The following factsheets explain what happens when a person is suspected of or accused of a crime which is dealt with by a trial in court. For information on minor offences like road traffic offences - which are usually dealt with by a fixed penalty like a fine – go to Factsheet 5. If you are the victim of a crime, you can find full information about your rights here. The rights of those suspected or accused are essentially set out in the Code of the Portuguese Criminal Process.
Find information per region
The following is a summary of the normal stages in a criminal process:
Details about all of these stages in the process and about your rights can be found in the factsheets. This information is not a substitute for legal advice and is intended to be for guidance only.
Please note that the European Commission has no role in criminal proceedings in Member States and cannot assist you if you have a complaint. Information is provided in these factsheets about how to complain and to whom.
2 – My rights during the investigation of a crime
3 – My rights during the trial
5 – Road traffic and other minor offences
Association of Portuguese Judges
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