A constitutional amendment and penal reform in El Salvador, led by President Nayib Bukele's government, introduces life imprisonment for homicide, rape, and terrorist activities. As stated on Monday by Supreme Court magistrates before a legislative commission, these penalties also apply to minors. The head of the Criminal Chamber, Alejandro Quinteros, and the Administrative Chamber magistrate, José Galo, presented their assessments of the reforms. Quinteros noted that the reform addresses minors and allows for the possibility of a life sentence to be reviewed after 25 years to achieve 'controlled freedom.' He stated that this period is 'substantially shorter' than for adults and aligns with a 2019 observation from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The reform also stipulates that the life sentence will be reviewed every five years. In addition to the Juvenile Criminal Law, the package of reforms includes modifications to the Penal Code, the Law for a Life Free of Violence Against Women, and the Law against Acts of Terrorism.
