosecutor's Office may request the clarification or supplementation of rulings that are delivered orally, a request they must present orally immediately after the delivery of the resolution is completed.

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

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

Final resolution Once not timely appealed, judicial resolutions shall become final and enforceable, without the need for any declaration. Only a review may be filed against a final judgment, in accordance with the provisions of this Code. Article sheet

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. For this purpose, the court shall order whoever possesses the copy to deliver it to the Secretariat, without prejudice to the right to obtain another copy free of charge. Replacement may also be carried out using the court's computer archives. Article sheet

Restitution and renewal If no copy of the documents exists, the court shall order that they be replaced, for which it shall receive evidence proving their pre-existence and content. When this is impossible, it shall order renewal, prescribing the manner of carrying it out. Article sheet

Copies, reports, or certifications If the stage of the proceeding does not prevent it, nor does it hinder normal processing, 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. Article sheet

New offense. If during the proceeding, the court becomes aware of another offense prosecutable 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) Article sheet

Simultaneously, it shall order the accused to deposit a sum of money, which it shall fix prudentially and which the accused must pay within a period of eight days, in order to cover the housing and food expenses of the economically dependent members of the family group. This obligation shall be governed by the rules applicable to alimony; thus, the personal detention of the obligor shall be ordered in case of non-compliance.

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

(This second Article 152 was added by Article 67 of Law No. 7654 of December 19, 1996, the Alimony Law. However, the norm that made the addition does not specify that it is an Article 152 bis) Article sheet

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AUTHORITIES

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

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

The required 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 the corresponding criminal liability.

Article sheet

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

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

(As added by Article 12 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)") Article sheet

NOTIFICATIONS AND SUMMONSES

General rule Resolutions 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.

Article sheet

Notifying officer Notifications shall be performed by the secretary, the notifying officer, or whoever the court specially designates. When a notification must be performed outside the seat of the court, the assistance of the respective authority shall be requested, without prejudice to the office's notifying officer traveling if the court so orders. When convenient, specialized offices may be charged with the notification of resolutions for several judicial offices. Article sheet

Place for notifications Upon appearing in the proceeding, the parties must designate a place for notifications within the judicial perimeter. Any intervening party may be notified at the court's secretariat. Defense attorneys, prosecutors, and public officials intervening in the proceeding shall be notified at their respective offices, provided these are located within the judicial perimeter. Article sheet

Notifications to defense attorneys or representatives If the parties have a defense attorney or representative, the notifications must be directed only to them, unless the law or the nature of the act requires that those parties also be notified. Article sheet

Forms of notification When the notification must be performed by reading aloud, the content of the resolution shall be read, and if the interested party requests a copy, it shall be given to them. In other cases, the notification shall be performed by delivering a copy of the resolution 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, the day, and the time of the proceeding, and shall sign together with the person receiving the copy or shall indicate that they refused to do so or could not sign. When the proceeding is not performed by reading aloud and the notified person refuses to receive the copy, it shall be posted on the door of the place where the act is performed, in the presence of a witness who shall sign the corresponding record. Article sheet

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 evidenced by the mail or the transmission office. They may also be notified through other systems authorized by the Supreme Court of Justice, provided they do not cause defenselessness. Article sheet

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

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

Notification in case of urgency In case of urgency, the notification may be made by telephone or by any other similar means of communication. A succinct record shall be made of the conversation and of the person who stated they received the message. Article sheet

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

• a)There was an error regarding the identity of the person notified.
• b)The resolution was notified incompletely.
• c)The date is not recorded in the proceeding, or when applicable, the date of delivery of the copy.
• d)Any of the required signatures are missing.
• e)There is a discrepancy between the original and the copy received by the interested party.

Article sheet

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

Communication of actions of 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 be applicable, where relevant. Article sheet

TIME LIMITS

General rule Individual time limits shall run from the beginning of the day following that on which the 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 considered extended until the following business day.

Article sheet

Calculation of time limits established to protect the liberty of the accused Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding article, in time limits established to protect the liberty of the accused, calendar days shall be counted, and they may not be extended. Article sheet

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

Reinstatement of the time limit A person who could not 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 right granted by law. Article sheet

CONTROL OF THE DURATION OF THE PROCEEDING

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

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

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

Article sheet

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 bring this fact to the attention of the Attorney General so that the respective request may be filed within a period of ten days. Once this period has elapsed without the request being filed, the court shall declare the criminal action extinguished, unless the proceeding can continue because a criminal complaint (querella) has been filed, without prejudice to the personal liability of the representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office. Article sheet

Oral hearings The courts shall hold oral hearings without delay and shall set the time absolutely indispensable for conducting them. Ficha articulo

Complaint for delay of justice If the representatives of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) or the judges do not comply with the established time limits for performing their actions and, as applicable, issuing decisions, the interested party may urge prompt dispatch before the defaulting official, and if it is not obtained within a period of five calendar days, may file a complaint for delay of justice before the Attorney General, the Supreme Court of Justice, or the Judicial Inspection, as applicable. When the execution 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 or the Attorney General of the Republic, as applicable, who, if appropriate, shall manage or order the processing. Judicial officials may be sanctioned disciplinarily with suspension or dismissal, according to the magnitude of the fault, when justice has been delayed for a cause attributable to them.

DEFECTIVE PROCEDURAL ACTIVITY

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

Objection Except in cases of absolute defects, the interested party must object to the defect when becoming aware of it. The objection must describe the defect and propose the corresponding solution.

Validation Except in cases of absolute defects, defects shall be deemed validated 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 powers of the participants.

The cure shall not proceed when the irregular act in no way modifies the development of the proceeding nor harms the participation of the interested parties.

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

• a)The intervention, assistance, and representation of the accused in the cases and forms that the law establishes, or those that imply non-observance of rights and guarantees provided 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 proceeding.

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

BOOK III MEANS OF EVIDENCE

GENERAL PROVISIONS

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

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

No use may be made of information obtained through torture, mistreatment, coercion, threat, deceit, undue intrusion into the privacy of the home, correspondence, communications, private papers and archives, nor information obtained by any other means that undermines 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 to the extent that it 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 non-revictimization.

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

Freedom of evidence Facts and circumstances of interest for the correct resolution of the case may be proved by any permitted means of evidence, except as 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. The courts may limit the means of evidence offered to prove 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. Ficha articulo

Assessment The court shall assign the corresponding value to each element of evidence, with strict application of the rules of sound criticism. It must adequately justify and substantiate the reasons for which it assigns a given value, based on the joint and harmonious appreciation of all the essential evidence.

IMMEDIATE VERIFICATION AND AUXILIARY MEANS

Inspection and search of the scene of the event When it is necessary to inspect places or things because there are sufficient grounds 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, their search 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 identifying its authors or participants shall be verified.

The representative of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) shall be responsible for conducting the proceeding, unless otherwise ordered.

The person inhabiting the place or present there when it is conducted shall be invited to witness the inspection, or, in their absence, their caretaker or any adult. Family members of the former shall be preferred.

Record A record shall be drawn up of the inspection and search proceeding, which shall describe, in detail, the state of things and persons, and, whenever possible, the useful evidentiary elements shall be collected or preserved. If the event left no traces, nor produced material effects, or if these disappeared or were altered, the person in charge of the proceeding shall describe the existing state and, to the extent possible, verify the previous one. In case of disappearance or alteration, they shall ascertain and record the manner, time, and cause that brought it about. Ficha articulo

Coercive powers To carry out the inspection and search, it may be ordered that, during the proceeding, those present at the place not absent themselves, or that any other person appear immediately. Ficha articulo

Body inspection When necessary, the judge or the prosecutor in charge of the investigation may order the body inspection of the accused, and in such case shall ensure that their modesty is respected. With the same limitation, they may order the same measure regarding another person, in cases of serious and well-founded suspicion or absolute necessity. If required, the inspection may be conducted with the assistance of expert witnesses. Only a person of trust of the examinee, who shall be previously advised of this right, may attend the act. Ficha articulo

Frisk The judge, the prosecutor, or the police may conduct a personal frisk, provided there are sufficient grounds to presume that someone is hiding belongings among their clothing or carrying objects related to the crime attached to their body. Before proceeding with the frisk, the person must be advised of the suspicion and the object sought, inviting them to exhibit it. The warning and inspection shall be carried out in the presence of a witness, who must have no connection with the police. Frisks shall be conducted separately, respecting the modesty of the persons. The frisking of women shall be carried out by other women. A record shall be drawn up, which may be incorporated into the trial by reading. Ficha articulo

Vehicle search The judge, the prosecutor, or the police may search a vehicle, provided there are sufficient grounds to presume that a person is hiding objects related to the crime in it. To the extent applicable, the same procedure shall be followed and the same formalities prescribed for the frisk of persons shall be observed. Ficha articulo

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 scene of the events, order the removal of the corpse and 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 Agency (Organismo de Investigación Judicial, OIJ) shall notify the competent judicial authority of the results obtained in the proceeding, within a maximum period of twenty-four hours.

When a person has died or is presumed to have died as a result of an intentional crime (delito doloso), or when the event has occurred in spaces with restricted access, it shall be the judge who orders and conducts the proceeding, 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, by means of witnesses. If identification is not obtained by the indicated means, and its condition permits, the corpse shall be exposed to the public for a reasonable time in the morgue of the Department of Legal Medicine, so that anyone with data that may contribute to the recognition may communicate it 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)

Reconstruction of the event The reconstruction of the event shall be ordered to verify if it occurred or could have occurred in a specific manner. The accused shall never be obliged to participate in the act, which must be conducted with the greatest possible discretion. Ficha articulo

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

When a judge's order is required to carry out a raid, once the request is submitted, the judge shall have the following time limit to issue the decision:

• a)In cases of ordinary processing, the maximum time limit to decide is up to three calendar days.
• b)In proceedings with a declaration of special organized crime procedure or complex processing, the maximum time limit for the decision 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 of public premises, meeting or recreation establishments 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 proceeding to officials of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) or the judicial police. The time limitations established in the preceding article shall not apply. In these cases, the persons in charge of the premises must be notified, unless it is detrimental to the investigation. Ficha articulo

Content of the decision ordering the raid The decision ordering the raid must contain:

• a)The name and title of the official authorizing the raid and the identification of the proceeding in which it is ordered.
• b)The specific determination of the place or places to be searched.
• c)The name of the authority that is to conduct the search, in the event that the proceeding is delegated to the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público) or the police, as appropriate in accordance with the provisions of this Title.
• d)The purpose of the raid.
• e)The time and date on which the proceeding is to be conducted.

Formalities for the raid A copy of the decision authorizing the raid shall be given to the person inhabiting or possessing the place where it is carried out, or, when absent, to their caretaker, and, in the absence thereof, to any adult present at the place. Family members shall be preferred. When no one is found, this shall be recorded in the record of proceedings (acta). Once the search is completed, the result shall be recorded in the record of proceedings (acta), with a statement of the circumstances useful for the investigation. The proceeding shall be conducted trying to affect the privacy of the persons as little as possible. The record of proceedings (acta) shall be signed by those present; however, if someone does not sign it, this shall be recorded. Ficha articulo

Raid without a warrant A raid may be conducted without a prior judicial warrant when:

• a)Due to fire, flood, or similar cause, the lives of the inhabitants or property are threatened.
• b)It is reported that strangers have been seen entering a place, with manifest indications that they intend to commit a crime.
• c)An accused of a serious crime who is being pursued for apprehension enters a place.
• d)Voices coming from an inhabited place, its dependencies, or business establishment announce that a crime is being committed there or cry 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 evidence 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 the search shall apply to the seizure. The seized items shall be inventoried and placed in secure custody.

Obtaining 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 it is convenient for the investigation.

Return of objects It shall be the obligation of the authorities to return, to the person entitled to possess them, the seized objects that are not subject to forfeiture (comiso), restitution, or attachment, immediately after the proceedings for which they were obtained are completed. This return may be ordered provisionally, in the capacity of judicial deposit, and the possessor may be required to exhibit them. Ficha articulo

Interception and seizure of communications and correspondence With respect 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. Ficha articulo

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

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 powers referred to in this section. The court shall definitively resolve as appropriate, without any recourse. Ficha articulo

TESTIMONY

Unless otherwise provided, every person shall have the obligation to appear when summoned by the court and to tell the truth of all they know and are asked; likewise, they shall not conceal facts, circumstances, or elements, without prejudice to the judge's power to assess the testimony, in accordance with the rules of sound criticism. The witness shall not be obliged to declare on facts that may incur criminal liability for them. For the purpose of fulfilling this obligation, the witness shall have the right to leave with full pay from their employer, public or private, when they must attend judicial proceedings, expert examinations, or appear before a judicial summons, and for the time necessary. In order to verify 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 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 summonses or appearances; furthermore, whenever possible, hearings should be scheduled so that the testimony is given as soon as possible and the granted leave is not used abusively.

Extra-procedural protection:

If, by reason of knowledge of the facts under investigation and their obligation to testify, the life or physical integrity of the witness 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 (Ministerio Público) shall be responsible for processing the requests and providing the required protection.

Procedural protection:

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

The judge shall authorize such confidentiality in a duly reasoned decision. Once granted, this information shall be kept in a special and private file, managed by the judge of the preparatory and intermediate phase, according to the phase in which the confidentiality is appropriate and has been granted, and shall contain the correct data for their identification and location. To identify the protected witness within the proceeding, 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 this must be disclosed to the parties, provided that it does not endanger the declarant.

When the risk to the life or physical integrity of the witness cannot be avoided or reduced with the mere confidentiality of the identification data, and it concerns the investigation of serious crimes or organized crime, the judge or court hearing the case may order, through a duly substantiated decision, the concealment of their individualizing physical characteristics, so that, during the investigation phase, these cannot be known by the parties. When so declared, the judge, in the same decision, shall order the taking of jurisdictional advance 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 confidential, when so granted.

The confidentiality of the identity of the protected witness applies only during the preliminary and intermediate phases.

(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)

• 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 measures of identity confidentiality or protection of the individualizing physical characteristics of the witness from the judge of the preparatory or intermediate phase, according to the phase in which the risk arises. The request shall be accompanied by the elements of 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 (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, at which the request and any objections shall be presented; upon conclusion of said hearing, the judge must resolve immediately, and may defer the decision for up to forty-eight hours, in order to request such reports and data as deemed necessary to decide. Neither the identity nor the personal data of the person whose protection is sought may be revealed while this procedure is ongoing.

In urgent cases, the confidentiality of the witness's data may be ordered on a provisional basis and for a period that may not exceed seventy-two hours, within which period the hearing shall be convened and the appropriate decision made. To assess the protection, the importance and entity of the risk, as well as the relevance of the testimony for the discovery of the truth in the fact under investigation, shall be taken into account.

• 2)Content of the decision:

The decision granting 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 confidentiality is granted, the judge must include a brief summary of the witness's knowledge of the facts, to enable the right of defense of the parties. The entire procedure shall be conducted in a separate file, the custody of which shall be the responsibility of the judge or court hearing the case. If, in addition, the concealment of individualizing physical characteristics is granted, the same decision shall order the taking of jurisdictional advance evidence (anticipo jurisdiccional de prueba) of this testimony, and the parties shall be convened for its execution, under the terms indicated in Article 293 of this Code.

The protection measures granted may be extended for the necessary time in consideration of the type of risk, with the exception of the trial phase. In no case shall the protection of the witness prevent their interrogation, which may be conducted using the technological means indicated and that allow the declarant's physical characteristics to be kept hidden or disguised, when so ordered when granting 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 measures granted. Once the decision is final, the parties shall be obliged to respect the ordered confidentiality, without prejudice to reiterating their claim at trial. If the appellate court rejects the protection or reduces it, the judge must inform the defense of the data for which protection has not been authorized.

If protection of individualizing physical characteristics is denied and the confidentiality of their identity is maintained, the witness shall appear only at trial, unless their presence is deemed indispensable at some proceeding or procedural act of the investigation phase, in which case the necessary measures shall be adopted to respect the granted confidentiality.

• 4)Lifting of the 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 the court hearing the case that the measures granted be lifted. The parties shall be heard for twenty-four hours regarding the request. The appeal recourse shall be available against the decision.

The judge or court may order, ex officio or at the request of a party, the lifting of the measures, after a prior hearing of twenty-four hours to the parties, if new elements of evidence show that procedural protection is not necessary, because it is demonstrated that the parties know the identity of the witness, 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 Criminal Proceedings, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Those cases where procedural and extra-procedural protection has been ordered for a person as a witness, in accordance with numeral 204, shall have priority for the conduct of any proceeding or expert examination, for the scheduling of a preliminary hearing, and for holding an oral and public trial.

