2024-08-31 14:03:31
This morning, President Gabriel Boric signed the law reforming the Penal Code, which, among other things, increases penalties for repeat offences.
President Gabriel Boric led this morning the ceremony in which he promulgated the reform to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, with which Penalties for repeat offences were increased.
The activity took place at the Manuel Rodríguez gymnasium in La Cisterna, where they also arrived the Ministers of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, and of Justice, Luis Cordero.
On this occasion, the president highlighted that “We are providing better tools for more efficient criminal prosecution, with special emphasis on punishing and preventing the recurrence of crimes.. This includes rules to speed up trials, expands detention in cases of organized crime, the penal system, judges, victims, witnesses, the prosecution and police officers,” the head of state explained.
Furthermore, President Boric stated on the occasion that “one of the things we are also working on is improve and be more efficient in the destruction of confiscated drugs. Changes to Law 20,000 so that the Gendarmerie and the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs can be recipients of drug proceeds or the goods we seize,” he said.
“This is being achieved with a The aim is to make it very clear that crime here is not free. To the gangs that intend to establish themselves and control territory We are going to tell them no and we are not going to give them space.“, the president said.
The law that reforms and increases penalties for recidivism
The reform promulgated by President Gabriel Boric seeks Improve criminal prosecution in cases of recidivism and other crimes of high social significance.
The Presidency stated that for this purpose the new regulations contemplate “More efficient criminal prosecution, including the expansion of special investigation techniques such as the interception and recording of communications to combat organized crime.”
In addition, it includes “rules that establish protective measures to provide greater security to all actors in the criminal justice system who intervene in cases of organized crime: prosecutors, judges, victims, witnesses and police officers“.
Also, “the deadline for banks to deliver the information requested by the Public Prosecutor’s Office is limited and regulates the taking of biological samples for genetic fingerprints of defendants in an irregular situationwith prior authorization from the court at the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.”
The most important reform to the Criminal Procedure Code
Meanwhile, when speaking, the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, stated that the promulgation of this law “will be fundamental in the fight against crime and, especially, in achieving a justice that people feel works better“.
“In that same spirit, We are working on the rest of the security agenda (and) there are several projects that are close to being approved, which have little processing left.“he said, and mentioned the initiatives to create the Ministry of Security, the State Intelligence System, and the Economic Intelligence System.
For his part, the Minister of Justice, Luis Cordero, stressed that the approved law seeks to “Increase penalties for first-time offenders and, secondly, for those who have repeated offences.“.
“It is the most important reform to the Criminal Procedure Code that has been made in Chilean legislation. since the Code was enacted,” said the Secretary of State.