In what it considers an essential tool in the “tough hand” strategy against crime, the government confirmed that it will send the draft law to Congress in the coming days. Comprehensive reform of the penal codeA package that redefines sanctions, removes benefits, and stabilizes… New standards for serious crimes, from murder to corruption. The proposal presented by the Ministries of Security and Justice aims to tighten penalties and aims to enhance the effective implementation of sentences.
During the announcement, Minister Patricia Bullrich summed up the spirit of the initiative by saying: “Whoever makes it pays”noting that particularly violent crimes – such as child sexual assault – will become so Imprescriptible.
As detailed, with new scheme “82% of crimes lead to actual imprisonment.”This is in contrast to the current system, where if the sentence “does not exceed 3 years, the offender does not serve the sentence.”
The Ministry of Justice explained that the reform Increases the criminal minimum to prevent automatic release, It is a change that seeks to end the mitigating circumstances that allowed convicted people to regain their freedom quickly. It is also advertised There is no prescription for sexual assault and aggravated murderConsidering that these are crimes “The punishment cannot be time-bound, because it involves injustice to the victims.”
One of the most worrying points is the life imprisonment system: the draft removes any time limit and stipulates that in cases of aggravated murder, the punishment will be literally “lifelong”.
Corruption: tougher penalties
Bullrich also devoted a section of his presentation to crimes against public administration. According to him, “Corruption crimes will have serious penalties, very serious according to the crime committed, because if you are an official you have a greater responsibility, you have to take care of people’s money, you cannot steal it.”. He added that under the new scheme, “If the official does it, he will pay dearly.”.
The minister described the reform as a structural change after decades of partial amendments: “Laws are not changed every day, and Argentina has a penal code that contains a lot of amendments and corrections.” He stressed that with this initiative. “Criminals, rapists and murderers were the most fortunate. From now on, society as a whole and the victims became the most fortunate.”.
The end of the “revolving door”
It is another axis sought by the ruling party Emphasis on removing the so-called “revolving door.” Bullrich stressed that the reform is being left behind “Saffron doctrine” Which he blamed for the release of convicts who – he said – found society again in the street: he asserted that that would be the end “The revolving door idea”.
Among the specific changes, it was mentioned that Simple murderwhose current maximum sentence is 25 years, “Now it’s up to 30 years maximum.”. In it Aggravated murderThe list of aggravating circumstances is expanded and penalties are increased.
Regarding road accidents, the reform aims directly to: Reckless driving: Increasing the penalty from two years to six years. As Bullrich warned, “If you drive recklessly, or are looking at your cell phone or any other offense you commit while driving, you should consider recklessness first. You will be subject to a serious penalty.”. He also noted that this hardening responds to a historical demand for Pain mothers.
What does penal code reform cover?
The Ministry of Justice document sums this up The new penal code increases penalties for murder, aggravated robbery, drug trafficking, sexual assault, child pornography, and human trafficking. As it states No statute of limitations for particularly harmful crimes It reinforces the standard of effective imprisonment in the majority of cases.
Casa Rosada places the reform within a broader redesign of the penal system, which includes implementing the adversarial system and lowering the referral age. For the executive, it is about completing what they consider A “social mandate” linked to the fight against insecurity.
Minister of Justice, Sebastian AmerioThis message was reinforced when presenting the project: “Within the framework of the zero tolerance plan “In compliance with the key mandate that society has given us, which is to end insecurity, today we are taking a very important step by sending the new penal code to Congress.”
Repeat that fix Tougher penalties for serious crimeseliminates the prescription at its worst and ensures that 82% of crimes It has effective compliance. “With this reform, we end years of governments defending criminals. We stand up for the victims“, Detained.
The ruling party will now seek to align legislative support for progress with approval of the initiative in Congress, which must debate one of the biggest changes to the sanctions regime in decades.