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

Power to abstain The following may abstain from testifying: 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. The aforementioned persons must be informed of the power to abstain before they give testimony. They may exercise this power even during their testimony, including at the moment of answering specific questions. Ficha articulo

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

However, these persons may not refuse their testimony when they are released by the interested party from the duty of secrecy, with the exception of the secrecy of confession. If 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 reserve of secrecy, it shall order their testimony by reasoned decision.

(Thus amended by Article 2 of the Law against silence in sexual crimes to the detriment of children and persons with disabilities, joint and several 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. Furthermore, the witness may appear to testify spontaneously. If the witness resides in a place far from the seat of the judicial office and lacks the economic means to travel, the necessary measures shall be taken to ensure their appearance. Ficha articulo

Compulsion If the witness does not appear upon the first summons, they shall be made to appear by means of the 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). Ficha articulo

Residents abroad If the witness is abroad, the national or International Law rules for judicial assistance shall be followed. However, authorization may be requested from the State where the witness is located, so that they may be questioned by the consular representative, by a judge, or by a representative of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Público), depending on the phase of the proceeding and the nature of the act involved. Ficha articulo

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

Form of the statement Before beginning the statement, the witness shall be instructed about their obligations and the responsibilities for their breach, shall take an oath, and shall be questioned about their name, surname, marital status, profession, domicile, relationship and interest with the parties, and about any other circumstance useful for assessing their veracity. 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 reserved record shall be made 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 interest shall be considered at the time of its reception; for this purpose, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the judge, or the trial court hearing the case, according to the procedural stage in which it is found, shall adopt the necessary measures to reduce the proceedings and receive the testimony under the special conditions that are required, arranging for its reception in private or through the use of special cameras to avoid contact between the minor and the parties, and allowing the assistance of family members or specialized experts. An opinion may be requested from the Department of Social Work and Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology or from some other duly appointed expert or specialist, in accordance with Title IV of this Law, regarding the conditions under which the statement should be received. The right of defense shall always be safeguarded. The same rules shall apply when the testimony of victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, or domestic violence must be received.

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

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

Enabling qualification (Título habilitante)

Appointment of experts (peritos) The Public Prosecutor's Office, during the preparatory investigation, and the competent court shall select the experts (peritos) and determine how many must 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 (peritos) on the period within which they shall present their expert opinions (dictámenes). The grounds for excuse and challenge of experts (peritos) shall be those established for judges. In everything related to translators and interpreters, the provisions of this section shall apply analogously.

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

Execution of the expert examination (peritaje) The director of the proceeding shall resolve the issues that arise during the expert operations. The experts (peritos) 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 convenient; they must withdraw when the experts (peritos) begin deliberation. If any expert (perito) fails to fulfill their function, they shall be replaced.

The expert opinion (dictamen pericial) shall be substantiated and shall contain, in a clear and precise manner, a detailed account of the operations performed and their results, the observations of the parties or their technical consultants, and the conclusions formulated regarding each topic studied. The experts (peritos) may render opinions separately when there is diversity of opinions among them. The opinion (dictamen) shall be submitted in writing, signed and dated, without prejudice to the oral report in the hearings.

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

Supplementary activity to the expert examination (peritaje) The presentation or seizure 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 (peritajes), such as psychological and medico-legal ones, must be conducted on minor victims or on persons who have been sexually assaulted or are victims of aggression or domestic violence, an interdisciplinary team shall be assembled within a maximum period of eight days, in order to concentrate, in a single session, the interviews that the victim requires, when this does not affect the performance of the expert examination (peritaje). The best interest must be taken into account in the case of minors and, in any case, efforts must always be made to reduce or avoid revictimization. Before the interview, the team of professionals shall prepare a protocol for it and shall designate, when it deems convenient, one of its members to be in charge of posing the questions.

Unless there is an insurmountable impediment, the physical examination of the victim shall be conducted 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 not affected. For such purposes, special cameras may be used to avoid contact between the minor or the victim and 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 instructed to do so and shall channel their observations through the respective expert (perito), who shall decide how to address them. In any case, the expert shall record the requests made to them and shall note them in their conclusions when rendering the expert examination (pericia). For their intervention, the parties may avail themselves of a technical consultant, duly authorized to participate, in accordance with Article 126 of this Code.

(Thus amended by Article 16 of the Law on 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 the parties, for three days, unless a different period is provided by law.

Duty to maintain confidentiality The expert (perito) must maintain confidentiality regarding everything they become aware of by reason of their involvement.

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

OTHER MEANS OF EVIDENCE

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 (peritos), so that they may recognize them or provide information about them.

Elements of a confidential nature shall be examined privately by the court; if they are useful for ascertaining the truth, the court shall incorporate them into the proceeding, safeguarding the confidentiality regarding them.

Reports The court and the Public Prosecutor's Office may request reports from any person or public or private entity. The reports shall be requested, orally or in writing, indicating 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 provided for breach of the duty to report.

Identification of persons (Reconocimiento de personas) The Public Prosecutor's Office or the court may order, with prior notice to the parties, that the identification of a person (reconocimiento de una persona) be conducted, to identify them or to establish that the person who mentions them actually knows them or has seen them.

Procedure for identifying persons (reconocer personas) Before the identification (reconocimiento), the person who must make the identification shall be questioned to describe the person in question, to say if they know them or if they have previously seen them in person or in an image. In addition, they must state whether after the fact 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 breach and shall take an oath to tell the truth, according to their beliefs. Subsequently, the person who must be subjected to identification (reconocimiento) shall be invited to choose their placement among others of similar physical appearance, and the person conducting the identification (reconocimiento) shall be asked to say whether among the persons present is the one they mentioned and, if so, to point them out precisely. Once they have identified them, they shall express the differences and similarities observed between the state of the designated person and the state they were in at the time to which their previous statement refers. This diligence shall be recorded in a record, which shall note the useful circumstances, including the name and domicile of those who formed the lineup of persons. The identification (reconocimiento) shall proceed even without the consent of the accused.

Plurality of identifications (reconocimientos) When several persons must identify (reconocer) a single person, each identification (reconocimiento) shall be conducted separately, without them communicating with each other. If one person must identify (reconocer) several persons, the identification (reconocimiento) of all may be conducted in a single act, provided 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 located, their photograph may be shown to the person who must make the identification (reconocimiento), along with other similar photographs of different persons, observing the preceding rules as far as possible.

Identification (Reconocimiento) of an object Before the identification (reconocimiento) of an object, the person who must identify (reconocer) it shall be invited to describe it. In all other respects, the preceding rules shall apply.

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

Confrontation (Careo) The confrontation (careo) of persons who, in their statements, have disagreed about important facts or circumstances may be ordered; but the accused shall not be forced to participate. In the confrontation (careo) 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 ones may be used, provided they do not suppress the guarantees and powers of persons nor affect the institutional system. The method of their incorporation into the proceeding shall conform to the most analogous means of evidence among those provided.

BOOK IV PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES (MEDIDAS CAUTELARES)

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES OF A PERSONAL NATURE

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

• a)The person has been caught in flagrante delicto (flagrante delito) or contravention or is pursued immediately after attempting or committing it.
• b)The person has escaped from some penal establishment or any other place of detention.
• c)There are verified indications of their participation in a punishable act and it is a case in which pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) is applicable.

Likewise, in case 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 a 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 proceedings and, in any case, within twenty-four hours from the capture.

If it concerns an offense that requires a private complaint, the person who may file the complaint shall be informed immediately, and if that person does not file the complaint in the same act, the apprehended person shall be released.

Flagrancy (Flagrancia) There shall be flagrancy (flagrancia) when the perpetrator of the punishable act is caught in the act of committing it or immediately thereafter, or while being pursued, or when they have objects or present traces that lead to a strong presumption that they have just participated in a crime.

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

• a)The presence of the accused is necessary and there are verified indications to reasonably sustain that they are the perpetrator of a crime or a participant in it, and that they may hide, flee, or absent themselves from the place.
• b)At the first moment of the investigation, it is impossible to identify the accused and the witnesses and it is necessary to proceed urgently so as not to prejudice the investigation, in order to prevent those present from leaving the place, communicating with each other, and for the state of things and places to be modified.
• c)For the investigation of a crime, the attendance of any person is necessary.

The detention (detención) may not exceed twenty-four hours. If the Public Prosecutor's Office considers that the person must remain detained for a longer time, it shall immediately place them at the disposal of the court of the preparatory proceeding and request that it order pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) or apply any other substitute measure. 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 substantiated judicial decision, within the limits indispensable to ensure the discovery of the truth and the enforcement of the Law. When the Public Prosecutor's Office considers that pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) is appropriate, it shall request the corresponding judge to convene an oral hearing, in which the appropriateness 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 incumbent upon the Public Prosecutor's Office and the defense of the accused to provide the evidence on which they base their requests.

Once the hearing is concluded, the judge shall resolve on what has been requested. If recording means are available, their backup shall be sufficient to prove the existence of the holding of the hearing and the decision rendered.

It shall be executed in the manner least prejudicial to those affected.

The 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 on 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 exist 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 exists 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 the accused is punishable by a custodial sentence.
• d)There exists 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, Criminalization of Violence against Women (Ley 8589, Penalización de la Violencia contra las Mujeres), of April 25, 2007, as well as other offenses where the person under investigation maintains or has maintained with the victim a relationship or partner bond, whether matrimonial, common-law union (unión de hecho), courtship, cohabitation, non-cohabitation, casual, or other analogous relationship, even when there is divorce, separation, or breakup, as well as when any of the circumstances contemplated in Article 2:1 bis of Law 8589, Criminalization of Violence against Women, of April 25, 2007, are present.

(Thus the preceding paragraph was added by Article 45 (now 48) of the Law on Criminalization of Violence Against Women, No. 8589 of April 25, 2007) (Thus the preceding paragraph was amended by Article 2 of the Law to Establish Expanded Femicide (Ley para establecer el femicidio ampliado), No. 10022 of August 23, 2021)

After assessment and a substantiated decision, the court may also order the pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) of the accused, when any of the following grounds occur, the offense is punishable by a prison sentence, and the requirement established in Article 37 of the Political Constitution is met:

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

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

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

• a)Ties to the country, determined by domicile, habitual residence, seat of the family, of their business or work, and the facilities to definitively leave the country or remain hidden. The falsity, lack of information, or failure to update the domicile of the accused shall constitute a presumption of flight.
• b)The penalty that could eventually 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 the criminal prosecution.

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

• a)Destroy, modify, hide, or falsify elements of proof.
• b)Influence co-defendants, witnesses, or experts (peritos) to testify falsely or behave in a disloyal or reticent manner, or induce others to engage in such behaviors.

This ground may only support detention (prisión) until the conclusion of the trial.

Evidence for the application of precautionary measures (medidas cautelares) The prosecutor or, where applicable, the court, may receive evidence, ex officio or at the request of a party, in order to support the application, review, substitution, modification, or cancellation of a precautionary measure (medida cautelar). Said evidence shall be added to a special file 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 support the decision on the precautionary measure (medida cautelar). If the court deems it necessary, before rendering a decision, it may convene an oral hearing to hear the parties or to directly receive the evidence. A record shall be drawn up of said hearing.

Order decreeing pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) Pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) may only be decreed by a duly substantiated order, in which each of the grounds that motivate it is expressed. The order must contain:

• a)The personal data of the accused or those that serve 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 grounds motivating the measure concur 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, ex officio or at the request of the interested party, must impose instead, in a reasoned decision, one of the following alternatives:

• a)House arrest (arresto domiciliario), in their own home or in the custody of another person, without any surveillance or with that ordered by the court.
• b)The obligation to submit to the care or surveillance 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 it designates.
• d)The prohibition to leave without authorization from the country, the locality in which they reside, or the territorial scope set by the court.
• e)The prohibition to attend certain meetings or to visit certain places.
• f)The prohibition to cohabit or communicate with specific persons, provided that the right of defense is not affected.
• g)If it concerns aggression against women and children or sexual offenses, when the victim cohabits with the accused, the corresponding authority may order the accused to immediately leave the home.
• h)The posting of an adequate bail (caución adecuada).
• i)Suspension from the exercise of office when a functional offense is attributed to them.
• j)The imposition of the measure of permanent location monitoring (localización permanente) with an electronic device, provided that it is not for offenses that qualify as organized crime, nor sexual offenses against minors, nor the offenses contemplated in Law 7786, Law on Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances, Unauthorized Drugs, Related Activities, Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Ley 7786, Ley sobre Estupefacientes, Sustancias Psicotrópicas, Drogas de Uso No Autorizado, Actividades Conexas, Legitimación de Capitales y Financiamiento al Terrorismo), 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 preceding paragraph was added by Article 5 of Law No. 9271 of September 30, 2014, "Electronic Tracking Mechanisms in Criminal Matters") (Thus the preceding paragraph was amended by Article 1 of the Law to Regulate the Benefit of House Arrest with Electronic Bracelet (Ley para regular el beneficio del arresto domiciliario con brazalete electrónico), No. 10517 of August 26, 2024) If the legal classification of the act allows the application of a disqualification penalty, the court may impose, preventively, that the accused refrain from performing 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 it deems appropriate for the case, and shall order the measures and communications necessary to guarantee their compliance.

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

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

(Thus amended by Article 6 of Law No. 9271 of September 30, 2014, "Electronic Tracking Mechanisms in Criminal Matters")

Juratory bail (Caución juratoria) It is also possible to dispense with any coercive measure, when the promise of the accused to submit to the proceeding, not to obstruct the investigation, and to refrain from committing new offenses, is sufficient to eliminate the flight risk (peligro de fuga), obstruction risk, or recidivism.

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

The abandonment of the home (abandono del domicilio) 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 expressed by the offended party before the jurisdictional authority.

To lift the precautionary measure (medida precautoria), the accused must render juratory bail (caución juratoria) that they will not reoffend in the acts. Before lifting the measure, the opinion of the victim shall be heard, if they can be located. If it is 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 arrangements with the Office of Victim Assistance (Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito).

When it concerns minor offended persons, the cessation of this precautionary measure (medida precautoria) shall only proceed when the absence of risk to the victim is verified and the representative of the National Child Welfare Agency (Patronato Nacional de la Infancia, PANI) so recommends.

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

Child support (Pensión alimenticia) When the abandonment of the domicile has been ordered, the court, at the request of a party, shall order for one month the deposit of a sum of money, which it shall set prudentially. The accused must pay it within a period of eight days, in order to cover the food and housing expenses of the members of the family group who are economically dependent on him. This obligation shall be governed by the rules pertaining to child support payments (pensiones alimenticias) and, therefore, the committal (apremio corporal) of the obligor may be ordered in case of non-compliance. Once the amount is set, the court shall, on its own motion, certify records which it will send to the competent judicial authority, so that it may continue hearing the matter in accordance with the Child Support Law (Ley de Pensiones Alimenticias).

Sureties (Cauciones) When appropriate, the court shall set the amount and the type of surety (caución) as a precautionary measure (medida cautelar), and shall also decide on the suitability of the surety, according to its free appreciation of the circumstances of the case. The accused and the surety may substitute the surety for another equivalent one, with prior authorization from the court. To determine the quality and amount of the surety, the nature of the crime, the economic 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 reason for the accused to refrain from breaching his obligations. The real surety (caución real) shall be constituted by depositing money, marketable securities, or by granting pledges or mortgages, for the amount determined by the court.

Manner of determining the solvency of sureties When the amount of the bail (fianza) exceeds three base salaries (salarios base), as established in the Penal Code for crimes against property, the solvency of the sureties shall be proven by means of a certification issued by the Public Registry (Registro Público). The value of the assets may be proven with a certification of the value declared for tax purposes, or with an expert opinion (dictamen pericial) prepared 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 economic situation and possible resources. The court may condition the acceptance of the bail on its prior registration in the Property Registry (Registro de la Propiedad). 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 sureties (Ejecución de las cauciones) 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 fails to do so or does not justify the non-appearance, the surety (caución) shall be executed. Once the period has expired, the court shall order, as the case may be, the execution against 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, Facilities, and Asset Acquisition of the General Directorate of Social Adaptation (Patronato de Construcciones, Instalaciones y Adquisición de Bienes de la Direccion General de Adaptación Social).

Review of pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) During the first three months after pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) has been ordered, its review shall only proceed when the court deems that the circumstances for which it was decreed have changed. Once that period has expired, the court shall examine, on its own motion, at least every three months, the prerequisites of the detention or commitment (internación) and, as the case may be, shall order its continuation, modification, substitution by 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 pretrial detention was decreed, the accused may request its review when he believes that the circumstances for which it was ordered no longer subsist. His requests interrupt the period indicated in the previous paragraph. When reviewing pretrial detention, the court shall take into special 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 procedure, by means of a substantiated resolution, shall review, substitute, modify, or cancel the appropriateness of the precautionary measures (medidas cautelares) 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 surety (caución) provided is of a real nature and is substituted by another, it shall be cancelled and the affected assets shall be returned.

