We invite you to read the letter to the editor written by our senior associate in the Criminal Law Group, David Segall, in which he referred to “debts in criminal proceedings” in connection with the start of operations of the Supra-Territorial Prosecutor’s Office in 2026.
Dear Editor:
The Supra-Territorial Prosecutor’s Office is expected to begin operations in March or April of next year. This is a new unit that will be responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases involving criminal or delinquent associations that require supra-territorial or transnational leadership.
This is certainly another step forward in the fight against crime and organized crime, but it should not be interpreted as a permanent and satisfactory solution to the problems our system faces when dealing with these types of cases (and many others).
Poor and inadequate police training, hearings that are repeatedly rescheduled, unduly delaying proceedings, and institutions that can take months or even a year to issue a report are problems that afflict the entire system, whether investigating the actions of a criminal association or a common crime (such as medical malpractice, for example).
This reveals that, in many cases, the problems afflicting the criminal justice system can be solved simply through better management. Increased resources and staffing will always be welcome, but there are practices that must be eliminated in order for us to see real improvement in the service that system operators provide to citizens.
Letter written by:
David Segall | Senior Associate Criminal Litigation Group | dsegall@az.cl
