Colombia Ministry of Justice prepares criminal surrender bill

The Colombian Ministry of Justice is developing a bill to establish legal conditions for members of large criminal organizations to surrender to the justice system. Justice Minister Iván Cancino confirmed the project is currently undergoing presidential review before being submitted to Congress.

Unlike a peace process, this initiative does not grant political status to criminal groups, nor will it involve negotiation tables or concentration zones. The government emphasizes that the rules will be defined by the State and the legislature, ensuring there are no “shortcuts, privileges, or agreements outside of the Constitution and the law.”

The proposed law includes specific guidelines for sentence reductions: criminal leaders would be limited to a maximum 30% reduction, while ordinary members could potentially seek up to 50%. To qualify for conditional liberty, individuals must serve four-fifths of their sentence, demonstrate good behavior, tell the truth, and provide reparations to victims. The framework aims to prioritize victim rights regarding truth, justice, and reparation.