Plea bargaining bill gets second reading

A BILL intended to streamline criminal proceedings and reduce prison overcrowding, was approved in a second reading in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Feb 8.

The vote was made article by article and, as anticipated  generated differences, particularly in the article related to plea bargains  between prosecutors and defendants.

The article allows for defendants to go free if they

cooperate with prosecutors in certain cases. It  was changed to avoid criticism of possible impunity.

The  third debate will be held Monday to give deputies time to review the changes that were made, said Assembly President Rubén De León.

The reforms were proposed in 2015. Their approval has been delayed since then due to diifernces within the political parties.