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Santiago Criminal Lawyers – Strategic Criminal Defense. YOUR FREEDOM, YOUR PRESTIGE, IS OUR JOB TO DEFEND.
Criminal lawyers in Santiago Specialized representation in crimes, hearings and defense before criminal courts in Santiago. Oral Trials, Simplified, Detention Control.
Criminal Lawyers in Santiago – Strategic and Urgent Criminal Defense
In Lex Juicios Lawyers, we have criminal lawyers in Santiago with experience in comprehensive technical defense before the criminal courts of the Metropolitan Region. Our work focuses on the effective protection of the rights of the accused from the first moment of the criminal investigation.
Criminal defense in Santiago requires immediate intervention in critical stages such as:
Stop controlFormalization hearingRequest and review of precautionary measuresAbbreviated procedureOral trial before the Oral Criminal Court
We act before the Guarantee Courts of Santiago, the Oral Criminal Court and the Court of Appeals, developing personalized criminal defense strategies in accordance with the Chilean Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure.
If you have been detained, summoned to testify or investigated by the Public Prosecutor's Office, it is essential to have urgent criminal advice to avoid decisions that could harm your procedural situation.
Criminal Defense in Santiago – Strategic Representation
In Lex Juicios Lawyers We practice specialized criminal defense in Santiago, representing defendants and plaintiffs before:
- Guarantee Courts
- Oral Criminal Court
- Court of Appeals
Criminal defense requires strategy from the investigation stage directed by the Public Prosecutor's Office to the oral trial, in accordance with the Chilean Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.
Our team intervenes in detention control, formalization, review of precautionary measures, abbreviated procedures and oral trial.
IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Call now, confidential attention, and personal at home.
Importance of having a criminal lawyer from the beginning
In the Chilean criminal procedural system, the first actions are decisive. A statement without legal advice, a poor strategy in detention control or a deficient request for review of precautionary measures can affect the entire development of the process. criminal lawyers Santiago
Criminal defense in Santiago must begin from the investigative stage, guaranteeing respect for due process, the right to remain silent and the principle of presumption of innocence.
PRINCIPLES OF CHILEAN CRIMINAL LAW
Hiring a criminal trial lawyer with experience for more than 17 years is not the same as trying your luck with your freedom.
Principles that govern Criminal Law in Chile
Chilean Criminal Law is structured on fundamental principles such as:
Principle of legalityTypicality principleGuilt principlePresumption of innocenceDue processProportionality of sentence
The correct application of these principles is essential in any criminal defense.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRIME AND MISCONDUCT
Difference between crime and misdemeanor in Chile
In the Chilean legal system, crimes are classified according to their severity into crimes, simple crimes and misdemeanors, in accordance with the penalties established in the Penal Code. The legal classification directly influences the precautionary measures and the eventual applicable penalty.
ROLE OF THE PUBLIC MINISTRY AND DEFENSE
Role of the Public Ministry in the criminal process
The Public Ministry directs the criminal investigation and exercises public criminal action. Faced with this, the criminal defense must counter the accusation through evidentiary analysis, questioning the legality of proceedings and presenting exculpatory evidence.
Advice on Criminal Tax Crime Immediate attention anywhere in Chile.
In criminal matters, every decision made in the first hours is relevant. An early technical defense makes it possible to protect fundamental rights and avoid disproportionate precautionary measures.
Request confidential legal guidance through our communication channels.
Relevant news from the Criminal judiciary.
Arica Guarantee Court orders the preventive detention of those accused of kidnapping in Cerro Chuño
February 14, 2026
In the formalization hearing (case role 889-2026), Judge Paulina Zúñiga Lira considered that the freedom of the accused constitutes a danger to the security of society and the victim.
The Guarantee Court of Arica decreed today – Saturday, February 14 – the precautionary measure of preventive detention of Maira Alejandra Montenegro Rivas and David José Correa Amaya, accused by the Public Ministry as perpetrators of the completed crime of kidnapping. Crime committed last month in the city.
In the formalization hearing (case role 889-2026), Judge Paulina Zúñiga Lira ordered the entry of Correa Amaya to the Acha Penitentiary Complex and Montenegro Rivas to the Women's Complex of the city because she considered that the freedom of the accused constitutes a danger to the security of society and the victim. In addition, the investigation period was set at 70 days.
