Criminal
Common-law criminal procedure, with jury trial narrowed for murder
Criminal law rests on the Criminal Code and the Indictable Procedure Act against a common-law background. Belize abolished jury trial for murder in 2011 in response to witness intimidation, so murder is now tried by judge alone, a significant departure from Caribbean practice.
Key rules
- A detainee must be brought before a court within 48 hours under section 5 of the Constitution.
- Murder is tried by a judge sitting without a jury following the 2011 amendment to the Indictable Procedure Act.
- The Director of Public Prosecutions controls indictable prosecutions independently.
- The death penalty remains on the statute book for murder but has not been carried out since 1985.
- Bail for certain firearm and drug offences is restricted by statute and by the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act.
Governing law
- Criminal Code (Cap 101)Substantive offences and penalties.
- Indictable Procedure Act (Cap 96)Trial on indictment, judge-alone murder trial.
- Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act (Cap 102)Bail restrictions and special measures.
In practice
Bail restrictions for firearm offences are the dominant practical issue, and applications often go to the Supreme Court. Legal aid is limited, and the Belize Bar Association coordinates pro bono representation in capital and serious cases.