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Spanish Criminal Procedure Act
Meaning and relationship to your legal situation.
What it means
The statute governing criminal investigation, parties’ rights, interim measures, trial, appeals and enforcement. It explains how cases proceed and must be read with the Criminal Code and other applicable legislation.
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Disclosure explanation. The linked standard allows you to consult the full text and its versions. Checked 3 November 2026.
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Concepts of this law
AcquittalCivil claim within criminal proceedingsPrivate prosecution by the victimPopular prosecutionPolice reportPreliminary hearingReasoned judicial orderReporting an offenceRight to a defenceRights of a detained personArrest and detentionPreliminary investigative proceedingsExemption from giving evidence against a relativeEntry and searchSecurity required in criminal proceedingsCriminal investigation stageInterception of communicationsTrial hearingTrial for minor offencesProvisional releaseInterim measuresProtection orderTime limit for the investigationPre-trial detentionAbbreviated criminal procedureEvidence taken in advance of trialFormal criminal complaintAppealAppeal on points of lawRequest for reconsideration by the same criminal judgeRequest for reconsiderationFinal judgmentWitness reporting information received from others