Record (Acta) Prior to the execution of precautionary measures (medidas cautelares), when appropriate, a record (acta) shall be drawn up containing:

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

During the preparatory and intermediate procedures, the resolution that decrees pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) for the first time or, after the first three months have elapsed, rejects a substitute measure, shall be adopted in a hearing and shall be appealable without suspensive effect.

Resolutions that impose any other precautionary measure (medida cautelar) or reject a substitute measure when issued during the preparatory and intermediate procedures shall also be appealable, in the same manner and without suspensive effect, provided that the cases in the first paragraph are not applicable. For these purposes, only the indispensable pieces shall be sent to the court to resolve, and the procedure established for processing the appeal (recurso de apelación) shall not apply.

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

Cessation of pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) The deprivation of liberty shall end:

• a)When new elements of judgment demonstrate that the motives that founded it no longer concur or make its substitution by another measure advisable, even before three months have elapsed since it was decreed.
• b)When its duration exceeds or is equivalent to the amount of the possible sentence to be imposed, even considering 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 (Ministerio Público), the period provided for in the preceding article may be extended by the Sentencing Appeals Court (Tribunal de Apelación de Sentencia), 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 procedure.

If the trial court issues a conviction that imposes a custodial sentence, the period of pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) may be extended by means of a substantiated resolution, for six more months. This last extension shall be added to the pretrial detention periods indicated in the preceding article and in the first paragraph of this rule.

Once these periods have expired, no new extension of the pretrial detention time may 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 impede 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 Sentencing Appeals Court (Tribunal de Apelación de Sentencia), exceptionally and on its own motion, may authorize an extension of pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) exceeding the previous periods and for up to six more months, when they order the referral to a new trial.

Exceptionally, the Criminal Cassation Chamber (Sala de Casación Penal) may extend, in the matters under its cognizance, pretrial detention for up to six more months beyond the terms of law previously authorized.

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

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

(*)a) During the time in which the procedure is suspended due to the filing of an appeal or action before the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional).

(*) (By resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 2004-03901 of 04/21/2004, it interpreted subsection a) of this article in the following sense: it is declared that this rule does not contravene Article 39 of the Constitution or the principles of legal certainty, provided that it is interpreted that the suspension of the pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) period provided in that rule cannot in any case exceed the maximum periods established in Article 378 subsection a) of the Criminal Procedure Code and that, once these are completed, 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 the request of these, 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 process must be prolonged due to evidently dilatory actions or incidents filed by the accused or his defenders, according to a substantiated resolution of the court.

Limitations Pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) shall not be decreed for persons over seventy years of age or those who are valetudinarian (valetudinarias), if the court estimates that, in the event of conviction, they will not be sentenced to more than five years of imprisonment. Nor shall it be decreed in relation to persons affected by a serious and terminal illness. In these cases, if the restriction of liberty is indispensable, house arrest (arresto domiciliario) or placement in a medical or geriatric center must be decreed. 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 (Incomunicación) The court may order the incommunicado detention (incomunicación) of the accused in a substantiated resolution, for up to ten consecutive days, when it has previously ordered pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) and there are reasons, which shall be stated in the resolution, to believe that he will collude with his accomplices or otherwise obstruct the investigation. Incommunicado detention (Incomunicación) shall not prevent the accused from communicating with his defender immediately before making his statement or before carrying out any act that requires his personal intervention. The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) and the judicial police may order the incommunicado detention (incomunicación) of the apprehended person only for the period necessary to request the judicial order, which may not exceed six hours.

Commitment (Internación) The court may order the commitment (internación) of the accused in an assistance establishment, after verification, by expert opinion (dictamen pericial), 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 evidence to reasonably sustain that he is the perpetrator of a punishable act or a participant in it.
• b)The existence of a sufficient presumption that he will not submit to the procedure or will obstruct a specific act of investigation.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE OF A REAL NATURE

Seizure (Embargo) The civil plaintiff (actor civil) may file the request for seizure (embargo) in the constitution brief or subsequently, without prejudice to the power to request the preventive seizure (embargo preventivo).

The seizure (embargo) shall be ordered by the court, at the request of a party, to guarantee the reparation of damages and the payment of costs (costas).

Supplementary application With respect to the seizure (embargo) and all its incidents, the prescriptions of the Civil Procedure Code (Código Procesal Civil) shall govern insofar as they are applicable.

BOOK V COSTS AND COMPENSATION

COSTS (Costas)

Costs of the accused In every process, the State shall cover the expenses in relation to the accused and the other parties who enjoy the benefit of litigating without being charged for them.

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

Necessary resolution The criminal court must issue a reasoned ruling on the payment of procedural and personal costs (costas) when issuing the resolution that concludes the case.

Setting of costs Costs (Costas) shall be borne by the losing party, but the court may exempt it, totally or partially, when there is a plausible reason for litigating. When there are several persons ordered to pay costs, the court shall set the proportional part corresponding to each one, without prejudice to the joint liability established by law.

Exempt persons The representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), lawyers, and representatives who intervene in the process may not be ordered to pay costs (costas), except in cases where the contrary is specifically ordered and without prejudice to the civil, criminal, or disciplinary liability they may incur.

Content Costs (Costas) shall consist of:

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

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

COMPENSATION TO THE ACCUSED

Duty to compensate. The State must compensate the person who has been unduly subjected to a precautionary measure (medida cautelar) by a public official who acted arbitrarily or with gross negligence (culpa grave), under the terms of Article 199 of the General Law of Public Administration (Ley General de la Administración Pública). In this case, the official shall be jointly liable with the State.

Compensation shall also be appropriate, only at the charge of the State, when a person has been subjected to pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) and is subsequently acquitted or dismissed (sobreseída), with full demonstration of innocence.

(Through resolution of the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional) No. 2992 of March 5, 2013, it was established that the action filed against the second paragraph of this article is dismissed, provided that the phrase "with full demonstration of innocence" is interpreted in the sense that the acquittal or dismissal (sobreseimiento) was issued because there is certainty about his innocence.)

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

Death of the entitled party If the person entitled to reparation has died, his successors shall have the right to collect or manage the provided compensation, within the limits of their hereditary share.

SECOND PART PROCEDURES BOOK I ORDINARY PROCEDURE

PREPARATORY PROCEDURE

GENERAL RULES

Purpose The preparatory procedure shall have the purpose of determining if there is a basis for trial, through the collection of the elements that allow for the foundation of the accusation of the prosecutor or the private accuser (querellante) and the defense of the accused.

Investigation file (Legajo de investigación) The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) shall form an investigation file (legajo de investigación), with the purpose of preparing its request, to which it shall add the documents that may be incorporated into the trial.

Validity of the proceedings The proceedings of the preparatory investigation shall have no probative value to base the conviction of the accused, except for the evidence received in accordance with the rules of definitive and unrepeatable acts and those that this Code authorizes to be introduced at trial by reading.

Jurisdictional action It shall be the responsibility of the court of the preparatory procedure to carry out the jurisdictional anticipations of proof (anticipos jurisdiccionales de prueba), resolve exceptions and other requests proper to 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 being able to raise the issue again in the preliminary hearing (audiencia preliminar). Prosecutors may not carry out strictly jurisdictional acts, and judges, except for the exceptions expressly provided in this Code, may not carry out acts of investigation.

INITIAL ACTS

Complaint/Report (Denuncia)

Power to report (denunciar) Those who have knowledge of a crime of public action may report (denunciarlo) it to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), to a court with criminal jurisdiction, or to the Judicial Police (Policía Judicial), unless the action depends on a private instance.

In the latter case, only the person who has the power to instigate, in accordance with this Code, may report (denunciar).

The court that receives a complaint (denuncia) shall immediately inform the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público).

(Note: As a complement, see supra Article 152 bis, which deals with the case of receiving complaints (denuncias) for sexual crimes or attempts, and the obligation of the accused to provide child support (pensión alimenticia))

Form The complaint (denuncia) may be submitted in written or verbal form, personally or by special representative. In the latter case, it must be accompanied by a power of attorney.

When it is verbal, a record (acta) 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 (denuncia) shall contain, as far as possible, the detailed account of the act, with indication of its perpetrators and participants, victims, 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 art of healing, who become aware of those acts when providing the assistance of their profession, unless the knowledge acquired by them is protected by law under the protection of professional secrecy.
• c)Persons who by provision of law, authority, or a legal act are in charge of the management, administration, care, 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 patrimony placed under their charge or control, and provided that they become aware of the act due to 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, which are those who have long-term physical deficiencies, or mental, intellectual, or sensory limitations; they must file the criminal complaint (denuncia penal) immediately, except for those protected by Article 206 of this Code (duty of abstention). The foregoing without prejudice to other investigations and procedures within their organizations, of which they must notify the authorities.

(Thus added the previous subsection 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 (denuncia) and guarantee of compliance with investigation protocols, No. 10813 of November 16, 2025) In all these cases, the complaint (denuncia) shall not be mandatory if it reasonably risks the criminal prosecution of the complainant, his spouse, or relatives up to the third degree by consanguinity or affinity, or a person who lives with the complainant and is linked to him by special bonds of affection.

When the reported act does not constitute a crime or it is impossible to proceed, the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) shall request the court of the preparatory procedure, by means of a substantiated request, the dismissal (desestimación) of the complaint (denuncia), the private accusation (querella), or the police actions.

The dismissal (desestimación) shall not impede reopening the procedure when new circumstances so require, nor shall it exempt the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) from the duty to carry out the acts of investigation that do not admit delay.

The resolution that admits the dismissal (desestimación) shall be communicated to the victim of known domicile and shall be appealable by the latter, by the private accuser (querellante), the civil plaintiff (actor civil), and the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público).

If the victim is being subject to protection, the prosecutor in charge of the case must inform her immediately.

When the reported act constitutes a sexual crime against a minor, the motion for dismissal (desistimiento) of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) must certify compliance with the action protocols in situations of physical, psychological, sexual violence, harassment, and sexual hostility (acoso y hostigamiento sexual) by the National Child Welfare Agency (Patronato Nacional de la Infancia, PANI) and the Ministry of Public Education (Ministerio de Educación Pública, MEP), as appropriate.

(Thus added the previous paragraph 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 (denuncia) and guarantee of compliance with investigation protocols, No. 10813 of November 16, 2025) (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)

Intervention of the judicial police

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

Action of the administrative police The agents of the administrative police shall be considered officers or agents of the judicial police when they perform the functions that the law and this Code impose on the latter, and the employees of the former shall be auxiliaries. The administrative police, insofar as 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 it is subject. It shall act whenever the judicial police cannot do so immediately, but from the moment the latter intervenes, the administrative police shall be its auxiliary.

The judicial police, on its own initiative, by complaint (denuncia), or by order of the competent authority, shall proceed to investigate crimes of public action, to prevent the acts committed from leading to further consequences; in addition, it shall proceed to identify and preventively apprehend the presumed guilty parties and gather, secure, and scientifically order the evidence and other necessary background information to base the accusation or determine the dismissal (sobreseimiento).

Likewise, when, due to the investigations, it determines the existence of a risk to the life or safety of the victim or a witness, it shall adopt the necessary urgent measures to guarantee their protection and the confidentiality of their identity while informing the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) or the competent judge of the fact. Moreover, it shall communicate the fact to the Victim Assistance Office of the Public 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 of private action, it shall only proceed when it receives an order from the court; but if it is of private instance, it shall act upon the complaint (denuncia) of the person authorized to instigate.

(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)

Powers The judicial police shall have the following powers:

• a)Receive complaints/reports (denuncias).
• b)Ensure that the body and traces of the crime are preserved.
• c)If there is a danger that any delay will jeopardize 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 the raids (allanamientos) and searches (requisas), with the formalities and limitations established in this Code.
• e)Order, if indispensable, the closure of the premises where it is presumed, based on evidence, that a crime has been committed.
• f)Interview witnesses presumably useful for discovering the truth. When, due to the investigations, it determines the existence of a risk to the life or safety of the victim or a witness, it shall adopt the necessary urgent measures to guarantee their protection and the confidentiality of their identity while informing the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) 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 that allow the victim or witness to be identified and located, without prejudice to what the competent judge decides.

(Thus reformed the previous subsection, 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) g) Summon, apprehend, and place in incommunicado detention (incomunicar) the presumed guilty party in the cases and manner authorized by this Code.

• 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 reformed the previous subsection, 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).

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

Precautionary measure (Medida precautoria) When in the initial moment of the investigation of an act it is not possible to identify the perpetrator, participants, or witnesses, and action must be taken urgently so as not to harm the investigation of the truth, it may be ordered that those present not leave the place, nor communicate with each other before reporting, nor modify the state of things or places, ordering the appropriate measures. The rules of apprehension and incommunicado detention (incomunicación) shall be applicable.

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

Acts of the Public Prosecutor's Office

Purpose of Criminal Prosecution When the Public Prosecutor's Office becomes aware of a public-prosecution crime, it shall prevent the crime from producing further consequences and shall promote its investigation to determine the circumstances of the act and its perpetrators or participants.

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

Investigation Power The Public Prosecutor's Office may carry out procedures to secure the essential evidentiary elements concerning the punishable act and to determine its perpetrators and participants, even when the proceeding has been suspended subject to probation or a criterion of opportunity has been applied. File article

Participation in Acts The Public Prosecutor's Office shall allow the presence of the parties in the acts it performs; likewise, it shall ensure that their participation does not interfere with the normal course of the activities. Any of the parties may propose investigative procedures. The Public Prosecutor's Office must carry them out if it considers them pertinent and useful, and shall record the reasons for its refusal, for any subsequent purposes. In the latter case, the parties may appeal to the court of the preparatory proceeding, which shall rule, without substantiation, on the admissibility of the evidence. File article

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 obstacle difficult to overcome, is presumed it will not be able to be received during the trial, or when, due to the complexity of the matter, there is a probability that the witness will forget essential circumstances of what he or she knows, or in the case of 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 proceeding.

When it concerns a witness or a victim whose safety, life, or physical integrity is at risk due to their participation in the proceeding, and it is reasonably presumed that their statement at trial will not be possible, because the risk will not be reduced or could increase, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the private prosecutor, or the defense shall request the judge to order the advance receipt of their testimony. In all cases in which the witness's physical characteristics have been ordered reserved due to 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 shall have the right to attend, with all the powers and obligations provided for by 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 advance of evidence from the victim. For the receipt of the judicial advance of evidence, available technological means may be used, such as videoconferencing, 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 shall be received, maintaining the confidentiality of their identifying data and with the aid of available technological means or special cameras that allow their physical characteristics to remain hidden or disguised, according to the scope of the protection agreed upon by the judge.

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

The rejection of a request for a judicial advance of evidence shall not prevent its re-submission, if new circumstances or evidentiary elements so indicate.

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

Urgency When it is unknown who the accused might be, or if any of the acts provided for in the preceding article is of extreme urgency, the Public Prosecutor's Office may verbally request the judge's intervention, and the judge shall perform the act without the provided summonses and, if necessary, shall appoint a public defender to participate in the act. When urgency has been invoked, after the act is performed, it must be made known to the parties. The prior summons cannot be dispensed with in cases where a witness's statement must be received due to the possibility that he or she may forget essential circumstances. File article

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

Secrecy of the Proceedings If the accused is not deprived of liberty, the Public Prosecutor's Office may order, only once and by reasoned decision, the total or partial secrecy of the proceedings, for a period not to exceed ten consecutive days, provided that publicity hinders the discovery of the truth. The period may be extended for up to another equal period, but in this case, any of the named parties, their defenders, or their agents may request the court of the preparatory proceeding to examine the grounds of the order and to end the secrecy. Notwithstanding the expiration of the established periods, when the effectiveness of a particular act depends on the partial secrecy of the proceedings, the Public Prosecutor's Office may request the judge to order that it be performed without prior notice to the parties, who shall be informed of the result of the procedure. File article

Initial Assessment Once the first procedures are received, the prosecutor shall assess them in order to examine whether to continue with the investigation or to request the following:

• a)The dismissal of the complaint, the private charge, or the police actions.
• b)The definitive dismissal (sobreseimiento).
• c)The lack of jurisdiction by reason of subject matter or territory.
• d)The application of a criterion of opportunity e) The suspension of the proceeding subject to probation.
• f)The application of the abbreviated procedure.
• g)Conciliation.
• h)Any other measure tending to conclude the proceeding.

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If the accused has not been able to be individualized, the Public Prosecutor's Office may, on its own, with grounds, order the archiving of the proceedings. The decision shall be communicated to the victim of known address, who may object to the archiving before the court of the preparatory proceeding and shall indicate the evidence that would allow the accused to be individualized. If the judge admits the objection, he or she shall order the investigation to continue.

