Last Weeks Bad Guys Convicted/Chapala Shootout follow up

http://movil.informador.com.mx/jalisco/2011/323461/6/consignan-a-sicarios-por-delitos-federales.htm#home

Chapalagringa wrote:http://movil.informador.com.mx/jalisco/2011/323461/6/consignan-a-sicarios-por-delitos-federales.htm#home

They have not been convicted but ordered held pending trial.

thanks, learned a new word today! Consignar means to brief, not convict. I thought, wow, that's fast! *sheepish grin*

I say it is more akin to a preliminary indictment or handing over.

They are probably enjoying the pool tables, big screen TV's, the bar and the table dancers at Puente Grande!

The girl said she's married to the old guy. I read they found her with a grenade. What a tradedy life.

I believe the term is "remanded to custody" but I am not a certified legal translator.

Solovino:

While I have read way too many articles about these "bad guys" being remanded to custody by a judge (?) or a prosecutor (?), I have never read a clear definition of exactly how the system operates. From what I have understood up to now, it seems that these criminals get remanded to what would be called a prison NOB rather than a jail like NOB? Perhaps you or someone else might provide info on this aspect of the legal system?

only ones with a clear picture of how this system works... are in the system... and have a pet cockroach ... be happy you don't know...

CG, I figured we should defer to the anticpated response from the board's licenciado but that apparently isn't happening.

These guys were remanded to Puente Grande because they were charged with federal offenses and the PG is a federal prison. That is also where the criminal courts that try these cases are located. It is also supposedly a maximum security prison.

There are also state prisons and municipal mails. Some cases are tried at these facilities.

Thanks Solvino! Your answer does clear up some of the questions I had.

Can someone tell me what (auto formal de prision)means exactly?

Auto means court resolution or order

An auto formal de prision is an order for the commitment of the defendant, a court order directing a defendant in a criminal action to be held in custody pending trial where essentially they go from merely being a detainee within which the prosecution has a limited time to bring charges and get an order as such for them to be remanded to custody and if not then they must be released.

Mexican law has some funny words.

AUTO, not car but order of the court.
SALA, not living room but the courtroom, usually of the appellate court to name 2 examples.

Auto formal de prisíon is the judge's ruling after an evidentiary hearing is concluded and sufficient evidence is presented in order for the accused to be formally charged. This is when they may be remanded to custody (consignado as was previously discussed) or released on bail. The accused and their case is at that time assigned to a certain criminal court.

If the prosecutor fails to provide sufficient proof the judge will issue an auto de libertad which is the court order for the release of the accused.

Although the term auto has become synonymous with an automobile it also has other meanings and in judicial matters act is the proper translation.

Sala translates as room and is used in the description of many different types of rooms. Antesala, sala de espera, sala de conferencias etc.

Thanks for both your replies,watching the a.m. news here in GDL you hear it a lot I had a good idea of what it meant but the leagalese wording can throw you.You could almost translate it as(I'm sending myself to prison formally)if you were a clueless gringo.
Chris