Logo ECIJA

    Anything goes? The automatic admission of complaints and its consequences

    The article questions the current wording of art. 313 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which facilitates the initiation of criminal proceedings without sufficient filters. It proposes strengthening prerequisites, giving a more active role to the Public Prosecutor's Office and promoting alternatives such as mediation to avoid the instrumentalisation of criminal proceedings.

    This practice has serious consequences for the persons under investigation, as the admission of a complaint automatically implies the initiation of criminal proceedings.

    The current legislation, specifically Article 313 of the Criminal Procedure Act, is poorly drafted and gives judges limited scope to assess the admissibility of a complaint. Currently, it is enough that the facts can fit into a criminal type and that the court has jurisdiction, without any further filter on the plausibility or intentionality of the complaint.

    The article proposes revising the admissibility system, suggesting mechanisms such as:

    • Tightening of the prerequisites,
    • Prior assessment by the Public Prosecutor's Office,
    • Or the promotion of alternative mechanisms such as mediation or conciliation before filing a complaint.

    These measures seek to avoid the instrumentalisation of the criminal process and to protect both the people affected and the judicial system itself.

    Read the full article here.

    Related professionals

    Principal Associate

    Noelia Álvarez

    View profile

    LATEST FROM #ECIJA

    Articles
    29 June 2026
    Laura Fernández proposes freezing properties with clandestine airstrips; experts see both advantages and limitations

    A bill that would allow for the registration of properties where clandestine or unauthorised airstrips are in operation – used for illicit activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering – to be frozen.

    Read more
    Articles
    23 June 2026
    Public corruption and criminal liability: reflections on the judgment 418/2026 of the Supreme Court

    Judgment 418/2026 of the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court has consolidated as a historic resolution in exhaustively analyzing various criminal offenses linked to corruption in the exercise of public functions.

    Read more
    Articles
    26 May 2026
    Artificial intelligence and criminal liability of legal entities

    The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of criminal risks for companies and putting pressure on traditional compliance models.

    Read more
    Articles
    14 April 2026
    The reform of the Penal Code regarding multiple recidivism (Organic Law 1/2026): between necessity and an excessive punitive response

    The recent approval of Organic Law 1/2026 has once again placed the response of criminal law to recidivism in the forefront of legal and social debate.

    Read more
    Articles
    8 April 2026
    Criminal liability in the use of artificial intelligence and deepfakes

    The rapid expansion of digital technologies has profoundly transformed the ways we communicate, produce information, and construct social reality.

    Read more
    News
    13 January 2026
    ECIJA consolidates its position in the main transactions of the Spanish market in 2025

    ECIJA has consolidated its position as a leading firm in complex and high-impact transactions, playing a prominent role in one of the most significant deals of the year: the acquisition by Apollo Global Management of a stake in Atlético de Madrid.

    Read more
    Articles
    12 December 2025
    Compliance 360º: how to shield your company from criminal liability and corporate risks in the 21st century

    The evolution of criminal and technological risk requires compliance models that are real, operational and capable of proving their effectiveness before courts and regulators.

    Read more
    Articles
    6 November 2025
    An overview of the National Plan for the Fight against Corruption from July 2025

    The Plan strengthens the prevention, detection and punishment of corrupt practices with innovative measures in compliance, whistleblower protection and criminal process.

    Read more
    Articles
    30 July 2025
    Artificial Intelligence in Compliance Programmes: A Pathway to Exemption from Criminal Liability?

    AI offers innovative tools to optimise the detection and prevention of compliance risks, but its use does not automatically guarantee exemption from criminal liability.

    Read more