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

The victim may also object before the court of the preparatory proceeding to errors, omissions, or delays that he or she believes have occurred in the investigation of the facts to his or her detriment. The judge shall hear both the Public Prosecutor's Office and the defense, within a term of five days, and shall resolve accordingly. If the objection relates to the failure to produce 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 Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) File article

CONCLUSION OF THE PREPARATORY PROCEEDING

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

They may also request the suspension of the proceeding subject to probation, the application of criteria of opportunity, the abbreviated procedure, the application of the restorative justice procedure, or that conciliation be promoted. Together with the request, they shall send 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) File article

When the Public Prosecutor's Office decides to request the application of a criterion of opportunity or the definitive dismissal (sobreseimiento), it must inform the victim of known address so that the victim may state whether he or she intends to become a private prosecutor. In this case, the victim must so indicate in writing within the following three days. The private charge must be filed before the Public Prosecutor's Office within ten days following the expiration of the previous period. Once the private charge is received, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall transfer it to the court of the intermediate proceeding, if the accused has already had the opportunity to give his or her statement; otherwise, it shall first provide that opportunity. 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 Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) File article

Remission of the Proceedings to the Court If the victim does not respond within three days or does not file the private charge within the ten-day period, the Public Prosecutor's Office shall transfer the matter to the court of the intermediate proceeding for it to resolve, without substantiation, what is appropriate. If the victim files the private charge in time, the court of the intermediate proceeding shall notify the parties and make available to them the proceedings and evidence gathered in the investigation, so that they may examine them within the common period of five days. In the same decision, it shall convene the preliminary hearing. File article

Disagreement When the court considers the opening of the trial appropriate and the Public Prosecutor's Office has requested the dismissal or the definitive dismissal (sobreseimiento), without the victim having filed a private charge, the court shall again remit the proceedings to the prosecutor, by reasoned order, to modify his or her petition within a maximum period of five days. If the prosecutor ratifies his or her request and the court maintains its position, the proceedings shall be sent to the Attorney General or to the superior prosecutor designated by him or her, so that he or she may petition anew or ratify what was proposed by the lower-ranking prosecutor. When the Public Prosecutor's Office reiterates its request, the judge must resolve in accordance with the petition, without prejudice to the challenge of the decision by the victim. File article

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

The accusation must contain:

• a)The data that serve to identify the accused.
• b)The precise and detailed account of the punishable act attributed.
• c)The grounds for the accusation, with the expression of the elements of conviction that motivate it.
• d)The citation of the applicable legal precepts.
• e)The offer of the evidence that will be presented at trial.

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

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When offering evidence, a list of witnesses and experts shall be presented, indicating name, profession, and address. Documents shall also be presented, or the place where they are located shall be indicated, so that 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 agreed upon, until a final judgment is issued. If this 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 maintained 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, he or she may coordinate what is pertinent with the Victim Services 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 Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) (See decision of the Constitutional Chamber No. 01-6677 of July eleven, two thousand one, to the effect that Article (*)304 of the Criminal Procedure Code does not violate the right of abstention recognized in Article 36 of the Political Constitution).

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

(The Constitutional Chamber, through decision No. 17907-10 of October 27, 2010, held that this article is not unconstitutional, "provided it is interpreted that from the trial phase onward, only extra-procedural protection of the victim or witness is appropriate, so as not to harm 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.") File article

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 fact that allow classifying the behavior of the accused as a different crime, in order to enable his or her proper defense. File article

Transfer of the Accusation The Public Prosecutor's Office must inform the victim of known address who has requested to be informed of the results of the proceeding of the accusation, so that the victim may state whether he or she intends to become a private prosecutor, in which case the victim must so indicate in writing within the following three days. The private charge must be filed before the Public Prosecutor's Office within ten days following the expiration of the previous period. File article

Claims of the Civil Plaintiff When the civil action for damages has been brought, the Public Prosecutor's Office must also inform the civil plaintiff of the accusation, so that within a period of five days he or she may specify his or her claims, indicate the type and form of reparation demanded, and liquidate the amount of the damages he or she estimates to have suffered up to that moment, without prejudice to expanding the items for future consequences. At this same opportunity, he or she must offer evidence for the oral trial in accordance with the requirements indicated for the accusation. File article

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

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INTERMEDIATE PROCEEDING

CONCLUSIVE DECISIONS

Procedure When only requests or petitions other than the accusation or private charge are formulated, the court of the intermediate proceeding shall resolve, without substantiation, what is appropriate, except where otherwise provided or if it deems it essential to hold the preliminary hearing, in which case it shall convene the parties.

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Definitive Dismissal (Sobreseimiento Definitivo) Definitive dismissal (sobreseimiento definitivo) shall be appropriate when:

• a)The reported act did not occur or was not committed by the accused.
• b)The act does not fit a criminal classification.
• c)A ground for justification or lack of culpability exists.
• d)The criminal action has been extinguished.
• e)Despite the lack of certainty, there is reasonably no possibility of incorporating new evidentiary elements and there are no grounds to request with foundation the opening of the trial.

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Content of the Decision The decision ordering definitive dismissal (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 grounds.
• e)The operative part, with citation of the applicable legal precepts.

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Effects of Definitive Dismissal (Sobreseimiento Definitivo) Once the definitive dismissal (sobreseimiento definitivo) becomes final, it shall irrevocably close the proceeding in relation to the accused in whose favor it is issued, shall prevent a new criminal prosecution for the same act, and the precautionary measures imposed shall cease. File article

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

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 (sobreseimiento definitivo) issued in the preparatory and intermediate stages. File article

EXAMINATION OF THE ACCUSATION AND THE PRIVATE CHARGE

Preliminary Hearing When the accusation or private charge is formulated, even if there are also other requests or petitions, the court of the intermediate proceeding shall notify the parties and make available to them the proceedings and the evidence gathered during the investigation, so that they may examine them within the common period of five days.

In the same decision, it shall convene 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.

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Powers and Duties of the Parties Within the period provided for in the first paragraph of the preceding article, the parties may:

• a)Object to the request formulated by the Public Prosecutor's Office or the private prosecutor, on formal or substantive grounds.
• b)Raise exceptions.
• c)Request definitive or provisional dismissal (sobreseimiento definitivo o provisional), the suspension of the proceeding 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 criterion of opportunity, or conciliation.
• e)Offer evidence for the oral and public trial, in accordance with the requirements indicated for the accusation.
• f)Raise any other issue that allows better preparation for the trial.

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

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The prosecutor and the defender must attend the hearing obligatorily; however, if the latter does not appear, he or she shall be replaced by a public defender. Where 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 address must be summoned to participate in the hearing; however, his or her non-appearance shall not suspend the proceeding. In the case of a victim who is the subject of protection, the summons to the hearing shall be communicated to the Victim Services Office (Oficina de Atención a la Víctima del Delito) of the Public Prosecutor's Office. The court shall attempt to have the parties conciliate, when this solution is appropriate. If conciliation does not occur 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 state what they deem pertinent in defense of their interests. In the course of the hearing, the accused may make his or her statement, in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Code. When the victim is present, he or she shall be granted the floor.

When the court considers it strictly necessary for its decision, it shall order the production of evidence, unless such evidence 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 Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) File article

Once the hearing is concluded, the court shall immediately and orally resolve the issues raised, unless, due to the lateness of the hour or when dealing with a matter of complex processing, the judge may defer the decision for up to twenty-four hours.

The court shall analyze the appropriateness of the accusation or the private charge, in order to determine whether there is a basis for the trial or, where applicable, whether it is appropriate to dismiss the case totally or partially or to definitively dismiss the proceedings against the accused (sobreseer al imputado).

The court may also examine, pursuant to the established procedure, whether it is appropriate to apply a criterion of opportunity, the abbreviated procedure, suspend the proceeding subject to probation, or authorize the application of the rules for matters of complex processing.

In addition, the court shall resolve the exceptions raised, order the relevant advances of evidence, and rule on the separation or joinder 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 what is necessary to execute the agreement.

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) (This provision had previously been amended by Article 1 "Creation of the Appeal of the Judgment, Other Amendments to the Challenge Regime, and Implementation of New Orality Rules in the Criminal Proceeding", Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010) File article

Admission of Evidence for the Trial The court of the intermediate proceeding shall admit pertinent evidence for the correct resolution of the case, and shall order ex officio that which is essential. It shall reject evidence it considers clearly abundant or unnecessary. Ex officio, it may order that evidence be received at the trial only when the negligence of one of the parties is manifest and its source resides in the proceedings already carried out. Only a motion for reversal (recurso de revocatoria) may be filed against what is decided, without prejudice to reiterating the request to receive the inadmissible evidence as evidence for better deciding before the trial court. File article

Prerequisite for the Opening of Trial The order for the opening of trial (auto de apertura a juicio) 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 opting to continue participating in the proceeding, but he or she shall not be obligated to maintain that party's claim. File article

Order for the Opening of Trial The order for the opening of trial (auto de apertura a juicio) shall indicate the part of the accusation or private charge that is admitted, the order to send the matter to trial, and the summons to the parties so that, within the common period of five days, they appear before the sentencing court and indicate the place or manner for receiving notifications. File article

Request for a Bifurcated Trial Within the period provided for in the preceding article, the accused may request that the trial be held in two phases, so that in the first, matters concerning the existence of guilt are discussed, and in the second, if it exists, matters relating to the individualization of the penalty and the civil consequences. Within that same period, the civil parties may make the same request, but only concerning the civil consequences. Before remitting the proceedings, the court shall rule on the request. Once the above matters are resolved, the proceedings, documents, and seized objects shall be remitted to the trial court, and the detainees shall be placed at its order. File article

ORAL AND PUBLIC TRIAL

GENERAL RULES

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

When a bifurcated trial has been ordered, the court shall set the date for the first phase. When 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 the criminal courts, with one or three judges, as appropriate.

The court clerk shall summon the witnesses and experts; shall request the objects and documents; and shall order 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 the necessary assistance by issuing summonses, without prejudice to the use of the Public Force, if necessary.

When procedurally protected witnesses have been admitted for trial, the court shall adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the receipt 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 decided on the matter during the course of the trial, and without prejudice to dispensing with their testimony and incorporating the judicial advance of evidence, when the risk to the declarant's life or physical integrity has not diminished or has increased due to the trial, under the terms of subsection 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 Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) File article

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

Principles The trial is the essential phase of the proceeding. It shall be conducted on the basis of the accusation, in an oral, public, adversarial, and continuous manner.

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

Immediacy The trial shall be held 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 held in a nearby room and for all purposes may be represented by defense counsel. Only if the accusation is expanded, the presiding judge shall have him appear for the purposes of the corresponding formal 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 leaves it, the defense shall be deemed abandoned and his replacement shall follow. If the civilly sued third party fails to appear at the trial or leaves the hearing, the trial shall continue as if he were present.

Limitations on the accused's liberty If the accused is at liberty, the court may order, to ensure the holding of the hearing, 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 (medidas cautelares) provided for in this Code.

The trial shall be public. However, the court may resolve by reasoned order, and even ex officio, that it be held, wholly 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 taken from a minor and the court deems publicity inadvisable, in consideration of his or her 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 to keep secret regarding the facts they witnessed or learned of. A record of what occurred shall be entered in the trial minutes.

(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)

In order to inform the public of what happens in the courtroom, broadcasting, television, or press companies may install recording, photography, radio, filming, or other devices in the courtroom. The court shall indicate, in each case, the conditions under which these powers shall 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 made, 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 testimony shall be declared private.

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

(Thus 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 is responsible for their conduct. For reasons of discipline and room capacity, the court may also order the removal of persons whose presence is not necessary or limit admission to a specific number.

Orality The hearing shall be oral; the accused and the other persons participating in it shall declare in that manner. 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 rulings during the hearing shall be delivered verbally; all shall be notified by their pronouncement, and a record shall be entered 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 (anticipo jurisdiccional de prueba), without prejudice to the parties or the court requiring its reproduction, when possible. The advance proceeding that was conducted 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 as a result of the trial and conditions do not exist to guarantee the receipt of the testimony at trial.
• b)The complaint, documentary evidence, and expert reports, reports, certifications, and records of identification, registration, inspection, seizure, and search, carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Code.
• c)Statements made by fugitive or acquitted co-defendants.
• d)The records of evidence ordered to be received during the trial, outside the courtroom.

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

(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)

Direction of the trial The presiding judge shall direct the hearing, order the necessary readings, give the legal admonitions, administer oaths and receive statements, exercise disciplinary powers, 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 speak or answer the questions put to them. They may not carry weapons or other objects apt to disturb or offend, nor adopt intimidating or provocative behavior, nor cause disturbances.

Continuity and suspension The hearing shall be held without interruption, during as many consecutive sessions as 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, by 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 done in the interval between sessions.
• c)When witnesses, experts, or interpreters whose intervention is indispensable do not appear, unless the taking of other evidence can continue 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 role in the trial, unless the latter two can be replaced immediately or the court has been constituted, from the start of the hearing, with a greater number of judges than required for its composition, so that substitute judges can complete the court and allow the proceeding to continue.
• e)When it is proven, by forensic medical opinion, that the accused is in the situation provided for in the preceding subsection. In this case, the separation of trials may be ordered and the proceeding continued with the other accused.
• f)If any 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 on the suspension and announce the day and time of the new hearing; this shall serve as notice 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 suspension period.

Inability to attend Persons who cannot appear at 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 commission to another judge, as appropriate, with the presence 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 sentence requires special treatment, because the acts were 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 reference norms in greater detail, the court may order a special expert evaluation, divide the trial into two phases, and, if necessary, transfer the holding of the hearing to the community where the act occurred, to allow a better defense and facilitate the assessment of the evidence.

If a cause extinguishing criminal prosecution arises and the holding of the trial is not necessary to verify it, the court may order the definitive dismissal (sobreseimiento definitivo).

The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), the victim, the complainant (querellante), and the civil plaintiff (actor civil) may file an appeal (recurso de apelación de la sentencia) against the decision.

(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 Proceedings," Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

TRIAL PROCEEDINGS

Opening On the fixed 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, advising the accused of the importance and significance of what is going to happen, indicating that he should be attentive to what he is going to hear.

Immediately, the judge 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 to, if it wishes, synthetically indicate its position regarding the accusation.

Processing of incidental matters Incidental matters shall be dealt with in a single act, unless the court decides to do so successively or to defer some until the time of the judgment, as appropriate for the order of the trial. In the discussion of incidental matters, 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 the resolution of incidental matters, the statement of the accused shall be taken, explaining to him, if necessary, in clear and simple words the act of which he is accused, with the warning that he may abstain from declaring, without his silence harming or affecting him in any way, and that the trial will continue even if he does not declare. He may state whatever he deems convenient, and thereafter shall be questioned by the prosecutor, the complainant, the civil parties, the defense, and the members of the court, in that order. If he incurs in contradictions with respect to prior statements, which shall be pointed out to him, the presiding judge may order the reading of those statements, provided that the rules provided for in this Code were observed in their receipt. The statement at trial prevails over prior ones, unless he provides no reasonable explanation for the existence of those contradictions. During the course of the trial, the parties and the court may ask him questions aimed at clarifying his statements.

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

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

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

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

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

Subsequently, the presiding judge shall call the witnesses; starting 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 with each other; they must also not see, hear, or be informed of what occurs in the courtroom. After testifying, the presiding judge may order that they remain incommunicado in the anteroom, that they witness the hearing, or that they withdraw.

However, non-compliance with the incommunicado requirement shall not prevent the witness's testimony; but the court shall consider this circumstance when assessing the evidence.

For taking the testimony of minors, the court shall adopt the necessary measures in consideration of their best interests and in order to avoid or reduce revictimization. It may avail itself of experts or specialists on the subject, who accompany the minor in his account or assist him if necessary. To guarantee the minor's rights, the court may order that his testimony be received in a special room, or with the use of special cameras or available technological means, which facilitate the minor's account, without contact with the parties, when this is recommended.

Likewise, for taking the testimony of 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 voice, always guaranteeing the questioning by the parties.

(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)

Questioning After swearing in and questioning the expert or witness about their personal identity and the general circumstances for assessing their report or statement, the presiding judge shall give them the floor to state what they know about the fact proposed as the subject of proof. At the end of the account, the judge shall allow direct questioning. The party who proposed the witness shall begin, the other parties shall continue, in the order the court deems appropriate, and it shall be ensured that the defense questions last. The prosecutor may question the witness about the statements the witness made to him during the investigation. Then, the members of the court may question the expert or the witness. The presiding judge shall moderate the questioning and prevent the declarant from answering misleading, suggestive, or impertinent questions, and shall ensure that the questioning is conducted without undue pressure and without offending the dignity of the persons. The parties may request the revocation of the presiding judge's decisions when they limit questioning, or object to the questions formulated. Experts and witnesses shall express the reason for their information and the origin of their knowledge.

Non-appearance When the expert or witness, duly summoned, does not appear, the presiding judge shall order that they be brought by public force and shall ask the party who proposed them to cooperate with the diligence. If the witness cannot be located to be brought by public force, the trial shall continue disregarding that evidence.

Other means of proof Documents shall be read and exhibited at the hearing, indicating their origin. Seized objects and other elements of conviction shall be exhibited for their identification by the witnesses, experts, or the accused. Recordings and audiovisual evidence shall be reproduced. The parties and the court may unanimously agree to the reading, exhibition, or partial reproduction of these means of proof, when such reading or reproduction suffices for the purposes of the trial. In such case, one of the members of the court must orally present a summary of the content of these items of evidence. Failure to comply with this obligation makes it impossible to consider that evidence in the judgment. Lineups (careos) or reconstructions may be held, or a judicial inspection may be ordered.

Evidence for better provision Exceptionally, the court may order, ex officio or at the request of a party, the taking of any evidence, if, during the hearing, new facts or circumstances arise that require clarification.

Final discussion Once the taking of evidence is concluded, the presiding judge shall successively grant the floor to the prosecutor, the complainant, the civil plaintiff, the civil defendant (demandado civil), and 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 participated, all may speak, distributing their tasks to avoid repetitions or delays. The parties may reply, with the exception of the civil parties, but defense counsel shall have the last word. The reply shall be limited to rebutting adverse arguments not previously discussed. The presiding judge shall prevent any digression, repetition, or interruption. In case of a manifest abuse of the floor, the judge shall call the speaker's attention and, if the speaker persists, may limit the time of the argument, 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 state his conclusions in a concrete manner.

Request for sentence and civil reparation If the division of the trial into two phases has not been ordered, the prosecutor and the complainant must request the sentence they deem appropriate, when they seek a conviction. The civil plaintiff must specify the amount of damages (daños y perjuicios) he believes he has suffered subsequent to the determination made in the preparatory procedure. When the division has been ordered, these requests must be made at the second hearing.

Close of trial If the victim is present and wishes to speak, he shall be given the floor, even if he has not participated in the proceeding. Finally, the presiding judge shall ask the accused if he has anything further to state. Immediately thereafter, the judge shall declare the trial closed.

Trial on criminal and civil consequences The trial on the sentence or the civil consequences shall begin with the reading of the first part of the judgment. Then the court shall attempt conciliation regarding the civil claims. Next, the evidence offered to individualize the sentence or the civil consequences shall be received, and from then on, it shall proceed according to the common rules. At the end of the trial, the court shall issue the decision on the sentence and civil liability and shall compose the complete judgment, according to the rules provided for that decision. The time limit to appeal the judgment shall begin to run from the full notification. If a retrial has been ordered solely to determine the sentence or the civil consequences, the same rules shall apply.

DELIBERATION AND JUDGMENT

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

Except as provided for complex proceedings, the deliberation may not extend beyond two days. If that period elapses without a verdict being reached, the trial must be repeated before another court, without prejudice to any corresponding disciplinary actions.

The deliberation may also not be suspended except for the serious illness of one of the judges. In this case, the suspension may not extend beyond three days, after which the judge must be replaced and the trial held 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 judgment (sana crítica).

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

• a)Issues relating to their competence, the admissibility of the criminal prosecution, and any other incidental matter that has been deferred to this moment.
• b)Issues relating to the existence of the fact, its legal classification, and guilt.
• c)The individualization of the applicable sentence.
• 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 sentence and civil reparation, the midpoint shall be applied.

Reopening of the trial If the court deems it, during deliberation, 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 items of assessment provided.

Requirements of the judgment The judgment shall contain:

• a)The mention of the court, the place and date it was rendered, the names of the judges and the parties, the personal data of the accused, and the statement of the fact that has been the subject 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 their adhering to the considerations and conclusions formulated by the judge who voted first.
• c)The precise and detailed determination of the fact the court deems proven.
• d)The operative part with mention of the applicable rules.
• e)The signature of the judges.

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

Immediately thereafter, the court shall convene again in the courtroom, after the parties have been verbally summoned. The document shall be read aloud by the clerk before those present.

If the judgment is a conviction and the accused is at liberty, the court may order pretrial detention when there are grounds to reasonably believe that he will not submit to enforcement once the judgment 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 judgment, 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, the judge shall announce the day and time for the full reading, which shall take place within a maximum period of five days following the pronouncement of the operative part.

The judgment shall be deemed notified upon the full reading, and the parties shall receive a copy of it.

Correlation between accusation and judgment The judgment may not hold as proven other facts or other circumstances than those described in the accusation and the complaint and, where applicable, in the expansion of the accusation, unless they favor the accused. In the judgment, the court may give the fact a legal classification different from that of the accusation or complaint, or impose sentences more severe or different from those requested.

Acquittal The acquittal judgment 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 forfeiture (comiso), the necessary registrations, and shall set the costs. The release of the accused shall be granted even if the acquittal judgment is not final, and shall be carried out directly from the courtroom, for which the court shall issue a written order.

Conviction The conviction judgment shall precisely fix the corresponding sentences and, where applicable, determine the conditional suspension of the sentence and the obligations the convicted person must fulfill. Convictions or sentences shall be unified when appropriate. The judgment 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 forfeiture and destruction, as provided by law.

Civil sentence When the civil action has been exercised, the conviction judgment shall also fix the reparation of the damages caused and the manner in which the respective obligations must be met. When the evidentiary elements do not allow for the amounts of some of the items claimed by the civil plaintiff to be established with certainty, and it is not a case where a prudential assessment can be made, the court may grant them in the abstract so that they may be liquidated during the enforcement of the judgment before the civil or administrative courts, as appropriate, provided it has deemed proven the existence of the damage and the defendant's duty to repair it.

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 of the sentence, other reforms to the challenge regime and implementation of new rules of orality in the criminal process," which repealed this article, was annulled, restoring article 466 bis of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Subsequently, by vote 2014-017411 of October 22, 2014, resolution number 2014-013820 of August 20, 2014 was supplemented, for the purpose of understanding the following: 1) The unconstitutionality of Article 10 of the Law creating the appeal of the sentence pertains only to the repeal of article 466 bis of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and not as to the remaining norms that said Article 10 repealed. 2) The effects of the substantive judgment are dimensioned so that article 466 bis of the Code of Criminal Procedure (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 (recursos de casación) filed under the assumption of the norm, that had already been resolved as of August 20, 2014, remain unaltered, but the cassation appeals (recursos de casación) filed under the assumption of the norm, that were not resolved as of August 20, 2014 (that is, were pending resolution), would become void by virtue of the prohibition that revives (with the new entry into force of article 466 bis of the Code of Criminal Procedure) upon the norm that repealed it being declared unconstitutional.)

RECORD OF THE HEARING

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 proceedings, indicating the start and end time, as well as any suspensions and resumptions.
• b)The name of the judges, the parties, the defense counsel, and the representatives.
• c)The personal data of the accused (imputado).
• d)A brief summary of the development of the hearing, indicating the name of the witnesses, experts (peritos), and interpreters, the reference of the documents read and of the other evidentiary elements reproduced, with mention of the parties' conclusions.
• e)The requests and decisions produced in the course of the trial and the parties' objections.
• f)The observance of essential formalities; a record shall be made of the public nature or if it was totally or partially excluded.
• g)Other mentions prescribed by law that the court orders to be made; those requested by the parties, when it is in their interest to leave 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 sentence.
• i)The signature of the clerk (secretario).

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

The court must make a recording of the debate (debate), at least audio, which it must preserve until the sentence becomes final (firme).

The record (acta) and the recording shall demonstrate, in principle, the manner in which the trial was conducted, 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, by itself, constitute a ground for challenging (impugnación) the sentence. In that case, other means of evidence may be resorted to in order to prove a defect that invalidates the decision.

When challenging (impugnar) the sentence, the alleged omission or falsehood shall be indicated.

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

Supplementary application to special proceedings In the special proceedings provided for in the following Book, the rules of the ordinary proceeding established in this Book shall apply, to the extent they are compatible and in the absence of a specific rule therein. Article record BOOK II SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS

ABBREVIATED PROCEEDING

At any time, until before the opening of the trial (apertura a juicio) is ordered, the application of the abbreviated proceeding may be proposed when:

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

In those cases where it is appropriate according to the legal norms in force, it may be requested that the abbreviated proceeding be processed through the restorative justice procedure (procedimiento de justicia restaurativa).

The existence of co-accused (coimputados) does not prevent the application of these rules to any one of them.

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

The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), the private prosecutor (querellante), and the accused (imputado), jointly or separately, shall state their desire to apply the abbreviated proceeding and shall demonstrate compliance with the legal requirements.

The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) and the private prosecutor (querellante), as applicable, shall file the accusation (acusación) if they have not already done so, which shall contain a description of the conduct attributed and its legal characterization (calificación jurídica) and shall request the penalty to be imposed. For such purposes, the minimum of the penalty provided for in the criminal type (tipo penal) may be reduced by up to one third.

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

If the court deems the request appropriate, it shall so order and send the matter to the trial court (tribunal de sentencia).

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

Once the proceedings are received, the court shall issue the sentence unless, beforehand, it deems it pertinent to hear the parties and the victim (víctima) of known address in an oral hearing.

When resolving, the court may reject the abbreviated proceeding and, in this case, refer the matter back for ordinary processing or issue the corresponding sentence. If it orders the referral, the previous request regarding the penalty does not bind the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) during the trial, nor may the admission of the facts by the accused (imputado) be considered as a confession.

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

The sentence shall contain the requirements provided for in this Code, in a succinct manner, and shall be subject to challenge (impugnable) through the remedies (recursos) and the provisions that are regulated in this Code for appealing the sentence issued in the ordinary criminal process.

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

PROCEEDING FOR COMPLEX PROCESSING MATTERS

Applicability When the processing is complex due to the multiplicity of facts, the high number of accused (imputados) or victims (víctimas), or when it concerns cases related to the investigation of any form of organized crime, the court, on its own motion (de oficio) 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 (etapa de juicio), the decision may only be adopted at the moment when the debate (debate) is convened.

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

(Thus the preceding paragraph was added by Article 2 of Law No. 8146 of October 30, 2001)

Procedure The request shall be substantiated and the court shall resolve within three days. The authorization may be revoked at any time, on its own motion (de oficio) or at the request of anyone who considers their rights affected by the procedure. The resolution that orders that the matter is of complex processing is appealable by the accused (imputado), during the preparatory and intermediate stages. Article record

Time limits Once this proceeding is authorized, it shall produce the following effects:

• a)The ordinary time limit for pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) 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 by the court to conclude the preparatory investigation (investigación preparatoria) shall be one year.
• c)In the intermediate and trial stage, the time limits established in favor of the parties to carry out any action and those that establish a certain time to hold the hearings shall be doubled.
• d)When the duration of the debate (debate) is less than thirty days, the maximum time limit for deliberation shall be extended to five days and the time to issue the sentence 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 the remedies (recursos) 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 proceeding shall apply. The courts shall take special care that the application of the special rules does not distort the principles and guarantees provided for in the Constitution, in International or Community Law in force in Costa Rica, and the law. Article record

PROCEEDING FOR PRIVATE ACTION OFFENSES

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

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

Prior judicial assistance When the accused has not been identified, individualized, or his address determined, or when, in order to describe the act clearly, precisely, and in detail, it is essential to carry out proceedings that the private prosecutor (querellante) cannot carry out on his own, he shall request judicial assistance (auxilio judicial) in the accusation, and shall indicate the pertinent measures. The court shall provide the assistance, if applicable. Subsequently, the accuser shall complete his accusation within five days of obtaining the missing information. Article record

Joinder of cases The joinder of cases (acumulación de causas) for private action offenses shall be governed by the common provisions, but they shall not be joined with those initiated for public action offenses. Article record

Withdrawal The private prosecutor (querellante) may expressly withdraw (desistir) at any stage of the trial, but shall be subject to liability for his prior acts.

The private action (acción privada) shall be deemed withdrawn:

• a)If the proceeding is paralyzed for one month due to inactivity of the private prosecutor (querellante) or his representative, and they do not reactivate it within three days of having been notified of the resolution, which shall be issued even on its own motion (de oficio), in which they will be urged to continue the proceeding.
• b)When the private prosecutor (querellante) or his representative do not appear, without just cause, at the conciliation hearing (audiencia de conciliación).
• c)When the private prosecutor (querellante) or his representative do not appear, without just cause, at the first hearing of the debate (debate), leave the hearing, or do not present conclusions.
• d)When, upon the death or incapacity of the private prosecutor (querellante), 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 proven before the start of the hearing, if possible, or, otherwise, within forty-eight hours of the date set for it.

Effects of withdrawal The express withdrawal (desistimiento) shall only include the participants specifically indicated. If no person is mentioned, it shall be understood to extend to all. The tacit withdrawal shall include the accused (imputados) who have participated in the proceeding. When the court declares the criminal claim extinguished due to withdrawal, it shall dismiss (sobreseerá) the case and impose the costs on the private prosecutor (querellante), unless the parties had agreed otherwise in this regard. Article record

Conciliation hearing Once the hearing period on the private complaint (querella) has expired, a conciliation hearing (audiencia de conciliación) shall be convened within the following ten days. In all other respects, the common rules of conciliation shall be applicable. Article record

Conciliation and retraction When the parties reach conciliation at the hearing or at any stage of the trial, the case shall be dismissed (sobreseerá) and the respective costs shall be borne by each of them, unless they agree otherwise. In the case of offenses against honor, if the accused (querellado) retracts at the hearing or when answering the private complaint (querella), the case shall be dismissed (sobreseída) and the costs shall be borne by him. The retraction shall be published at the request of the private prosecutor (querellante), in the manner the court deems appropriate. Article record

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

PROCEEDING FOR THE APPLICATION OF SECURITY MEASURES

Applicability This proceeding shall be followed when there is evidentiary material from which it can reasonably be deduced that a security measure (medida de seguridad) should be applied, by virtue of the non-imputability (inimputabilidad) of the accused (acusado).

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

• a)When the accused (imputado) is incapable, he shall be represented for all purposes by his defense counsel in the procedural steps, except for acts of a personal nature.
• b)In the case provided for in the preceding subsection, the prior statement of the accused (imputado) shall not be required to file the accusation; but his defense counsel may state whatever he considers appropriate for the defense of his represented party.
• c)The proceeding provided for herein shall not be processed jointly with an ordinary one.
• d)The trial shall be held without the presence of the accused (imputado) when it is inconvenient due to his condition or for reasons of order and security.
• e)The rules referring to the abbreviated proceeding, nor those of the suspension of the proceeding on probation (suspensión del procedimiento a prueba), shall be applicable.

Ordinary proceeding When the court considers that the accused (acusado) is not non-imputable (inimputable), it shall order the application of the ordinary proceeding. Article record

PROCEEDING FOR JUDGING MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME POWERS

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 may be subjected to criminal proceedings, shall be governed by the common provisions, except those established in this Chapter.

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

Detention in flagrante 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 (Ministerio Público) carrying out the initial investigation. If the Legislative Assembly authorizes the deprivation of liberty, the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) must file the accusation within a period not exceeding twenty-four hours, otherwise he shall be released. Article record

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

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

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

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 (Sala Penal) of the Supreme Court of Justice, which is responsible for judging the persons referred to in this Title. That Chamber must rule, within twenty-four hours of receiving the file, whether to maintain the pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) or substitute it with any of the other precautionary measures (medidas cautelares). In any case, once the judging is authorized by the Legislative Assembly, the Criminal Chamber (Sala Penal) may decree any of the precautionary measures (medidas cautelares), if it deems it appropriate. Article record

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

For the holding of the debate (debate) and the issuance of the sentence, the common rules shall apply.

Against the decision, an appeal of the sentence (recurso de apelación de sentencia) shall be available in accordance with the rules provided for the ordinary criminal process, which shall be heard by the full bench (pleno) of the Supreme Court of Justice, after substitution of the magistrates (magistrados) who had intervened in the trial.

