Criminal law in Spain

Spanish criminal law is mainly based on written offences and procedures. Conduct must fit a legal offence, called a delito, before a criminal penalty can be imposed. A criminal matter may begin through police information, a denuncia, a querella, or direct knowledge of an authority. A denuncia reports facts, while a querella is a more formal court filing through which the filer may participate as an accusing party. Police investigate and preserve evidence, public prosecutors promote legality and prosecution, and judges make judicial decisions. Investigating judges commonly supervise the pretrial judicial investigation, while the trial may be decided by another court. A person under investigation may be called an investigado. Later terms such as acusado reflect a different procedural stage, and none of these labels means that guilt has already been established. The accused has rights including legal assistance, information about the accusation, silence, defence, and the presumption of innocence. Interpretation must be available when needed for meaningful participation. Victims can report facts, provide evidence, receive information, request protection, and seek compensation within the legal framework. Specialized support is important in cases involving violence, children, trafficking, or sexual offences. Evidence may include witness accounts, documents, recordings, digital material, expert analysis, and physical objects. Its lawful collection, reliability, and connection to the alleged facts matter. Proceedings may end through dismissal, a trial judgment, or another legally permitted resolution. Conviction can bring penalties and may also require compensation for harm. Criminal matters can affect liberty, safety, reputation, residence, work, and family life. Anyone arrested, accused, or in immediate danger should obtain professional help without delay.