The government of Javier Milei is advancing in the drafting of a new Penal Code that proposes a reconfiguration of the Argentine punitive system to 'end impunity'. The draft bill, which was seen by the Argentine News Agency (NA), was prepared with the intention of making changes to criminal legislation that would put an end to what it describes as 'a slap in the face to all of society'. In this sense, the initiative proposes to close the 'revolving door' that allows convicted individuals to 'keep committing crimes over and over again'. Among other modifications, the government proposal toughens penalties for a wide range of crimes, eliminates the statute of limitations in cases considered especially serious, and restricts the benefits that currently allow for reductions or mitigations of sentences. Toughening, imprescriptibility, restrictions: the main points. The draft bill proposes raising minimum and maximum sentences for a wide list of crimes. For possession for distribution, the penalty is set at '4 to 12 years in prison'. The chapter on theft incorporates specific figures for modalities such as 'motochorros' (motorcycle thieves), 'black widows', and the appropriation of electronic devices. The modifications, the text says, seek to highlight 'the relevance of the victim in the process'. 'Regardless of how much time has passed, the Justice system will be able to investigate and hold the author accountable', the text emphasizes. Mariano Cúneo Libarona. Photo: Damián Dopacio/NA. Effective prison and restrictions on benefits. The project raises minimum sentences so that the vast majority of crimes will involve effective imprisonment. The document states that the punishment for serious crimes 'cannot be conditioned by time, because it implies an act of injustice towards the victims'. They will not prescribe, among others, aggravated homicides, sexual abuses, grooming, production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, corruption of minors, human trafficking, extortionate kidnapping, terrorism and drug trafficking. In the latter case, the penalty would increase from 3–6 years to '3 to 12 years', with aggravating circumstances that raise the minimum to 4 years.
