The temporary application of the new time bar calculation rule of the prescription of legal action regarding sexual offences to underage victims

Abstract

New article 369, quarter of the Penal Code, included by Law No. 20.207 of 31 August 2007, has established a new time bar calculation rule of prescription of legal action regarding sexual offences to underage victims by "freezing" said term until they become adults. The aim of this work is to examine whether the application of said disposition to events carried out before they were in force is appropriate or inappropriate. To that end, the author denies the importance to the substantive or adjective nature ascribed to the time bar pointing out that what is really relevant to analyse if the basis of the principle of penal non-retroactivity would be damaged in case that said precept is retroactively applied.