Supreme Court suggests time limits for prosecution

Santo Domingo.- The Supreme Court on Wednesday suggested amendments to the criminal procedural code (CPP) regarding the time limits of the proceedings and case files.

The high Court said it bases its suggestion on a thorough study of the draft of the CPP law, October 31, 2013, -written by senator Francis Vargas, and should be approved.

This communication points to the article regarding time limits to establish "the maximum duration of all process to three years from the prosecutor’s subpoena and the requirement to establish the opening of a trial."

It said the provision would apply "unless the measures to restrict the freedom of the accused have been rendered, circumstances in which the period established in this article shall be calculated from the day on which the measure has been complied with."

It also notes that this period can be extended by two years in the event of conviction, to allow the processing of the trial motions.

With regard to the case file, the bill states that the Justice Ministry will have to substantiate the modification of the file within six months, "and if it fails to do so after this period, it will be definitively filed."