Measures Aimed at Reducing the Use of Pretrial Detention

162 Pages·2017·3.86 MB·English

OEA/Ser.L/V/II.163
Doc. 105
3 July 2017
Original: Spanish

INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Report on Measures Aimed at

Reducing the Use of Pretrial
Detention in the Americas

2017
www.iachr.org
OAS Cataloging-in -Publication Data
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Rapporteurship on the Rights of Persons
Deprived of Liberty.
Report on measures aimed at reducing the use of pretrial detention in the Americas.
p. ; cm. (OAS. Official records ; OEA/Ser.L/V/II)
ISBN 978-0-8270-6663-2
1. Preventive detention--America. 2. Prisoners--Civil rights--America. 3. Pre-trial
procedure--America. 4. Criminal procedure--America.
5. Detention of persons--America. 6. Human rights--America. I. Title. II. Series.

OEA/Ser.L/V/II.163 Doc. 105

Document published thanks to the financial support of the Spanish Fund for the OAS. The positions
herein expressed are those of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and do not reflect
the views of the Spanish Fund for the OAS.

.
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Members
Francisco José Eguiguren Praeli
Margarette May Macaulay
Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño
José de Jesús Orozco Henríquez
Paulo Vannuchi
James L. Cavallaro
Luis Ernesto Vargas Silva
Executive Secretary
Paulo Abrão
Assistant Executive Secretary

Elizabeth Abi-Mershed

The Commission acknowledges the special efforts of its Executive Secretariat in
producing this report, and in particular, Sofía Galván Puente, Human Rights Specialist.
Approved by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on July 3, 2017.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 11
CHAPTER 1 | INTRODUCTION
A. Background, Scope, and Purpose of the Report 21
21
B. Structure 27
C. Methodology 29
CHAPTER 2 | MAIN GAINS AND CHALLENGES: MORE THAN
THREE YEARS AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF THE
REPORT ON THE USE OF PRETRIAL DETENTION
IN THE AMERICAS
A. General Measures in Relation to S tate Policies 3355
37
1. Legislative Measures
a. Duration of Pretrial Detention 38
b. Imposition of Greater Requirements for Applying
Pretrial Detention 39
c. Establishment of Pretrial Services 40
45
d. Guilty Pleas or Abbreviated Trials 41
48
2. Administrative Measures
3. Judicial Measures
a. Relevant Gains in the Case-Law 49
B. Eradicating Pretrial Detention as Anticipated Punishment 56
b. Main Challenges to Judicial Officers 53
57

1. Expanding the Grounds for Imposing Pretrial Detention
2. Establishing Offenses Requiring Pretrial Detention
60
and Offenses with Greater Restrictions on the

Use of Non-Custodial Measures
C. Public Defender Service 63
63

1. General Considerations
66
2. Policy of Addressing the Situation of Persons Held
in Pretrial Detention as a Good Practice
CHAPTER 3 | ALTERNATIVES TO PRETRIAL DETENTION
A. General Considerations 7733
B. Gains and Challenges Applying Alternative Measures 75
75
78
1. Legislative, Administrative and Judicial Measures
80
2. Supervision of the Application of Alternative Measures
C. Types of Alternative Measures 81
3. Violation of the Terms of Non-Custodial Measures
81
1. Electronic Monitoring Mechanisms in Criminal Matters
a. Legislative and Administrative Measures 82
b. Main Challenges 84
i. Limited Application of Electronic Surveillance 84
ii. Obstacles to Accessing this Measure by Persons
Living in poverty or with Low Incomes 86
89
iii. Delays in the Implementation of the Measure 87
93
2. Restorative Justice Programs in Criminal Matters
3. Drug treatment Programs under Judicial Supervision
a. Advantages and Aspects of Concern 94
b. Practices of States 98
CHAPTER 4 | OTHER MEASURES AIMED AT REDUCING
THE USE OF PRETRIAL DETENTION
A. Periodic Review of the Situation of Persons in Pretri al Detention 110056
B. Measures to Ensure the Holding of Hearings 108
C. Prison Hearings 110
111

1. Bolivia’s “Judicial Days”
D. Preliminary Hearings to Determine whether Pretrial
Detention is in Order 113
114
audiencias de custódia 115
1. Legislative Reform
2. Custody Hearings ( ) in Brazil
a. General Considerations 115
b. Operation in Practice 117
c. Allegations of Torture or Ill-Treatment 119
CHAPTER 5 | WOMEN AND OTHER PERSONS BELONGING
TO GROUPS AT SPECIAL RISK
A. Women 112255
125
131
1. General Considerations
2. Practices of States
a. Respect and Guarantee of the Rights of Women
Deprived of Liberty 131
b. Gender Perspective in the Application of Alternatives
B. Special Content of the Differentiated Approach of Respect
to Pretrial Detention 132
and Assurance of the Rights of Persons Belonging
to Groups at Special Risk 135
CHAPTER 6 | CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. General Measures Related to Matters of State Policy 114435
B. Eradicating Pretrial Detention as Anticipated Punishment 148
C. Public Defense 149
D. Independence of Judicial Officers 150
E. Alternatives to Pretrial Detention 151
F. Electronic Monitoring Mechanisms in Criminal Matters 152
G. Restorative Justice Programs in the Context of Criminal Matters 153
H. Drug Treatment Programs under Judicial Supervision 154
I. Measures Related to Speedy Process and Correcting
the Procedural Delay 155
J. Pretrial Detention Hearings 156
K. Women and Other Persons Belonging to Groups at Special Risk 157
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY