Argentina expands oral trial program and sees high success in criminal mediation

In the province of Formosa, the Programa de Oralidad Penal continued to hold daily oral hearings, including virtual sessions via Zoom and participation from law students of the Universidad de la Cuenca del Plata. Judges Rubén Antonio Spessot and Sergio Felipe Cañete presided over a series of hearings that addressed case extensions, conditional sentences, and other procedural matters, emphasizing transparency and expedited justice.

Meanwhile, the province of Entre Ríos reported that out of 5,119 criminal cases referred by the public prosecutor in 2025, 4,060 entered the mediation process. Of those, 3,207 concluded with agreements, yielding a 79% success rate. Director Fabricio J. Amateis highlighted mediation as a key tool of restorative justice, fostering victim‑offender dialogue, reparations, and social reconciliation.