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

Conversion of the proceeding and joinder If, in the course of an investigation under the ordinary proceeding, it is determined that one of the accused (imputados) must be subject to preliminary hearing (antejuicio), the court hearing the matter shall forward the proceedings to the Attorney General (Fiscal General) to proceed in accordance with the provisions of the Political Constitution and this Title. When the act is attributed to several accused (imputados) and only some of them must be subject to preliminary hearing (antejuicio), the case must be separated so that it continues in the ordinary jurisdiction against those for whom the preliminary hearing (antejuicio) does not apply. A certified copy of the file (testimonio de piezas) shall be forwarded to the Attorney General (Fiscal General) against the remaining ones, so that he may proceed in accordance with the provisions of this Title. If the Legislative Assembly authorizes the continuation of the proceeding, the cases must be joined and shall be heard by the Criminal Chamber (Sala Penal). Article record

Nor shall it be applicable in contraventional (contravencional) matters, except when joinder with a criminal offense proceeding applies.

(By resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 16111 of November 2, 2016, this numeral was interpreted to mean that this Title does cover substitutes when they are effectively performing the substitution.)

PROCEEDING FOR JUDGING CONTRAVENTIONS

Conciliation hearing To judge contraventions (contravenciones), once the complaint or police report is received and when possible due to the existence of offended persons, the competent judicial authority shall convene the parties to a conciliation hearing (audiencia de conciliación) in which the pertinent efforts shall be made for them to reach an agreement. This hearing may be convened again to continue the conciliation process.

Effect of agreements When the parties have reached an agreement, they shall sign a document stating as such, with the commitments they have undertaken. The adjudicator shall homologate the agreements. Thirty calendar days from the signing of the agreement, the case shall be archived, with the character of res judicata (cosa juzgada), if no party has presented objections. Article record

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

Oral hearing The oral and public hearing shall begin with the reading of the charges. The accused (imputado) shall be heard immediately, 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 (fallo). When the accused (imputado) acknowledges the charge, without further procedure, the hearing shall be concluded and the ruling issued. The hearing may be extended for a period of no more than three days, on its own motion (de oficio) or at the request of the accused (imputado), to prepare the evidence. When the accused (imputado) does not appear voluntarily at the hearing, he may be made to appear by means of the public force, and if necessary, pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) shall be ordered until the hearing takes place, which shall be held immediately. Article record

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

Appeal The sentence issued in contraventional trials shall be appealable (apelable), by the accused (imputado) and the victim (víctima), before the court of the intermediate procedure (tribunal del procedimiento intermedio). Article record

PROCEEDING FOR THE REVIEW OF THE SENTENCE

Review (revisión) shall proceed against final (firmes) sentences and in favor of the convicted person or of someone upon whom a security and correction measure (medida de seguridad y corrección) 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 sentence.
• b)When the sentence was based on evidence whose falsity has been declared in a later final judgment.
• c)If the conviction has been pronounced as a consequence of malfeasance (prevaricato), bribery (cohecho), violence, or any other offense or fraudulent machination, the existence of which has been declared in a later final judgment, except when it concerns one of the cases provided for in the following subsection.
• d)When it is demonstrated that the sentence is illegitimate as a direct consequence of the introduction of illegal evidence or a serious breach of his 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 elements of evidence supervene or are discovered that alone or combined with those already examined in the process show that the fact did not exist, that the convicted person did not commit it, or that the act committed falls under a more favorable norm.
• f)When a later law declares that the act that was previously considered as such is not punishable or that it deserves a lesser penalty, or when the law that served as the basis for the conviction has been declared unconstitutional.

Review (revisión) shall proceed even in cases where the penalty or the security measure (medida de seguridad) has already been executed or is extinguished.

(Thus amended by Article 2 "Creation of the Appeal of the Sentence, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Rules of Orality in the Criminal Process," Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Legitimated subjects The following may promote review (revisión):

• a)The convicted person or the one upon whom a security and correction measure (medida de seguridad y corrección) has been applied; if incapable, his legal representatives.
• b)The spouse, the cohabitant (conviviente) with at least two years of common life, the 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 review (revisión), shall not paralyze the development of the process. In such case, the persons authorized to file it may appear in the proceedings; in their absence, the defense counsel shall continue with the representation of the deceased.

The review (revisión) shall be filed, in writing, before the Criminal Cassation Chamber (Sala de Casación Penal). It shall contain a concrete reference to the grounds on which it is based and the applicable legal provisions. The documentary evidence invoked shall be attached and, where applicable, the place or archive where it is located shall be indicated.

Likewise, the elements of evidence proving the invoked ground for review (revisión) must be offered. In the filing document, an attorney of their choosing must be designated. If this is not done, the court shall warn them (le prevendrá) without prejudice to appointing a public defender, if necessary.

(Thus amended by Article 2 "Creation of the Appeal of the Sentence, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Rules of Orality in the Criminal Process," Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

When the claim has been filed outside the hypotheses that authorize it or is manifestly unfounded, the court, on its own motion (de oficio), 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 (le prevendrá) to correct it, 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 resolve accordingly.

It shall not be admissible to raise, by way of review (revisión), matters that were already discussed and resolved through the appeal of the sentence (apelación de sentencia) or in cassation (casación).

(Thus amended by Article 2 "Creation of the Appeal of the Sentence, other Reforms to the Challenge Regime and Implementation of New Rules of Orality in the Criminal Process," Law No. 8837 of May 3, 2010)

Suspensive effect The filing of the review (revisión) shall not suspend the execution of the sentence. However, at any time during the proceeding, the court hearing the review (revisión) may suspend the execution of the appealed sentence and order the release of the sentenced person or substitute the imprisonment for another precautionary measure (medida cautelar). Article record

Once the review (revisión) 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 principal process. The victim (víctima) who can be located shall be notified of the existence of the proceeding. It shall warn them (Les prevendrá) that they must indicate the place or method for notifications and offer any evidence they deem pertinent.

(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)

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

If the commissioned judge (juez comisionado) deems it necessary, he shall order the reception of evidence for a better resolution (para mejor resolver).

When oral evidence has been received, the person who has received it must be a member 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 has requested it upon filing or responding to the review, or the court deems it necessary, the day and time shall be set for holding a public hearing, for the purpose of presenting oral arguments regarding their claims. The provisions governing the oral hearing in the appeal (recurso de apelación) shall apply, as pertinent. Article record

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 so requires or directly pronounce the judgment that corresponds in law.

No acquittal shall be ordered, nor shall the legal characterization or the penalty be varied, solely as a 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 provision "…in accordance with the parameters and scopes established in this judgment.")

Remand If a remand to a new trial is ordered, none of the judges who heard the prior trial may participate in it. In the remand trial, the provisions of the preceding article shall govern, and no sanction more severe than that set in the reviewed judgment may be imposed, nor may benefits granted by it be disregarded. Article record

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

• a)The release of the accused (imputado).
• b)The total or partial restitution of the sum of money paid as a fine, and the restitution of the amount covered as compensation, provided that the civil party (actor civil) has been summoned. When the return of the fine or its excess is ordered, the devaluation of the currency shall be calculated.
• c)The cessation of disqualification (inhabilitación) and accessory penalties (penas accesorias), as well as of the security and correction measure.
• d)The return of items subject to confiscation (comiso) that have not been destroyed. If appropriate, a new penalty shall be fixed or a new computation shall be performed.

An acquittal judgment shall order the cancellation of the conviction's entry in the record.

Civil reparation for judicial error When, as a result of the review of the proceeding, a judicial error is acknowledged, due to which the sentenced person served a penalty they should not have served, or one greater or more severe than that which corresponded to them, the court hearing the review may order, at the request of the interested party and charged to the State, the payment of compensation, provided that the latter did not contribute with intent (dolo) or fault (culpa) to producing the error. The judges who issued 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 lawful heirs. Article record

Publication of the judgment upholding 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 publication undertaken by the accused on their own account. Article record

Rejection and costs The rejection of a petition for review and the judgment confirming the previous rejection shall not prejudice the ability to file a new appeal for review (recurso de revisión), provided it is based on different grounds. The costs of a rejected appeal shall always be borne by the party who filed it. Article record (*)TITLE VIII (*)(This Title thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

This special proceeding, of an expedited nature, shall apply 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 proceeding shall omit the intermediate stage of the ordinary criminal procedure and shall be entirely oral.

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

In those cases where the punishable act meets the provisions of Article 236 of this Code, the criminal proceeding must, mandatorily, be the in-flagrancia track, from its initiation to its conclusion, within the time limits established in Articles 430 and 435 of this Code.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) (Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen the In-Flagrancia Courts to Guarantee the Timely Prosecution of Accused Persons, No. 10465 of April 10, 2024)

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

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

The prosecutor shall give immediate processing to the criminal proceeding, to determine if there is merit to initiate the investigation. For this purpose, they shall have the initial account provided by the police authority that intervened at the first moment, as well as all accompanying evidence. Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of the Restorative Justice Law, on their own initiative or at the request of a party, they shall verify the existence of admissibility requirements and inform the victim, the accused person, and their technical defense counsel about the possibility of processing the case through the application of the restorative justice procedure, in order to communicate the request to the Trial Court for referral of the case to the respective restorative justice office.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) (Thus amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

From the first moment upon acquiring the status of suspect, the prosecutor shall proceed to inform them that they may appoint a defense counsel of their confidence. In the event of refusal by the suspect or if their private defense counsel does not appear within a period of twenty-four hours, a public defender shall be appointed ex officio to assist them in the proceeding. Once the defense counsel for the accused person 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 regarding the accusation and the existing evidence.

The technical defense counsel or the public defense counsel, having verified the admissibility requirements, shall 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 states their agreement to refer the case, they shall communicate this to the Public Prosecutor's Office, in order to verify compliance with requirements, and communicate the request to the Trial Court for referral of the case to the respective restorative venue.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) (Thus amended by Article 47 of the Restorative Justice Law, No. 9582 of July 2, 2018)

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

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

The trial court, for any type of offense tried under this procedure, shall be constituted according to its competence, as provided by the Organic Law of the Judicial Branch, and shall have jurisdiction to resolve grounds of lack of jurisdiction, recusals, challenges (recusaciones), and nullities (nulidades). 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 are applicable, the court shall conduct the debate immediately, unless useful, necessary, and indispensable evidence offered by the parties must be gathered.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) (Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen the In-Flagrancia Courts to Guarantee the Timely Prosecution of Accused Persons, No. 10465 of April 10, 2024)

Upon receipt of the request from the prosecutor, the court shall immediately hold the hearing, which shall be oral and public. A digital video and audio record 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 brought against the accused, describing the facts and determining their legal characterization, as well as the offer of evidence. The defense may refer to the accusatory instrument and present 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 alleged act is defined as a criminal offense (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 working days for the corresponding processing. 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 homologated or the procedure established for in-flagrancia shall continue. At all times, the confidentiality of the information obtained in restorative justice shall be guaranteed.

In the event that the application of measures is not appropriate, is not proposed by the defense, or is not accepted by the Public Prosecutor's Office or the victim, as the case may be, or the court considers them inadmissible, the latter shall proceed to conduct the trial immediately and in that same hearing, unless useful, necessary, and indispensable evidence offered by the parties remains to be gathered. In this case, it must assess the admissibility and relevance of the evidence offered by the parties. In that same hearing, the court shall set the date and time for holding the oral and public trial, and shall summon the parties to appear for its realization.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) (Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen the In-Flagrancia 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 take place, where the accused shall be heard for their statement. Immediately, the testimonial evidence shall be received in the following manner: initially the statement of the victim (ofendido) and then the remaining evidence; subsequently, the documentary evidence shall be incorporated, and the parties may dispense with its reading. Finally, closing arguments shall be made by the prosecutor and then by the defense. Immediately, the court shall render judgment orally; if it considers it necessary, it shall retire to deliberate and then, after a reasonably short period, which may not exceed four hours, except for an exceptional cause that justifies it and is 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 hearing room, where it shall orally render the judgment in its entirety. The oral pronouncement of the resolution shall serve as notification for all parties, even if they do not appear.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

When the representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office considers the imposition of pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) or any other precautionary measure on the accused person to be appropriate, they may request it from the court from the beginning or at any other stage of the proceeding.

In the event that the court, in accordance with the parameters established in this Code, considers the prosecution's request proportional and reasonable, it shall establish the pertinent precautionary measure. Pretrial detention against the accused person may not exceed an ordinary period of fifteen working days, if all the evidence offered by the parties and admitted by the judge is available.

In the event that the parties offer useful, necessary, and indispensable evidence that must be gathered for the conduct of the trial, at the request of the prosecution, the court may extend the pretrial detention for an extraordinary period that may not exceed twenty-five working days, counted from the expiration of the ordinary period indicated in the preceding paragraph.

Once the extraordinary period of pretrial detention has expired without the debate having begun, the case must be remitted to the ordinary trial court, which shall resolve on the maintenance, modification, or cessation of the pretrial detention or any other precautionary measure, and so that it may conduct the oral and public trial, if the holding of the trial has already been ordered in the case.

When a longer period of pretrial detention must be requested, having exhausted the ordinary and extraordinary periods, as well as in cases where the expedited procedure is not applicable because the acts were not committed in flagrancia, pretrial detention shall proceed, if there is merit for it, according to the rules established in this Code. In such a case, as applicable, the criminal court or the ordinary trial court, if the holding of the trial has already been ordered, shall be responsible for resolving said request.

Upon the oral pronouncement of a conviction judgment, if the court deems it opportune, it shall extend the pretrial detention against the accused person for a maximum period of six months. When acquitted in the judgment, all precautionary measures imposed against them shall be lifted.

For anything not expressly indicated in this article, the remaining rules on pretrial detention established in this Code shall govern.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) (Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen the In-Flagrancia Courts to Guarantee the Timely Prosecution of Accused Persons, No. 10465 of April 10, 2024)

Against the judgment rendered orally, the appeals (recursos) shall proceed in accordance with the rules established in this Code.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

In the first phase of the hearing, the civil party (actor civil) and the private complainant (querellante) may also appear as parties, in which case the court shall order their oral presentation and grant the floor to the defense to state its position; subsequently it shall rule on their admission, and the proceeding shall continue. When appropriate, the person entitled to exercise the civil action for damages may delegate it to the Public Prosecutor's Office to represent them in the proceeding.

When it is appropriate to declare the civil action for damages admissible, the ruling shall be made in abstract, and the corresponding items shall be liquidated through the civil execution of judgment procedure.

The private complainant and the civil party shall assume the proceeding in the state in which it currently stands, so that suspensions of the debate motivated by the handling of other professional or personal commitments are not permitted. If the evidence offered by the civil party or the private complainant is incompatible with the objectives of celerity of the expedited proceeding, the court shall orally warn the proposing party, who shall state whether they dispense with it or request the application of the ordinary procedure, in which case the court shall order the procedures to be adapted accordingly.

The civil action shall not proceed in the expedited proceeding when there are third-party civil defendants who are neither present nor duly represented by legal counsel at the moment of the opening of the debate, without prejudice to the rights conferred by the civil jurisdiction.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

For all purposes, especially labor-related, it shall be understood that the victim and witnesses shall be entitled to leave with full pay from their employer, whether public or private, when they must attend judicial proceedings or appear upon judicial summons, and for the time necessary for that purpose. In order to prove 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.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

Through regulations, the location and schedules of the judges for the in-flagrancia cases established by this Law shall be defined.

The setting of the days and hours of public service for these judges must be established during nighttime hours, weekends, or holidays, for the better provision of the justice administration service, in such a way that the terms established in the present Law can be effectively fulfilled.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009)

When the application of the expedited procedure is appropriate, under no circumstances shall a period exceeding fifteen working days elapse between the initiation of the procedure and the holding of the first part of the hearing established by Article 428, by the court. If the holding of the trial is ordered, it shall be conducted immediately, when the evidence offered by the parties and admitted by the court has been gathered.

In the event that the parties offer useful, necessary, and indispensable evidence that has not been gathered, the time limit for initiating the debate may be extended for a maximum of twenty-five working days, counted from the expiration of the fifteen-working-day period indicated in the first paragraph.

Once the preceding time limits have expired without the debate having begun, the case must be remitted to the ordinary trial proceeding, without prejudice to disciplinary liability for the public official responsible for the delay.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) (Thus amended by the sole article of the Law to Strengthen the In-Flagrancia 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 be applied supplementarily, insofar as they are compatible with the swift nature of the expedited proceeding.

(Thus added by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) BOOK III APPEALS

GENERAL PROVISIONS (*)ARTICLE 437.- General rules Judicial resolutions shall be subject to appeal (recurribles) only by the means and in the cases expressly established.

The right to appeal shall belong only to whomever it is expressly granted. When the law does not distinguish among the various parties, the appeal may be filed by any of them.

(*)This article was interpreted by resolution of the Constitutional Chamber No. 2002-08591 of 14:59 hours on 09/04/2002. To the effect that said article is not unconstitutional, insofar as it is interpreted, in light of Article 41 of the Political Constitution and International Human Rights Law, in the sense that the appeal for cassation (recurso de casación) by the victim against an order suspending the proceeding subject to conditions also proceeds.

