Fast Track Trial Spain. Fast Track Trial Lawyer Madrid

The fast-track trial, regulated by Law 38/2002, of October 24, is a key tool in the Spanish criminal system to resolve crimes in an agile and efficient manner. Designed for cases where the investigation is straightforward, this procedure seeks to avoid lengthy judicial delays and offer a quick solution for both the accused and the victims. If you need a criminal defense attorney in Madrid expert in fast-track trials, contact us.

What is a fast-track trial?

The fast-track trial is a criminal procedure designed to expedite certain cases, avoiding unnecessary delays. It is mainly regulated by articles 795 to 803 of the Criminal Procedure Act (LECrim). This procedure applies to crimes punishable with prison sentences of up to 5 years or those with alternative, combined or sole penalties that, in any case, do not exceed 10 years in duration, regardless of their nature or amount, such as:

• Assault.
• Coercion.
• Theft and robbery.
• Traffic safety crimes, such as driving under the influence of alcohol
• Domestic violence

Advantages and disadvantages of fast-track trials

The fast-track trial procedure offers both benefits and disadvantages, depending on the circumstances of the case and the particularities of the crime, as in cases of domestic violence.

Advantages of Fast-Track Trials

1. Resolution in less time: The fast-track trial allows closing the process in days or weeks, instead of extending for months or even years, as occurs in other criminal procedures. This benefits both the accused and the victims, by reducing the stress and uncertainty of the judicial process.
2. Sentence reduction in case of plea agreement: If the accused admits the facts and accepts the charges, they can benefit from a reduction of up to one third in the sentence. This incentive encourages agreements that further expedite the procedure and minimize legal consequences.
3. Lower emotional and economic cost. The brevity of the process avoids the emotional wear associated with lengthy judicial procedures. Additionally, it reduces costs related to legal defense and other expenses derived from longer procedures.
4. Streamlining of the judicial system. From a broader perspective, this procedure contributes to decongesting the courts, allowing resources to be allocated to cases with greater complexity.

Disadvantages of Fast-Track Trials

1. Time limitations for the defense: The greatest difficulty of this procedure lies in the limited time to prepare a complete defense. By concentrating all proceedings in a single day, it is comp