Already on November 13 of this year, the First Committee of the Senate approved in its first debate the reform bill, which seeks to reduce impunity, guarantee faster and more effective criminal justice that adjusts to the needs of citizens and ensure the rights of victims at all times.
The initiative is the product of a process of discussion and agreement with different sectors to achieve an article that proposes structural changes, through which the balance of the Oral Accusatory Penal System is restored, process times are reduced and the operation of the apparatus is optimized. judicial.
Support for reform
Now it is indeed known that Margarita Cabello, Attorney General of the Nation, has joined the voice of support for the justice reform project currently being processed in the Congress of the Republic.
The official highlighted that this initiative has the potential not only to transform the criminal justice system, but also to strengthen the pillars of the Rule of Law and guarantee more equitable and effective access to justice for Colombians.
For the lawyer, the challenge now is to “translate these promises into tangible realities, in a system that serves as an example of efficiency, respect for rights and commitment to justice.”
Changes without prejudice
cabello Blanco added that the country must be aware of the challenges involved in its implementation. “Rigorous control will be essential to guarantee that the mechanisms of reward justice and complete reparation fulfill their purpose without distorting the principles that support it.”
According to the official, this is the way to “avoid deviations or abuses that could undermine the transformative impact that this project aims to achieve.”
The attorney added that this bill, which was born from the Judicial Branch, is a decisive step towards the modernization of the criminal justice system in Colombia.
An agile justice
«With its focus on judicial and penitentiary decongestion, through the strengthening of tools such as reward justice, pre-agreements and comprehensive reparation. This initiative not only expedites the governance of justice, but also reaffirms the commitment to the rights of victims,” he stated.
The legal professional was positive, since this initiative will allow “access to prompt and effective reparation, which contributes to restoring citizen confidence in judicial institutions.”
Likewise,he indicated that the Attorney General’s Office values the stated purpose of restoring the balance and purposes of the adversarial system,promoting the timely issuance of judicial decisions and guaranteeing victims access to justice and comprehensive reparation,as it is aligned with the principles of a rational,proportional and necesary criminal policy.
Subsequently, he concluded that the control entity has assumed an active and proactive role, promoting the construction of a more fair, efficient and respectful penal system of basic rights. “In the last four years,we participated in more then 100 sessions of the technical Committee on Criminal Policy.”
They approved the project
in this sense, last November, the First Committee of the Senate approved in its first debate the reform bill that seeks to reduce impunity, guarantee faster and more effective criminal justice that adjusts to the needs of citizens and ensure the rights of victims at all times.
in turn, Senator Ariel Ávila, Green Alliance party, one of the speakers, stated that this reform seeks to shorten the passage through the judicial system, restore the balance and purposes of the adversarial system, and also stimulate the early and timely issuance of judicial decisions on early termination mechanisms.
“It seeks to guarantee the rights of victims to comprehensive reparation and justice. In the Colombian legal system more than 70% is a black figure, it is collapsed by 25% of the crimes that reach the system” and added, “our accusatory criminal system that began to govern since 2004, vrey similar to the North american model, is adversarial. and it is indeed based on negotiated justice and the logic of doing everything quickly so that citizens can be resolved quickly. We have had 67 reforms to date,” indicated the politician.
For his part, Senator German Blanco of the Conservative Party, stated that the country is demanding a major comprehensive reform of justice, “what is being presented is a reform to an article of reward justice, benefit justice, the negotiable one, do not sell it as a reform of justice as we are wrong, the reform is broader,” he indicated in his speech.
“We are confusing institutional capacity with social need. It still makes me sad that we benefit terrorists in Colombia, a country with the problems it has, the excuse cannot be that we then benefit those who come to justice and tell us about criminal activity related to terrorism,” added the politician.
To counteract overcrowding
Likewise, the Attorney General’s Office had already requested from the government of Huila and the mayors of Neiva, Pitalito, Garzón and La Plata a detailed report on the actions proposed in their respective advancement plans to counteract overcrowding in Police stations. and temporary detention centers in their jurisdictions.
This was requested by the Huila Regional Prosecutor’s Office of Instruction to the regional leaders, during a work table in which the penitentiary situation of the department was analyzed, after the attempted escape recorded in the temporary detention center located in the Alpina neighborhood of la commune six, in Neiva.
At the meeting, the control body also asked the leaders to indicate the resources allocated for the advancement or restructuring of the headquarters where people deprived of liberty remain, or failing that to buy or lease properties that allow their relocation.
In this sense, the Public Ministry asked the directors of the prisons of those municipalities to adopt the pertinent measures that allow them to receive those who are already sentenced and still remain in the police stations or transitional centers, since this measure would allow them to reduce overcrowding. that is currently recorded.
