Criminal
Accusatorial system completed nationwide in 2016
Panama moved from an inquisitorial to an accusatorial oral process under the 2008 Criminal Procedure Code, rolled out by judicial district and completed in 2016. The Ministerio Público investigates and prosecutes; garantías judges supervise the investigation.
Key rules
- Detention must be reviewed by a garantías judge within 48 hours.
- Pre-trial detention is exceptional and capped at one year, extendable to three in complex cases.
- Plea agreements and alternative resolution are expressly available.
- Victims have standing as querellante and to seek reparation in the criminal process.
- The maximum prison term is 30 years, with no death penalty or life sentence.
Governing law
- Código Procesal Penal (Ley 63 de 2008)Accusatorial procedure.
- Código Penal (Ley 14 de 2007)Substantive offences.
In practice
Foreign nationals are entitled to consular notification and interpretation. The Instituto de Defensa Pública provides free defence, and duty counsel attends the first hearing.