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 422 to the current 437)

Conditions for filing Appeals shall be filed under the conditions of time and form determined in this Code, with specific indication of the challenged points of the resolution.

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 423 to the current 438).

Grievance The parties may only challenge judicial decisions that cause them grievance (agravio), provided they have not contributed to causing it. The appeal must be based on reproach of the defects causing 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 participation, assistance, and representation are violated.

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 424 to the current 439)

Whoever has the right to appeal may adhere, within the period for summons (emplazamiento), to the appeal filed by any of the parties, provided they comply with the other formal requirements for filing.

Regarding the adhesion, the other parties shall be granted a hearing for a term of three days, before the proceedings are sent to the appellate court (tribunal de alzada).

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 425 to the current 440)

The victim or any person harmed by the act, when they are not constituted as parties, may submit a reasoned request to the Public Prosecutor's Office for it to file the pertinent appeals. The Public Prosecutor's Office must notify 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, or the cessation or modification of the precautionary measure adopted due to the risk 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 appeal, within a time limit equal to that held by the other parties, which shall begin to run from the communication by 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 Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009) (Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 426 to the current 441)

Appeal during hearings During hearings, only the motion for revocation (recurso de revocatoria) shall be admissible, which shall be resolved immediately, without suspending them.

The filing of the appeal implies the objection for the curing of the defect.

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 427 to the current 442)

Extensive effect When there are co-defendants (coimputados), the appeal filed by one of them shall also benefit the others, unless it is based on exclusively personal grounds.

The appeal by the civil defendant (demandado civil) shall also benefit the accused, insofar as it affects criminal liability.

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 428 to the current 443)

Suspensive effect The resolution shall not be executed during the time limit for appeal and while the appeal is being processed, except for a legal provision to the contrary.

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 429 to the current 444)

Withdrawal The Public Prosecutor's Office may withdraw its appeals, in a reasoned opinion, even if they were filed by a lower-ranking representative.

The parties may withdraw the appeals filed by them or their defenders, without prejudicing the other appellants or adherents, but shall bear the costs. To withdraw an appeal, the defender must have express mandate from the accused.

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 430 to the current 445)

Jurisdiction The appeal shall attribute to the appellate court knowledge of the proceeding, only regarding the points of the resolution to which the grievances refer.

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 431 to the current 446)

Prohibition of reform in prejudice When the resolution was only challenged by the accused or their defender, it may not be modified to their detriment.

Appeals filed by any of the parties shall allow modifying or revoking the resolution even in favor of the accused.

(Thus its numbering moved by Article 18 of the Law for the Protection of Victims, Witnesses, and Other Participants in the Criminal Proceeding, No. 8720 of March 4, 2009, which transferred it from former article 432 to the current 447)

Rectification Errors of law in the reasoning of the challenged judgment or resolution, which did not influence 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)

MOTION FOR REVOCATION (RECURSO DE REVOCATORIA)

Availability (Procedencia) The motion for revocation (recurso de revocatoria) shall be available only against procedural decrees (providencias) and orders (autos) that resolve a procedural step without formal substantiation (sustanciación), so that the same court that issued them may reexamine the question 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 (Trámite) Except in oral hearings, this motion shall be filed, in a substantiated writing, within the three days following notification. The court shall decide by order (auto), after a prior hearing (audiencia) 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 motion 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).

APPEAL (RECURSO DE APELACION)

Appealable Decisions (Resoluciones apelables) In addition to what is provided in the contraventional procedure (procedimiento contravencional) and in penal execution (ejecución penal), the appeal (recurso de apelación) shall be available only against decisions of the courts of the preparatory procedure (procedimiento preparatorio) and intermediate procedure (procedimiento intermedio), provided they are declared appealable, cause irreparable harm (gravamen irreparable), put an end to the action (acción), or make it impossible for it 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 lower court's (instancia) decision was issued. At that time, the appellant shall briefly indicate the grounds for the grievance (agravio).

The basis of the appeal shall be set forth before the appellate court (tribunal de apelación). When the appellate court (tribunal de alzada) has its seat in a different location, the party must designate a new place or method for receiving notifications, if necessary.

When the appellant attempts to introduce evidence on appeal (alzada), it shall be offered together with the filing of the appeal, and the appellant shall specifically indicate the fact sought to be proved.

In exceptional cases where the judicial decision was issued outside of a hearing or in writing, the appeal may be filed within the term of 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 (emplazará) the other parties so that within the period of three days they answer the appeal and, where appropriate, offer evidence.

If joinders (adhesiones) are filed during the summons, a copy shall be transmitted to the other parties so they may answer the joinder within the same period.

Thereafter, without further procedure and immediately, it shall forward the proceedings (actuaciones) to the appellate court (tribunal de alzada) for decision.

Only a copy of the pertinent proceedings shall be forwarded, or a special file (legajo) shall be formed so as not to delay the procedural step.

Exceptionally, the appellate court (tribunal de alzada) may request other copies or the original proceedings; this shall not imply the stay of the proceeding.

(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).

Once the proceedings (actuaciones) are received, the appellate court (tribunal de alzada), within the following three days, shall convene an oral hearing with the presence of the parties, decide the admissibility (admisibilidad) of the appeal and the appropriateness of the question 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 person who has offered evidence shall take it upon themselves to have it appear at the hearing. The clerk (secretario) shall assist the offeror by issuing the necessary subpoenas (citaciones) or orders, which they shall process. The court shall decide immediately in oral form, unless, due to the lateness of the hour or because a matter of complex processing is involved, 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)

Holding of the Hearing (Celebración de la audiencia) The hearing shall be held with the intervening parties who appear, and their attorneys may speak, without rebuttals (réplicas) being admitted.

Those who participate in the discussion may leave brief written notes on their report.

The accused (imputado) shall be represented by their defender (defensor), but may attend the hearing and, in that case, shall be given the floor last.

In the hearing, the court may question the appellants on the questions 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)

APPEAL OF JUDGMENT (RECURSO DE APELACIÓN DE SENTENCIA) (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 (fase de juicio) and that resolve criminal, civil, incidental aspects, and others that the law determines, 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 appeal of judgment (recurso de apelación de sentencia) shall allow a comprehensive review of the ruling (fallo), when the interested party alleges disagreement with the determination of facts, the incorporation and assessment of evidence, the legal reasoning (fundamentación jurídica), or the fixing of the penalty. The appellate court (tribunal de alzada) shall rule on the points that are expressly challenged, but shall declare, even of its own motion (de oficio), the absolute defects (defectos absolutos) and breaches of due process (quebrantos al 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 appeal of judgment (recurso de apelación de sentencia) shall be filed before the court that issued the decision, within the period of fifteen days from notification, by means of a writing or any other form of record (registro) authorized by regulation.

The appellant must state the grounds for their disagreement, the grievance (agravio) it causes them, and their claim (pretensión). 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 designate a new place or new method 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 (audiencia) to the interested parties for a term of five days, during which they must indicate a place or method for receiving notifications on appeal (alzada) and may also formulate joinders (adhesiones). If a joinder is filed, the court shall grant a new hearing to the other parties on this matter, for a term of five days. Once these periods have expired, it shall forward the record (autos) to the corresponding court of appeal of judgment (tribunal de apelación de sentencia).

(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 court of appeal of judgment (tribunal de apelación de sentencia) may declare the appeal inadmissible if it deems that the decision is not subject to appeal, that the appeal was filed untimely, or that the party lacks the right to appeal, in which case it shall so declare and return the proceedings (actuaciones) to the court of origin.

If the appeal is admissible, the court shall substantiate (sustanciará) it and rule on the merits, even if it deems there are defects in its drafting. If it considers that these defects absolutely prevent it from hearing the claim, it shall require 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, where appropriate, a public oral hearing, admit pertinent and useful evidence for the verification of the alleged grievances (agravios). Likewise, it shall order of its own motion (de oficio) the production of evidence it deems necessary for the same purposes. In this hearing, according to the points of disagreement of the parties, the acts prior and subsequent to the trial, the records of the acts performed during the trial, the records of the judgment, shall be reexamined, and the admitted evidence shall be evaluated. During this hearing, the appellant and the parties shall be given the opportunity to present and argue about the aspects of the appeal. In any case, the court that verifies a breach of a fundamental right of the involved parties may decree it of its own motion (de oficio).

(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 artí culo 447 al 462 actual)

If, upon filing the appeal of judgment, answering it, or joining it, any of the interested parties has offered evidence that must be received in oral form or considers it necessary to present their allegations orally, or when the court deems it useful, the court shall set an oral hearing within fifteen days of receiving the proceedings (actuaciones).

For holding the hearing and receiving evidence, the rules provided for in the appeal of the stages prior to trial shall apply.

(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)

For the purpose of the comprehensive review of the trial or the ruling (fallo) issued by the trial court (tribunal de juicio), through the appeal of judgment, 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 verifying a grievance (agravio). The same procedure shall be followed with respect to the statements of the accused (imputado).

In the case of testimonial evidence, the records of the trial or the evidence shall be examined and, if there is any doubt about the scope of the statements of a witness or expert (perito), by exception, it may directly receive their testimony or report in an oral, public, and adversarial hearing, in which the provisions governing the trial phase shall apply, to the extent 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 performed, when it contradicts what is stated in the proceedings (actuaciones), in the minutes (acta), in the records of the trial, or in the judgment itself.

The court shall accept as new only evidence offered at the proper time but arbitrarily rejected, evidence that appears novel after the judgment, and that which, although previously existing, the interested party was not effectively in a position to offer at the time.

The court of appeal of judgment may, in any case, avail itself of the documentation systems at its disposal, whether written minutes, audio recordings, or video recordings, to facilitate the review of what occurred in the trial court, avoiding unnecessary repetitions as much as possible.

When evidence is evaluated orally, the judges who received it must form part of the court (tribunal) 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 court of appeal of judgment 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 reasoned 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 together with the rest of the proceedings (actuaciones) and the evidence introduced in writing.

If the appellate court deems the appeal appropriate, it shall annul, in whole or in part, the challenged decision and order the repetition (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 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 accused (imputado) or in their favor, in the decision of the court of appeal of judgment or in the retrial (juicio de reenvío), a more severe sanction than that imposed in the annulled judgment may not be imposed, nor may the benefits that had been agreed upon therein be disregarded.

If, as a result of the decision on the appeal, the imprisonment of the accused must cease, the court of appeal of judgment 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 held by the same court that issued the judgment, but composed of different judges.

The appeal filed against the judgment of the retrial must be heard by the respective court of appeal of judgment, composed of judges different from those who ruled on the previous occasion. If it is not possible to compose it with new judges, because the impediment (impedimento) covers both sitting judges (titulares) and alternates (suplentes), or there is an insufficient number of alternates, the competence shall be assumed by the sitting judges that are necessary, notwithstanding the ground for disqualification (causal) and without disciplinary liability regarding 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 held 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 an appeal against the judgment of the Trial Court (Tribunal de Juicio) rendered in the retrial (juicio de reenvío) that reiterates the acquittal (absolución) of the accused person ordered in a previous 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 (costas).

(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)

CASSATION APPEAL (RECURSO DE CASACIÓN) (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 courts of appeal of judgment that 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 may be based on any of the following grounds:

• a)When the existence of contradictory precedents (precedentes) issued by the courts of appeal of judgment is alleged, or between these and precedents of the Criminal Cassation Chamber (Sala de Casación Penal).
• b)When the judgment disregards or erroneously applies a substantive or procedural legal precept.

For the purposes of subsection a) of this article, 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 disregarded or erroneously applied constitutes a procedural defect, for the appeal to be admissible, it must be directed against acts sanctioned with inadmissibility, expiration (caducidad), ineffectiveness (ineficacia), or nullity (nulidad), provided that the appellant timely claimed the correction of the defect or stated their intention to appeal in cassation. The provisions of Article 178 of this Code, referring to absolute defects (defectos absolutos), are excepted.

(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 shall be filed, under penalty of inadmissibility, before the court that issued the decision, within the period of fifteen days from notification, by means of a writing or any other record (registro) authorized by regulation. It must be duly substantiated, and shall clearly cite the legal provisions considered to have been disregarded or erroneously applied, or else, the mention and content of the precedents considered contradictory; in every case, it shall indicate the grievance (agravio) and the claim (pretensión).

Each ground must be indicated separately, with its arguments.Fuera de esta oportunidad no podrá aducirse otro motivo.

(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 appeal judgment shall grant a hearing (audiencia) to the interested parties for a term of five days, during which they must indicate the place or method for receiving notifications on appeal (alzada) and may also formulate joinders (adhesiones). If a joinder is filed, the court shall grant a new hearing to the remaining parties on this matter, for a term of five days. Once these periods have expired, it shall forward the expediente to the 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 Cassation Chamber shall declare the appeal inadmissible when the legal requirements for its filing are not met, as established in the preceding Article 469; furthermore, when the decision is not subject to appeal, the party lacks the right to appeal, when the appeal has the purpose of modifying the proven facts, or when the appeal is absolutely unfounded, in which case it shall so declare and return the proceedings (actuaciones) to the court of origin.

If the appeal is admissible, it shall be assigned to an instructing magistrate (magistrado instructor); the Chamber shall substantiate (sustanciará) it and rule on the grounds raised.

If the appeal is admissible and it is not deemed necessary to convene an oral hearing, the Chamber shall issue 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, answering it, or joining 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 (actuaciones). The same procedure shall be followed if the Chamber, of its own motion (de oficio), deems its realization necessary.

For holding the oral hearing, the rules provided for the appeal shall apply. The resolution of the case shall be issued immediately after the hearing is held, unless the complexity of the matter requires its postponement.

(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 the Court of Cassation (Sala de Casación) finds the appeal (recurso) for violation of procedural law to be admissible, it shall annul, in whole or in part, the challenged decision and order the repetition of the proceeding and decision by the sentence appeal court (tribunal de apelación de la sentencia). When the annulment is partial, the specific object of the new proceeding or decision shall be indicated.

In all other cases, the Court (Sala), upon allowing the appeal (recurso), shall remedy 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 (recurso) that entails comprehensive review of the trial and the sentence, the Court (Sala) may order the annulment of the debate (debate), the decisions that depend on it, and shall order its repetition by way of remittal to the trial court (tribunal de juicio).

For its decision-making, the Court (Sala) shall have at its disposal the recordings of the trial (juicio) and of the sentence appeal proceeding (procedimiento de apelación de sentencia). Evidence may only be offered when the appeal (recurso) is based on a procedural defect and the manner in which an act was carried out is disputed, as opposed to the recordings of the sentence appeal proceeding (procedimiento de apelación de la sentencia).

If, as a result of its decision on the appeal (recurso), the Court (Sala) considers that the accused's imprisonment must cease, it shall directly order his release.

(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)

When the cassation appeal (recurso de casación) has been filed only by the accused or in his favor, and when a sentence appeal (recurso de apelación de sentencia) has been filed only by the accused, or in his favor, the decision of the Court (Sala) or the retrial (juicio de reenvío) shall not impose a more severe sanction than that imposed in the annulled sentence, nor disregard the benefits that had been granted therein.

(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 retrial (juicio de reenvío) before the trial instance (instancia de juicio) or before the sentence appeal instance (instancia de apelación de sentencia) must be held by the same court that issued the annulled decision, but composed of different judges.

The cassation appeal (recurso de casación) filed against the sentence from the retrial (juicio de reenvío) of the appeal court (tribunal de apelación) must be heard by the Court of Cassation (Sala de Casación), composed of different magistrates from those who ruled on the previous occasion. If it is not possible to compose it with new magistrates, because the impediment covers both regular and substitute magistrates, or if there are not enough substitute magistrates, jurisdiction shall be assumed by the regular magistrates as necessary, notwithstanding the grounds for recusal and without disciplinary liability for them.

(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) BOOK IV ENFORCEMENT

CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Rights The convicted person may exercise, during the enforcement of the penalty, the rights and faculties granted to him by criminal, penitentiary laws and regulations, and shall raise before the corresponding court the observations that, based on those rules, he deems appropriate.

(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 452 al 467 actual) (Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 467 al 476)

Jurisdiction Judicial decisions shall be enforced, unless otherwise provided, by the court that issued them at first or sole instance.

The sentencing court (tribunal de sentencia) shall have jurisdiction to carry out the initial determination of the penalty or security measures (medidas de seguridad), as well as the conditions of their execution. Matters relating to subsequent determinations, extinction, substitution, or modification of those shall be the jurisdiction of the penalty enforcement court (tribunal de ejecución de la pena).

