Final Report: Consultoría para diseñar una mesa de trabajo conjunta entre Poder Judicial y Ministerio Público y dos protocolos: a) De mejores prácticas para tribunales de sentencia, y b) De mejores prácticas para tribunales de segunda instancia penal

The project's objective was to enhance the correct handling of penal processes and the issuance of corresponding resolutions in a timely manner through good management and inter-institutional coordination rules. To achieve this objective, the project established three specific objectives: 1) to establish more efficient and effective communication channels between the Poder Judicial and the Ministerio Público to optimize the handling of penal cases, with a focus on corruption-related cases; 2) to draft protocols of best practices for sentencing courts and second-instance courts; and 3) to draft a joint work plan for the Poder Judicial and the Ministerio Público. A team of representatives from both institutions was created to facilitate communication and identify areas of common interest. The Ministerio Público designated representatives, including the Fiscal Adjunta Soledad Machuca, while the Poder Judicial designated representatives, including the Miembro del Tribunal de Apelaciones Gustavo Santander. The team conducted meetings to identify areas of concern and prioritize topics for discussion. Five thematic areas were identified: 1) judicial competence; 2) problems related to the act of imputation; 3) the application of precautionary measures; 4) the problem of recusals (both of judges and prosecutors); and 5) problems related to the handling of intermediate proceedings. Two plenary sessions were held to discuss these topics, with representatives from both institutions participating. The sessions aimed to establish guidelines for good practice and improve the handling of penal cases. In addition to the meetings with the team, the project also conducted interviews with judges and magistrates to gather information on the problems faced by the Tribunales de Sentencia and Tribunales de Apelación. The project aimed to identify areas for improvement and develop solutions. Based on the information gathered, the project drafted two protocols: one for oral trials and another for second-instance courts. The protocols propose guidelines for good practice and aim to improve the handling of penal cases. The project also developed an esbozo on the figures of "Comiso" and "Privación de Beneficios," which was considered useful by the team. The material provides an overview of the regulatory framework and contains a brief systematic description of the regulation of the matter in the Paraguayan penal order. The project's work aimed to improve the capabilities of the Poder Judicial and the Ministerio Público in Paraguay, enhancing the correct handling of penal processes and the issuance of corresponding resolutions in a timely manner. The project's outcomes are expected to contribute to the improvement of the justice system in Paraguay.