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Analysis of Judgment No. 33580 of 2023: Evidence and Methods in Criminal Associations

Judgment No. 33580 of July 6, 2023, issued by the Court of Cassation, focuses on a crucial topic in criminal law: the possibility of deriving evidence of the existence of a criminal association from the commission of specific crimes and their execution methods. This decision provides important insights for professionals and scholars in the field, clarifying how jurisprudence can evaluate the existence of criminal syndicates.

The Legal Context

The Court established that in matters of criminal association, it is permissible for the judge to deduce evidence of the existence of the syndicate from the commission of crimes that fall under a common program. This implies that the medium crime, while autonomous with respect to end crimes, allows the judge to evaluate the overall operability of the criminal association. This approach is based on an integrated reading of the norms, particularly Article 416 of the Penal Code and Article 192 of the New Code of Criminal Procedure.

The Principle of the Judgment

Possibility of deriving evidence of the crime from the commission and execution methods of end crimes - Existence. In matters of criminal association, it is permitted for the judge, despite the autonomy of the medium crime in relation to end crimes, to deduce evidence of the existence of the criminal syndicate from the commission of crimes that fall under the common program and from their execution methods, given that, through them, the operability of the association is concretely manifested.

This principle highlights a fundamental concept: the connection between criminal actions and the underlying organization. In other words, the methods by which crimes are committed can reveal the existence of an organizational structure that coordinates illicit activities. It is an approach that reflects the evolution of criminal law towards greater attention to associative dynamics rather than merely identifying individual crimes.

Practical Implications of the Judgment

The implications of the judgment are manifold, both for legal operators and for individuals involved in criminal proceedings. Among the main consequences, we can list:

  • Strengthening of circumstantial evidence: the judge can use the execution methods of the crimes as elements of proof.
  • Increased responsibility for members of criminal associations: evidence of their participation can also be deduced from individual actions.
  • Possibility of applying stricter precautionary measures, given the consolidated evidence of the existence of a syndicate.

Conclusions

Judgment No. 33580 of 2023 represents an important step forward in understanding criminal associations and the methods by which the judge can reconstruct the existence of a criminal syndicate. It invites reflection on the importance of considering not only individual illicit acts but also the context and methods that characterize them. In an era where criminal organizations continuously evolve, it is essential that jurisprudence and doctrine respond with equal dynamism, thus ensuring more effective justice suited to contemporary challenges.