According to the pursuing entity, at 3:30 p.m. on January 19, 2026, the victim was returning from work through passage 8 of the Cerro Chuño sector, where two vehicles approached, from which two unidentified subjects got out, grabbed him by the neck and forced him to get into one of the cars while they pointed a gun at him.
He was taken a few meters along the same passage until he reached a house inhabited by the accused, who provided the property for the victim's detention. Inside, David Correa tied his hands with plastic ties and took him to a room, where they sat him on a bench and threatened him with a gun.
The accused Maira Montenegro repeatedly commented to him that “knowing too much is bad.” After a few minutes and in the face of the captors' carelessness, the victim managed to break the plastic ties, he threw himself at the accused, using her as a protective shield to leave the house, he released her and ran until he asked the Carabineros for help.
(Author of the news Judiciary Power)
Principles of Criminal Law in ChileThe Chilean criminal system is governed by constitutional and legal principles that guarantee a fair and rational process.
1.- Principle of Legality
No one can be punished for an act that is not expressly classified as a crime in the law in force at the time of its commission (art. 19 No. 3 Constitution and Penal Code).
2.- Presumption of Innocence
Every person is presumed innocent until there is a final conviction issued by a competent court.
3.- Due Process
It includes the right to defense, contradiction of evidence, impartial judge and reasonable time.
4.- Proportionality
Precautionary measures and sanctions must be proportional to the seriousness of the fact investigated.
5.- Personal Criminal Responsibility
There is no criminal responsibility for acts of others.
Lex trials Criminal lawyers in Santaigo,
Stages of Chilean Criminal Procedure
The criminal process takes place in clearly differentiated phases:
Research
Directed by the Public Ministry. Background information, statements, expert opinions and evidence are collected.
Formalization
Act by which the prosecutor officially informs the accused that an investigation is being carried out against him.
Oral trial preparation hearing
Controversial facts, admitted evidence are established and the process is refined.
Oral Trial
Public instance where evidence is given before an oral criminal court.
Sentence
The court acquits or condemns, determining the penalty if appropriate.
Mining Criminal Law and Executive Liability
The mining sector in Chile operates under strict regulatory and safety standards. A serious accident, an environmental complaint or a labor dispute can quickly lead to:
Public Ministry investigationFormalization of managers or headsSuspension of workCriminal liability of the companyImpact on contracts and tenders
We intervene from the initial stage, designing a comprehensive defense that protects both the company and its representatives.
Law 20,393 and Criminal Liability of the Legal Entity
Law 20,393 establishes the criminal liability of companies for crimes committed for their benefit by managers or workers.
Today, this regulation includes crimes such as:
BriberyMoney launderingReceptionEnvironmental crimesEconomic crimesTerrorist financing
An indictment under this law may involve:
Millionaire finesProhibition of contracting with the StateLoss of tax benefitsDissolution of the legal entity
At Lex Juicios Lawyers we develop:
1. -Crime Prevention Models (MPD) 2.- Preventive criminal audits 3.- Defense in investigation and oral trial 4.- Strategic advice for boards of directors
Senior Management Criminal Defense
The formalization of a manager or director directly impacts:
Stock market valueRelationship with investorsAccess to financingMarket confidence
We provide personalized, discreet and strategic defense, understanding that in these cases the reputational damage can be as serious as the eventual criminal sanction.
BUSINESS CRIMINAL LAWYERS High Complexity in Santiago – Attention throughout Chile
Prevention and Compliance
- Strategic compliance
- Models Law 20,393
- Internal investigations
We do not litigate small problems. We intervene when a criminal investigation or a regulatory conflict threatens the continuity of the company or the freedom of its directors and its board of directors, owner, or investment partner.
In highly demanding corporate environments—mining, complex corporate structures, relevant financial operations—criminal risk does not arise in isolation. It arises from decisions, omissions, technical contingencies and internal conflicts that can quickly escalate to formal investigations.
At Lex Juicios we intervene when the risk is real.
We design corporate criminal defense strategies that combine:
Legal technical analysisRegulatory Exposure AssessmentStrategic crisis managementReputational and asset protection
Our practice focuses on:
Mining criminalEconomic and financial crimesCriminal liability of the legal entityCorporate conflicts with criminal implicationsCompliance and strategic prevention
We don't improvise. We intervene with planning.
When a criminal investigation threatens the stability of a company or the freedom of its executives, the right strategy makes the difference.
Confidentiality and Discretion
Confidentiality is not a formality. It is a structural principle.
We operate under strict professional confidentiality protocols, limitation of public exposure and strategic management of sensitive information.