Panorama local
Now, at the local level, the Rivera prison is in an overcrowded situation. It currently houses 1,422 inmates, a figure that far exceeds its official capacity of 980. This overcrowding not only creates a tense surroundings, but also poses serious logistical challenges for the prison administration. The high population density makes control and supervision challenging, increasing the possibility of internal conflicts and the spread of diseases.
even though the overcrowding situation persists, a decrease in numbers has been observed. In particular, the detention center of the old Alpina warehouses, which has a capacity for 100 people, reports up to 400 PPL in the second quarter of the year.Though, currently this figure has been reduced to 256, which represents a meaningful improvement.
Both in the rivera prison and in the transitional centers of Neiva, infrastructure is a critical issue. The facilities, which in many cases are inadequate and obsolete, not only affect the inmates, but also the officials in charge of supervision and control. Currently, significant deficiencies have been identified in areas such as access to drinking water, food quality and sanitation facilities.
What changes will the proposed criminal justice reform bring to the Colombian legal system?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Legal Expert on Proposed Criminal Justice Reform in Colombia
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, and welcome to our segment where we discuss pivotal issues affecting society today. Joining us is Dr. Juan Perez, a legal expert and professor specializing in criminal justice reform. today, we’ll delve into the critical reform bill approved by the first Committee of the Senate on November 13th. Dr. Perez, thank you for being here.
Dr. Juan Perez: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss such an vital topic for colombia.
Editor: To set the stage, the reform bill aims to reduce impunity and enhance the efficiency of the criminal justice system. Can you briefly summarize the main objectives of this initiative?
Dr.Perez: Certainly. The primary objectives of this reform are to restore balance within the Oral Accusatory Penal System, streamline the judicial process, and ensure that the rights of victims are upheld consistently. This initiative comes from extensive discussions among various stakeholders to address the persistent inefficiencies and high levels of impunity in our system.
Editor: Margarita Cabello, the Attorney General of the Nation, has expressed strong support for this bill. She believes it could transform not only the criminal justice system but also bolster the Rule of Law in Colombia. What is your take on her claim?
Dr. Perez: I agree with her sentiments, as this reform has the potential to mark a notable shift in how justice is administered in Colombia. By focusing on rapid and effective judicial processes, we can enhance access to justice for all citizens, particularly victims of crime who have historically faced obstacles in seeking redress.
Editor: However, it’s also noted that implementing these changes will pose several challenges. What could be some of these challenges, and how can they be addressed?
Dr. Perez: One of the major challenges will be ensuring rigorous control over the new mechanisms introduced by the reform, particularly regarding reward justice and thorough reparations. the fear is that without proper oversight, these tools could be misused or distorted, leading to potential abuses that undermine the reform’s goals. A proactive approach, including regular audits and community engagement, will be essential in maintaining openness and accountability.
Editor: The bill also emphasizes decongesting the judiciary and penitentiary systems through tools like reward justice and comprehensive reparations.How significant are these measures in improving the overall justice landscape?
Dr.Perez: They are incredibly significant. For example, the current judicial system is plagued by delays and backlogs, leading to a sense of hopelessness among victims and a decreased public trust in legal institutions. By streamlining processes and offering alternatives like reward justice, we can promote a more agile response to criminal cases.This not only benefits victims but also reinforces a societal commitment to justice.
Editor: Senator Ariel Ávila highlighted the grim statistic that over 70% of cases in the Colombian legal system remain unresolved. How does this reform aim to tackle such an alarming issue?
Dr. Perez: The reform directly addresses this, aiming to shorten the duration of cases within the judicial system. By restoring balance and promoting timely judicial decisions, the legislation seeks to reduce the backlog and improve the effectiveness of our criminal proceedings. The proposed structure encourages early intervention, which is essential in addressing this ‘black figure’ of unreported or unresolved crimes.
Editor: Dr. Perez, as an expert, what are the key indicators you believe should be monitored to evaluate the success of this reform in the coming years?
Dr. Perez: That’s a very critically important question.Key indicators should include the reduction in case resolution times, increased conviction rates for serious crimes, and the number of victims receiving timely reparations.Additionally, monitoring public perception of the justice system and its efficiency will provide insight into whether citizens feel more empowered and confident in seeking justice.
Editor: Thank you, Dr.Perez, for your valuable insights on this vital reform bill and its implications for Colombia’s justice system. We look forward to seeing how this initiative unfolds in the legislative process and its eventual impact on society.
Dr. Perez: thank you for the opportunity to discuss this crucial topic. Let’s hope for positive changes ahead!