Deputies approve limits on pre-trial detention and trial duration

The Chamber of Deputies approved in first reading the bill to amend the Criminal Procedure Code, introducing key changes that seek to guarantee greater efficiency and equity in judicial processes. Among the most outstanding reforms is the establishment of a maximum period of four years for ordinary proceedings and five years for those considered complex.

With the new proposal, the aim is to avoid the unnecessary prolongation of cases in the courts, establishing that any delay caused by the defendants will not be taken into account within the time limit. This change responds to multiple claims about the excessive duration of trials and seeks to strengthen the right to a fair and timely process.

Another relevant point is the stricter regulation of pre-trial detention. The project establishes new limits for its application, attempting to reduce the prolonged use of this measure, which has been criticized for affecting defendants without a final conviction. The legislative piece will now go to a second reading to continue the process of final approval.