Discretion is part of the defense.
Economic Crimes Law
The new regulatory framework regarding economic crimes has significantly raised the standards of responsibility for directors and legal entities.
Criminal exposure is no longer exceptional. It is a structural variable of modern corporate governance.
Our intervention is aimed at anticipating scenarios, containing risks and structuring solid technical defenses from the earliest stages.
Representation before Authorities
We represent companies and executives before:
Public MinistryCriminal CourtsSupervisory bodiesBoards and internal committees
We act with technical solvency, business judgment and long-term strategic vision.
Crimes against people
InjuriesThreatsDomestic violencesexual crimesImmediate freedom
LEX TRIAL · LAWYERS · CRIMINALISTS
Strategic Criminal Defense
IN SANTIAGO - CHILE
Strategic Criminal Defense Management
Urgent Criminal Matter:
Attention under strict professional secrecy. Criminal Lawyers Lex Juicios Santiago.
Property Crimes
- Thefts
- Thefts
- Scams
Economic and Special Crimes legal entity companies.
- Economic crimes Law 21,595
- Tax crimes
- Drunk driving
Criminal lawyers experts in criminal defense economic crimes, scams, sexual crimes.
Criminal Lawyers in Santiago, experts in criminal defense for economic crimes, legal entities, companies.
Precautionary Measures
Preventive detentionHouse arrestMonthly signatureStop control
Precautionary Measures in Criminal Law
In a criminal proceeding the court may order personal precautionary measures such as:
- Total or night house arrest
- National roots
- Prohibition of approach
The imposition of these measures requires sufficient background information and must comply with the principle of proportionality.
Do you need immediate criminal defense in Santiago?
Early counseling can make the difference between an acquittal and a conviction.
Contact us for confidential legal evaluation. Lex Juicios Criminal Lawyers in Santiago, has a lawyer with more than 17 years of experience in criminal matters, he is a former Public Criminal Defender with more than 1900 demonstrable cases heard in different courts in the country. In criminal matters, he is an authority on criminal law, more than 700 cases in I. Court of Appeals. Lex Juicios Lawyers brings together the best professional lawyers so that you have the best specialty defense without having to improvise. Your freedom, your prestige, it is our job to defend.
Economic Crimes in Chile – Specialized Criminal Defense.
Economic crimes have acquired special relevance after the entry into force of Law No. 21,595 on economic crimes and attacks against the environment. This regulation classifies crimes into different categories and establishes a special regime of criminal liability for legal entities.
In terms of economic criminal defense in Santiago, it is essential to analyze:
Objective and subjective elements of the criminal typeExistence of fraud or guiltCriminal participation (author, accomplice or accessory)Criminal liability of the companyCompliance programs
Among the most relevant economic crimes are:
unfair administrationMisappropriationScam and fraudTax crimesMoney laundering
The economic criminal defense strategy requires accounting review, financial expertise and in-depth technical analysis.
Precautionary Measures in the Criminal Process
Personal precautionary measures seek to ensure the success of the investigation and the appearance of the accused in the process.
Among the most frequent are:
Preventive detention
It is appropriate when there are antecedents that justify the existence of the crime and the participation of the accused, in addition to danger to society, the victim or risk of flight.
House arrest
It can be total or nocturnal and constitutes a less burdensome measure than preventive detention.
Monthly signature
Obliges the accused to appear periodically before the authority.
National roots
Prevents leaving the country during the investigation.
Prohibition of approach
Frequent in cases of domestic violence or sexual crimes.
The criminal defense must request a review of precautionary measures when the assumptions that justified them disappear.
Legal Development of Main Crimes
Injuries
Regulated in articles 395 and following of the Penal Code. The rating depends on the severity of the bodily injury and can vary between minor, less serious or serious injuries.
Domestic Violence
Regulated by Law 20,066. It can coexist with crimes of injuries, threats or habitual abuse.
Scam
Typed in article 468 of the Penal Code. It requires sufficient deception to cause financial damage.
Theft
It consists of the appropriation of someone else's property without violence or intimidation.
Theft
Includes violence or intimidation against people.
sexual crimes
They include sexual abuse, rape and other crimes regulated in the Penal Code, with especially heavy penalties.
What happens if I am formalized for an economic crime? Formalization implies that the Public Prosecutor's Office has gathered sufficient information to attribute participation in a criminal act. In economic crimes, the defense must analyze accounting documentation, contracts and possible administrative errors that exclude fraud.
