# Chilean criminal procedure legislative reforms

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/chilean-criminal-procedure-legislative-reforms
> Updated: 2026-10-01T19:46:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 3.

Chile is advancing multiple legislative reforms to its criminal procedure and justice systems. In late September 2026, the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to accelerate DNA profiling in criminal investigations by allowing Carabineros and Investigative Police laboratories to perform certain comparison procedures and send results directly to the Public Ministry or courts.

During the same period, the Chilean Senate approved in principle the “trial in absence” or “no escape law.” This initiative, presented by former Public Security Minister Trinidad Steinert and Minister Fernando Rabat, seeks to allow oral trials and sentencing to proceed even if an accused person fails to appear without justification. To protect due process, the bill mandates prior notification, warnings regarding non-attendance, and the presence of legal defense, while providing enhanced tools for issuing arrest warrants. The Senate continues to discuss specific amendments to the project.

Additionally, the Chamber of Deputies has approved in general a bill to modify Decree Law No. 321, aimed at tightening requirements for conditional liberty. The measure increases the minimum sentence requirement for parole from two-thirds to three-quarters of the total sentence for specific serious crimes. For offenses committed against members of the Carabineros, PDI, Gendarmería, Firefighters, or the Armed Forces while performing their duties, the requirement rises to four-fifths of the sentence. The bill also introduces stricter requirements for those convicted of terrorism or criminal association and mandates that victims' families be heard during the process. This measure is currently undergoing its first constitutional stage of processing.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-01: Chilean Chamber approves stricter parole requirements for serious crimes

Chile's Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to restrict conditional liberty for serious crimes, raising the minimum sentence requirements for parole eligibility.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chilean-chamber-approves-stricter-parole-requirements-for-serious-crimes

### 2026-09-23: Chilean Senate approves bill for oral trials in absence of accused

The Chilean Senate approved a bill allowing oral trials and sentencing to continue in the absence of an accused person to prevent judicial delays caused by unjustified non-appearance.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chilean-senate-approves-bill-for-oral-trials-in-absence-of-accused

### 2026-09-21: Chilean Chamber of Deputies approves bill to accelerate DNA profiling in criminal cases

Chile's Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to allow police laboratories to directly compare DNA profiles with the national registry, aiming to resolve processing delays in criminal investigations.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chilean-chamber-of-deputies-approves-bill-to-accelerate-dna-profiling-in-criminal-cases

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Cite as: Chilean criminal procedure legislative reforms. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/chilean-criminal-procedure-legislative-reforms