Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law

Brief Description

Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law [Kriminālprocesa likums] were implemented in order to provide greater protection for victims of sexual violence, especially minors. For example, a sentenced person may not be subjected to conditional custodial sentences or conditional 37 release in certain cases, criminal proceedings for crimes against morality and sexual integrity are to be tried in a closed court session. The rules on the limitation period were reviewed, and in cases where a juvenile has suffered from a crime against morality and sexual integrity, female genital mutilation, human trafficking or coercion to commit abortion, legal proceedings can be commenced within 20 years (in some cases 30 years) from the moment the victim has reached legal age.

Since January 1, 2018, a regulation has been introduced that allows punishment of perpetrators of crime, if the crime has resulted as a psychiatric disorder or trauma of victim. Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law [Kriminālprocesa likums] have been introduced so that criminal proceedings for rape, sexual abuse and deliberate bodily injury can be initiated without an application from the person against whom the offence had been committed. The amended Criminal Procedure Law [Papildināts Kriminālprocesa likums] has been introduced, distinguishing
the category of "specially protected victim". This category includes minors, victims of sexual violence, victims of domestic violence or intimate partner violence, victims of trafficking, and some other groups of victims. In order to reduce repeated victimization of these victims, the Criminal Procedure Law [Kriminālprocesa likums] stipulates specific conditions. These include, for example, compulsory interrogation in a separate room or without the presence of other persons, additionally, the possibility of participating of a trustee person in all procedural activities,
interrogation by a person of the same sex, etc.