(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 453 al 468 actual) (Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 468 al 477)

Enforcement Incidents (Incidentes de ejecución) The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), the private prosecutor (querellante), the convicted person, and his defense counsel may raise, before the penalty enforcement court (tribunal de ejecución de la pena), incidents (incidentes) relating to the enforcement, substitution, modification, or extinction of the penalty or of the security measures (medidas de seguridad). These must be decided within five days, after hearing the other parties. If it is necessary to incorporate evidentiary elements, the court, even ex officio, shall order a summary investigation, after which it shall decide.

Incidents (incidentes) relating to early release and those in which, due to their importance, the court deems it necessary, shall be decided in an oral hearing, summoning the witnesses and experts who must inform during the debate (debate).

The court shall decide by reasoned order (auto fundado) and, against the decision, an appeal (recurso de apelación) lies before the sentencing court (tribunal de sentencia), the filing of which shall not suspend the enforcement of the penalty, unless this latter court so orders.

(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 454 al 469 actual) (Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 469 al 478)

Suspension of administrative measures During the processing of the incidents (incidentes), the penalty enforcement court (tribunal de ejecución de la pena) may order the provisional suspension of the penitentiary administration measures that are challenged in the proceeding.

(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 455 al 470 actual) (Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 470 al 479)

Defense The defense counsel's work shall culminate with the final judgment (sentencia firme), without prejudice to his 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 him.

The exercise of the defense during criminal enforcement shall consist of advising the convicted person, when required, for the filing of necessary actions to safeguard his rights.

It shall not be the duty of the defense to monitor compliance with the penalty.

(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 456 al 471 actual) (Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 471 al 480)

Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público) The penalty enforcement prosecutors (fiscales de ejecución de la pena) shall intervene in enforcement proceedings, ensuring respect for fundamental rights and the provisions of the sentence.

(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 457 al 472 actual) (Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 472 al 481)

Powers of the penalty enforcement judges (jueces de ejecución de la pena) The penalty enforcement judges (jueces de ejecución de la pena) shall control compliance with the penitentiary regime and respect for the constitutional and legal purposes of the penalty and of the security measures (medidas de seguridad). They may summon convicted persons or officials of the penitentiary system to appear before them, for monitoring and control purposes.

They shall be especially responsible for:

• a)Maintaining, substituting, modifying, or causing the cessation of the penalty and the security measures (medidas de seguridad), as well as the conditions of their enforcement.
• b)Visiting detention centers at least once every six months, for the purpose of verifying respect for the fundamental and penitentiary rights of inmates, and ordering the corrective measures they deem appropriate.
• c)Deciding, applying the procedure provided for enforcement incidents (incidentes de ejecución), on petitions or complaints that inmates make regarding the penitentiary regime and treatment insofar as they affect their rights.
• d)Deciding, by way of appeal, on claims made by inmates concerning disciplinary sanctions.
• e)Approving isolation sanctions exceeding forty-eight hours, in cells.

(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 458 al 473 actual) (Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 473 al 482)

PENALTIES AND SECURITY MEASURES

Enforceability The conviction must become final (firme) to give rise to its enforcement. Immediately after it becomes final (firme), the corresponding notifications and registrations shall be ordered.

If the sentenced person is at liberty, the necessary measures for his capture shall be ordered.

The court shall order the implementation of the necessary measures to fulfill the effects of the sentence.

(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 459 al 474 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 474 al 483)

Final computation The sentencing court (tribunal de sentencia) shall compute the penalty, and shall deduct from it the pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) and house arrest (arresto domiciliario) served by the convicted person, to determine precisely the date on which the sentence will end.

The computation shall always be reformable, even ex officio, 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 (tribunal de ejecución) and to the National Institute of Criminology (Instituto Nacional de Criminología).

Failure to comply with these provisions shall be considered a serious offense.

(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 460 al 475 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 475 al 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 (tribunal de ejecución de la pena) shall order, after the necessary medical reports, the hospitalization of the sick person in an appropriate facility and shall order the necessary measures to prevent escape.

The director of the penitentiary facility shall have equal 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 (prisión preventiva), in relation to the court hearing the case, and to the remaining penalties insofar as they are susceptible to being suspended due to illness.

The time of hospitalization shall be computed for the purposes of the penalty, provided the convicted person is deprived of liberty.

(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 461 al 476 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 476 al 485)

Deferred enforcement The penalty enforcement court (tribunal de ejecución de la pena) may suspend the enforcement of the 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 the deprivation of liberty endangers the life, health, or integrity of the mother, the fetus, or the child.
• b)If the convicted person is gravely ill and the enforcement of the penalty endangers his life, according to a medical opinion that shall be requested from the Department of Legal Medicine (Departamento de Medicina Legal).

When these conditions cease, the sentence shall continue to be enforced.

(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 462 al 477 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 477 al 486)

The penalty enforcement judge (juez de ejecución de la pena) may order house arrest with electronic monitoring (arresto domiciliario con monitoreo electrónico) 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 admission to prison, is a mother who is head of household of a minor son or daughter up to twelve years of age, or when the child or family member suffers from some type of duly proven disability or serious illness. This substitute may also be ordered provided the child was under her care and it is proven that there is no other person who can take care of them. In her 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 his personality and the nature and modality of the crime justify the substitution of imprisonment.
• 3)When the convicted person develops a physical, addiction-related, or psychiatric illness whose treatment, even if it can be followed in prison, is pertinent to carry out outside to ensure recovery, following the necessary medical and technical reports that justify the house arrest (arresto domiciliario).
• 4)When situations arise for the convicted person during the enforcement of the penalty that warrant safeguarding the principle of humanity, provided his personality and the nature and modality of the crime justify the substitution of imprisonment.

The judge may order the conditions that ensure compliance with the penalty, ordering his placement in the program defined by the Ministry of Justice and Peace (Ministerio de Justicia y Paz), in order to ensure compliance with the enforcement plan and technical attention, and compliance obligations. Likewise, the judge may grant the necessary permits for required medical check-ups, the occurrence of childbirth, or obligations acquired in relation to the care of minor children under his charge or persons with disabilities or dependents, ensuring permanent monitoring. These rules shall apply to pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) 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 admission to prison.

(Así adicionado por el artículo 10° de la ley N° 9271 del 30 de setiembre de 2014, "Mecanismos electrónicos de seguimiento en materia penal")

Security Measures (Medidas de seguridad) The rules established in this Chapter shall govern security measures (medidas de seguridad) insofar as they are applicable.

The court shall periodically examine the situation of the person subject to a measure. It shall set a period not exceeding six months between each examination, upon a report from the facility and from the experts. The decision shall concern the cessation or continuation of the measure and, in the latter case, may order the modification of the treatment.

When the judge becomes aware, through a substantiated report, that the causes that motivated the internment have disappeared, he shall proceed to its substitution or cancellation.

(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 463 al 478 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 478 al 487)

CIVIL ENFORCEMENT

Jurisdiction A sentence that orders restitution, compensation, or reparation of damages (daños y perjuicios), when it is not immediately enforced or cannot be enforced by a simple order of the court that issued it, shall be enforced by the interested party before the civil judge or the contentious-administrative judge, as applicable.

(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 464 al 479 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 479 al 488)

Forfeiture (Comiso) When the sentence orders the forfeiture (comiso) of an object, the court shall assign it the appropriate destination according to its nature, pursuant to the rules governing the matter. Where applicable, the instruments with which the crime was committed shall be sent to the Criminological Museum of the Supreme Court of Justice (Museo Criminológico de la Corte Suprema de Justicia).

(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 465 al 480 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 480 al 489)

Restitution and retention of seized items Seized items not subject to forfeiture (comiso), restitution, or attachment shall be returned to the person from whom they were seized, immediately after the sentence becomes final (firmeza). If they were delivered in provisional deposit, the depositary shall be notified of the definitive delivery.

Seized items owned by the convicted person may be retained as security for the costs of the proceedings and the pecuniary liability imposed.

(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 466 al 481 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 481 al 490)

Dispute If a dispute arises over the restitution or its form, it shall be ordered that the interested parties resort to the civil jurisdiction.

(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 467 al 482 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 482 al 491)

Sentence declaring instrumental falsity When a sentence declares a public instrument (instrumento público) 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 rectifications.

If the document has been removed from an archive, it shall be returned to it, with a marginal note on each page, and a copy of the sentence that established the total or partial falsity shall be attached.

If it concerns a notarized document (documento protocolizado), the declaration made in the sentence shall be noted in the margin of the original (matriz), on any certified copies (testimonios) that have been presented, and in the respective registry.

(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 468 al 483 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 483 al 492) FINAL PROVISIONS

Practical rules The Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) shall issue the practical rules necessary to apply this Code.

(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 469 al 484 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 484 al 493)

Repeals The Code of Criminal Procedure (Código de Procedimientos Penales), Law No. 5377, of October 19, 1973, and the laws that added to and amended it, are expressly repealed, as well as any provision that opposes or contradicts what is prescribed in this Code.

(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 470 al 485 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 485 al 494)

Amendments Articles 294 and 298 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Código de Procedimientos Penales), Law No. 5789, of September 1, 1975 (sic: should be understood as Law No. 5377 of October 19, 1973), are amended. The texts shall read:

"Article 294.- If the judge finds prima facie that the accused, in the event of conviction, will not be deprived of liberty for a time longer than the imprisonment already suffered, he shall order by order (auto) the cessation of incarceration and the immediate release of the accused.

Furthermore, in exceptional cases, the judge, by reasoned order (auto motivado), may revoke the pretrial detention (prisión preventiva) 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 (Ministerio Público)." "Article 298.- Release from custody shall not proceed:

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

2.- For a person who has been declared a fugitive (rebelde).

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 indications - equally serious - in the accused's background or in other elements of conviction, that he will continue his criminal activity." (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 471 al 486 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 486 al 495)

Entry into force This Code shall enter into force on January 1, 1998.

(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 472 al 487 actual.)

(Así corrida su numeración 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, que lo traspaso del antiguo artículo 487 al 496)

Application to pending proceedings Proceedings that, upon the entry into force of this law, have an order for trial (auto de elevación a juicio) or an extraordinary extension (prórroga extraordinaria), even if not final, shall continue to be processed in accordance with the previous Code.

In all other cases, this Code shall apply and the proceedings must be adapted in accordance with the new provisions.

Statute of limitations for pending cases The statute of limitations for the criminal action in pending cases before the courts, to which this Code will apply, shall begin to run from the entry into force of the latter. For cases that must continue their processing in accordance with the rules of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973 (Código de Procedimientos Penales de 1973), the provisions on the statute of limitations provided for in the Criminal Code of 1970 (Código Penal de 1970) shall govern.

Transitory powers of the Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) In addition to the powers already provided for by law, during the first two years of this Code's validity, the Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) may transfer officials from one judicial district (circunscripción) to another or from one office to another, open or close offices, assign additional workloads, reorganize offices, and redistribute the territorial jurisdiction of courts, provided this is indispensable for the better application of this Code.

TRANSITIONAL PROVISION V.- Temporal 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), which is carried out by means of 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 the month of April, nineteen ninety-six.

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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)

ACCIONES PROCESALES

ACCION PENAL

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

Plazo para solicitar criterios de oportunidad Los criterios de oportunidad podrán solicitarse hasta antes de que se formule la acusación del Ministerio Público. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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)

ACCION CIVIL

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

EXCEPCIONES

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. Ficha articulo LIBRO I JUSTICIA PENAL Y SUJETOS PROCESALES

JUSTICIA PENAL

COMPETENCIA

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

EXCUSAS Y RECUSACIONES

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. Ficha articulo

Recusación El Ministerio Público y las partes podrán recusar al juez, cuando estimen que concurre en él una causal por la cual debió excusarse. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

MINISTERIO PUBLICO Y POLICIA JUDICIAL

EL MINISTERIO PUBLICO

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

LA POLICIA JUDICIAL

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

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. Ficha articulo

LA VICTIMA

DERECHOS DE LA VICTIMA

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)

EL QUERELLANTE EN DELITOS DE ACCION PRIVADA

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. Ficha articulo

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.

EL QUERELLANTE EN DELITOS DE ACCION PUBLICA

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

EL IMPUTADO

NORMAS GENERALES

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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 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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

DECLARACION DEL IMPUTADO

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

Declaración sobre el hecho Cuando el imputado manifieste que desea declarar, se le invitará a 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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

DEFENSORES Y MANDATARIOS

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

PARTES CIVILES

ACTOR CIVIL

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

EL DEMANDADO CIVIL

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

Exclusión La exclusión del actor civil o el desistimiento de su acción, cesará la intervención del tercero civilmente demandado. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

AUXILIARES DE LAS PARTES

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. Ficha articulo

DEBERES DE LAS PARTES

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. Ficha articulo

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

FORMALIDADES

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, la traducción o la interpretación precederán a las respuestas. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

ACTAS

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

ACTOS Y RESOLUCIONES JUDICIALES

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

Fundamentación Las sentencias y los autos contendrán una fundamentación clara y precisa. En ella se 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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

Errores materiales Los tribunales podrán corregir, en cualquier momento, los errores puramente materiales contenidos en sus actuaciones o resoluciones. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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)

COMUNICACION ENTRE AUTORIDADES

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. Ficha articulo

• 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)")

NOTIFICACIONES Y CITACIONES

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

PLAZOS

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

CONTROL DE LA DURACION DEL PROCESO

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. Ficha articulo

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.

ACTIVIDAD PROCESAL DEFECTUOSA

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. Ficha articulo

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.

COMPROBACION INMEDIATA Y MEDIOS AUXILIARES

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

TESTIMONIOS

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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)

PERITOS

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

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. Ficha articulo

Ejecución del peritaje El director del procedimiento resolverá las cuestiones que se planteen durante las operaciones periciales. Los peritos practicarán el examen conjuntamente, cuando sea posible. Siempre que sea pertinente, las partes y sus consultores técnicos podrán presenciar la realización del peritaje y solicitar las aclaraciones que estimen convenientes; deberán retirarse cuando los peritos comiencen la deliberación. Si algún perito no cumple con su función, se procederá a sustituirlo. Ficha articulo

Dictamen pericial El dictamen pericial será fundado y contendrá, de manera clara y precisa, una relación detallada de las operaciones practicadas y de sus resultados, las observaciones de las partes o las de sus consultores técnicos y las conclusiones que se formulen respecto de cada tema estudiado. Los peritos podrán dictaminar por separado cuando exista diversidad de opiniones entre ellos. El dictamen se presentará por escrito, firmado y fechado, sin perjuicio del informe oral en las audiencias. Ficha articulo

Peritos nuevos Cuando los informes sean dudosos, insuficientes o contradictorios o cuando el tribunal o el Ministerio Público lo estimen necesario, de oficio o a petición de parte podrán nombrar a uno o más peritos nuevos, según la importancia del caso, para que examinen, amplíen o repitan el peritaje. Ficha articulo

Actividad complementaria del peritaje Podrá ordenarse la presentación o el secuestro de cosas o documentos, y la comparecencia de personas, si esto es necesario para efectuar las operaciones periciales. Ficha articulo

Cuando deban realizarse diferentes pruebas periciales, como las psicológicas y las médico legales, a personas menores de edad víctimas o a personas agredidas sexualmente o víctimas de agresión o violencia intrafamiliar, en un término máximo de ocho días, deberá integrarse un equipo interdisciplinario, con el fin de concentrar, en una misma sesión, las entrevistas que la víctima requiera, cuando ello no afecte la realización del peritaje. Deberá tenerse en cuenta el interés superior, en el caso de las personas menores de edad y, en todo caso, tratar de reducir o evitar siempre la revictimización. Antes de la entrevista, el equipo de profesionales deberá elaborar un protocolo de ella y designará, cuando lo estime conveniente, a uno de sus miembros, para que se encargue de plantear las preguntas.

Salvo que exista un impedimento insuperable, en la misma sesión deberá realizarse el examen físico de la víctima.

El Ministerio Público, la defensa del acusado y el querellante, podrán participar en la entrevista psicológica y psiquiátrica, siempre y cuando no se ponga en riesgo la seguridad, la vida o integridad física de la víctima o se afecte el resultado de la prueba. Para tales fines, podrá hacerse uso de cámaras especiales para evitar el contacto del menor o de la víctima con las partes. En ningún caso esta intervención permitirá a las partes interrumpir el curso de la pericia. Las partes podrán intervenir solo cuando se les indique y canalizarán sus observaciones por medio del perito respectivo, quien decidirá la forma de evacuarlas. En todo caso, dejará constancia de los requerimientos que se le hayan formulado y los anotará en sus conclusiones, al rendir la pericia. Para su intervención, las partes podrán auxiliarse de un consultor técnico, debidamente autorizado para participar, de conformidad con el artículo 126 de este Código.

(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)

Notificación Cuando no se haya notificado previamente la realización del peritaje, sus resultados deberán ser puestos en conocimiento del Ministerio Público y de las partes, por tres días, salvo que por ley se disponga un plazo diferente. Ficha articulo