When is preventive detention appropriate?
It is appropriate when legal requirements are met: existence of the crime, participation of the accused and need for caution due to danger to society or risk of flight.
Can criminal records be expunged?
Yes, once the sentence has been served and the legal deadlines have elapsed, deletion can be requested in accordance with current regulations.
Consult about criminal prescription with Lex Juicios Criminal Lawyers in Santiago.
TOP of Arica sentences the author of attempted robbery and mistreatment of police officers to 5 years and one day and 4 years in prison
February 13, 2026
Once the ruling is enforceable, the court ordered that biological samples be taken from the convicted person to determine their genetic fingerprint and incorporation into the national DNA registry of convicted persons. Likewise, the confiscation of the effects of the crime of attempted robbery was ordered.
The Oral Criminal Trial Court of Arica sentenced Brandon Camilo Hernández Mesa today – Friday, February 13 – to the effective punishment of 5 years and one day in prison, plus the legal accessories of absolute perpetual disqualification for public positions and offices and political rights and absolute disqualification for tenured professions for the duration of the sentence, as the author of the attempted crime of robbery with intimidation. Illegal acts perpetrated in October 2024, in the city.
In a divided ruling (case role 6-2026), the court – made up of judges Jairo Martínez Cuadra (president), Sara Pizarro Grandón (editor) and Luis Jorquera Pinto – also sentenced Hernández Mesa to 4 years of effective confinement and accessories of perpetual absolute disqualification for political rights and absolute disqualification for public positions and offices during the time of the sentence, as the perpetrator of the consummated crime of mistreatment of police officers.
In the case, the court acquitted Hernández Mesa due to lack of evidence of the prosecutor's accusation that attributed him responsibility for the crime of carrying a knife.
Public source: extracted from the judiciary
CHILE CORPORATE CRIMINAL DEFENSE.
Strategic protection for highly complex companies
In Lex Juicios Lawyers We provide specialized criminal defense for companies, directors, managers and executives operating in regulated and high-risk industries, especially in the mining, energy, construction and infrastructure sectors.
We understand that a criminal investigation is not just a legal problem: it is a reputational, financial and operational crisis.
Our approach is not reactive. It's strategic.
Workplace Accidents Resulting in Death or Serious Injuries
In mining and large industries, fatal accidents can generate charges for:
- Quasi-homicide
- Very serious serious injuries
- Violation of safety regulations
We assume the technical defense of:
General ManagersOperations Assistant ManagersExperts in risk preventionWork supervisors
Our objective is clear: protect freedom, assets and business continuity.
Internal Investigations and Crisis Management
When an internal or external complaint arises, time is critical.
We design and implement:
Confidential internal investigationsResponse protocols before the prosecutionDigital evidence protectionCoordinated communication strategies
We act before the problem escalates.
Our intervention combines strategic criminal defense, technical analysis of regulatory risk and preventive design. We do not expect the matter to go to trial. We contain it before it escalates.
For a board of directors, criminal risk is not only a judicial case. It is reputation, financing, operational continuity and personal responsibility, workers, family, present, future.
Economic Crimes Law and new challenges for companies in Chile.
Our standards
We understand the legal and financial architecture of highly complex organizations.We operate under strict standards of confidentiality and professional confidentiality.We intervene with structural discretion in situations of strategic criminal risk.We defend with technical solvency and business judgment against the Public Ministry and corporate bodies.
Lex Juicios lawyers – Business Criminal Defense
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Labor Law
Dismissals, terminations, protection of rights and Karin Law, with advice from the first request.
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Asset seizures, damages, precarious property, leases, partition trials, civil lawsuits and high-value inheritances.
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Traffic fines, TAG, accidents and co-ownership, with personalized monitoring of each cause.
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Temporary residence, visas, appeals and permanent stay.
See area →The difference of Lex Juicios Lawyers
Proven responsibility and commitment
Sustained track record in highly complex litigation, corporate criminal defense and cross-border advice, with dedication and technical rigor in each assignment.
Multidisciplinary approach
We integrate specialists from various legal areas to address your challenges from a civil, tax, labor and criminal perspective in a single coordinated strategy.
Direct and confidential communication
Direct contact with the professional responsible for your matter. Your case is treated under strict confidentiality, prioritizing the peace of mind of your business.
Do you need guidance on this matter?
Let us analyze your case under absolute reserve and confidentiality.