Crime and Punishment

A crime is a type of behavior committed by a person that violates the law. These types of actions carry penalties or a series of sanctions depending on their severity and type. There may also be some cases in which reparation for the damage is required, which is done through processes related to restorative justice.

For a crime to exist, an action must occur that has three primary characteristics: Typical, unlawful, culpable.

There are different types of crimes established in the Colombian Penal Code, but it is common to speak of three in particular: culpable, intentional, and preterintentional.

The most common crimes in Colombia are:

- Theft

- Extroversion

- Homicide

- Domestic Violence

- Drug Trafficking

Punishment or sanction is the legal response or consequence imposed by the State on a person for committing a crime, consisting of a penalty or security measure. This sanction seeks to punish the crime, prevent future crimes, and rehabilitate the offender. The main penalties are: imprisonment, revisable life imprisonment, monetary fines, and other deprivations of other rights as such are enshrined in the special section.

When imposing the sentence, the judge must consider:

- The seriousness of the criminal conduct.

- The actual or potential harm caused.

- The circumstances that aggravate or mitigate the punishability.

- The intensity of the intent, premeditated intent, or contributory negligence.

- The need for punishment and the function it is to fulfill.