Criminal Law Changes

Introduction:

In Uruguay, on 1 November 2017, a new criminal procedural code, expressed in Law No. 19.293, came into effect.

The law passed in December 2014, but because the changes it makes are so fundamental it has taken three years for the authorities to finally bring it into force.

There is widespread recognition the previous system had multiple failings. But at the same time, there are concerns the administrative and judicial authorities will not be able to implement all the changes proposed – at least in the short term.

Nevertheless, the government decided to go ahead.

Failures of the old system:

The failings of the old code were multiple, but the most important can be resumed as: