Criminal law in Spain

Clear English guides on criminal law in Spain, based on official Spanish law (BOE).

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Criminal law

What to Do If You Are Arrested in Spain: Your Rights

Being deprived of your liberty is one of the most stressful and disorienting situations anyone can experience in Spain, whether they are a national…

Criminal law

Denuncia vs Querella in Spain: Differences and When to Use Each

When a person is a victim of or witness to a crime in Spain, the first reaction is usually wanting to "report it". However, in the Spanish criminal…

Criminal law

How to File a Police Report in Spain: A Step-by-Step Guide

Finding yourself in a situation where you are a victim or a witness of a crime generates, in addition to obvious emotional stress, a sea of legal…

Criminal law

Minor Offences in Spain: What Are Delitos Leves?

The criminal justice system in Spain does not always reserve its courts for the most serious crimes we see in the news. On a day-to-day basis, the vast…

Criminal law

How to Clear Your Criminal Record in Spain: A Step-by-Step Guide

Having a criminal record in Spain is an invisible burden that can completely condition your personal, professional, and administrative life. From being…

Criminal law

Fast-Track Trial in Spain: How the Juicio Rápido Works

Being involved in criminal proceedings in Spain, whether as a victim or as an investigated party, is an extremely stressful situation that generates a…

Criminal law

Crime of Fraud in Spain: Elements, Penalties and Steps

In the digital age, scams and financial fraud have become highly sophisticated, turning into one of the main concerns for citizens and businesses in…

Criminal law

Theft vs. Robbery in Spain: Differences and Penalties

In daily life, it is very common to hear the terms "robbery" and "theft" used as if they were synonyms, referring interchangeably to the loss of…

Criminal law

Assault and Bodily Harm in Spain: Penalties and Compensation

The crime of bodily harm or assault (delito de lesiones) is one of the most recurring criminal offenses in Spanish courts, ranging from a simple…

Criminal law

Threats and Coercion: When Do They Become a Crime in Spain?

In daily life, personal, neighborly, or workplace tensions can escalate to the point of crossing the legal line. Expressions like "you're going to…

Criminal law

Defamation in Spain: How to Report Injurias and Calumnias

In the digital age, where social networks and instant messaging applications amplify any message in a matter of seconds, a person's honor has become…

Criminal law

Reporting Gender Violence in Spain: Process and Protection

Facing a situation of physical or psychological abuse is one of the most difficult and complex scenarios a person can experience. In Spain, the legal…

Criminal law

Drunk Driving in Spain: Criminal Offenses, Fines & Penalties

Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the most severely prosecuted offenses on Spanish roads. This is not only due to the obvious risk it…

Criminal law

Driving Without Points or a Licence in Spain: Penalties

In Spain, the freedom of movement behind the wheel is not an absolute right, but rather an administrative authorisation subject to compliance with…

Criminal law

Squatting in Spain: Trespassing vs. Usurpation in Spanish Law

The unauthorized occupation of real estate is one of the phenomena that generates the most social, political, and legal debate in Spain. In colloquial…

Criminal law

Restraining Orders in Spain: How They Work & Breach Penalties

The restraining order is one of the most severe and, at the same time, most recurring rights-restricting measures in the Spanish criminal justice…

Criminal law

Statute of Limitations for Crimes in Spain: Deadlines & Rules

Did you know that the passage of time can make it impossible for a serious crime to be prosecuted or punished in Spain? The statute of limitations for…

Criminal law

Suspended Prison Sentences in Spain: Rules and Requirements

Facing a prison sentence is one of the most distressing situations a person can experience. However, under the Spanish legal system, a conviction does…

Criminal law

Juvenile Criminal Liability in Spain: How the Law Works

When a minor commits a crime in Spain, the legal system's response is not found in the standard Criminal Code, but in a specialised system that…

Criminal law

Traffic Offenses in Spain: The Most Common Road Safety Crimes

Driving a motor vehicle in Spain is an everyday activity that, nevertheless, carries enormous legal responsibility. What many drivers do not know is…

Criminal law

Stalking in Spain: When Does Harassment Become a Crime?

Feeling watched, receiving constant phone calls in the early hours of the morning, or "coincidentally" bumping into the same person at the supermarket,…

Criminal law

Misappropriation in Spain: What It Is and How to Report It

Have you been lent a laptop for work and refuse to return it? Has a business partner kept the money from the company's cash register? Or perhaps you…

Criminal law

Tax Fraud in Spain: What Amount Triggers a Criminal Offence?

The boundary between a simple administrative infraction with the tax authority and a criminal offence that can lead to prison time is one of the most…

Criminal law

False Accusations in Spain: Penalties and Legal Defence

In Spain, the right to report a criminal offence is a fundamental pillar to guarantee safety and justice, but this right carries enormous…

Criminal law

Self-Defence in Spain: Legal Requirements to Avoid Liability

Self-defence is one of the most debated and, often, worst understood concepts in Spanish criminal law. There is a popular belief, heavily influenced by…

Criminal law

Police Report in Spain: What is an Atestado and its Value

Being involved in a traffic accident, witnessing a crime, or finding yourself under investigation in a criminal proceeding are complex situations that…

Criminal law

Criminal Plea Bargains in Spain: Admitting Guilt to Reduce Your Sentence

Facing criminal proceedings in Spain is one of the most stressful and complex situations a person can experience, whether they are a Spanish citizen or…

Criminal law

Hate Crimes in Spain: Definition, Penalties and How to Report

In a democratic and pluralistic society like Spain, coexistence is built on respect for human dignity and the fundamental rights of all individuals.…

Criminal law

Is It Legal to Record a Conversation as Evidence in Spain?

Who hasn't felt tempted at some point to press the record button on their mobile phone during a workplace dispute, a threat from a neighbour, or an…

Criminal law

Property Damage Crime in Spain: Laws, Penalties and Expats

Have you ever found your business lock jammed with silicone, your car keyed from bumper to bumper, or the facade of your home vandalised with graffiti?…

Criminal law

Breach of Sentence in Spain: Penalties & Legal Consequences

In the Spanish legal system, respect for rulings issued by judges and courts is a fundamental pillar to guarantee legal certainty and social peace.…

Criminal law

Private Prosecution in Spain: How to Join a Criminal Case

When a person is the victim of a crime in Spain, the emotional and financial impact can be devastating, leaving a deep sense of helplessness. Faced…