{"id":5669,"date":"2026-10-17T14:31:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T13:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T22:30:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T21:30:12","slug":"criminal-defence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Defence in Portugal &#8211; Rights of the Accused"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5669\" class=\"elementor elementor-5669 elementor-5668\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9323bf8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9323bf8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-204764a animated-slow elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"204764a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Defence in criminal proceedings is subject to its own guarantees and time limits, governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure, and specialised legal assistance is important from the earliest stages of the proceedings, in particular from the moment of being made an <em>arguido<\/em> (formal suspect). This article forms part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/\">Litigation<\/a> area of Ara\u00fajo &amp; Associados.<\/p>\n<h2>When you are made an arguido<\/h2>\n<p>Under Article 58 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, being made an <em>arguido<\/em> is mandatory, among other situations, when: the suspect gives a statement before a judicial authority or criminal police body, in the context of an investigation in which there is well-founded suspicion that a crime has been committed; a coercive measure or a measure securing assets must be applied to that person; the person is arrested; or an offence report (<em>auto de not\u00edcia<\/em>) is drawn up identifying them as the perpetrator of a crime and this is communicated to them. A person is made an <em>arguido<\/em> by means of an oral or written communication from a judicial authority or criminal police body, stating the procedural rights and duties that the person acquires from that moment on.<\/p>\n<h2>Fundamental rights of the accused<\/h2>\n<p>Article 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, giving effect to Article 32 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, recognises that the <em>arguido<\/em> has a set of fundamental procedural rights, notably:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The right to be present at procedural acts that directly concern them;<\/li>\n<li>The right to be heard by the court or the investigating judge whenever either must take any decision that personally affects them;<\/li>\n<li>The right to silence, with the exercise of this right not to be interpreted to their detriment or treated as evidence of guilt;<\/li>\n<li>The right to be assisted by defence counsel, at all procedural acts in which they take part, and to communicate with counsel, even when deprived of liberty;<\/li>\n<li>The right to submit evidence and to request the measures they consider necessary;<\/li>\n<li>The right to be informed of their rights by the judicial authority or criminal police body before which they are made an <em>arguido<\/em>;<\/li>\n<li>The right to appeal, as provided by law, against decisions that are unfavourable to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Coercive measures &#8211; principles and types<\/h2>\n<p>Where precautionary requirements so justify, the court may apply coercive measures (<em>medidas de coa\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>) to the <em>arguido<\/em>, governed from Article 191 of the Code of Criminal Procedure onwards. The application of these measures is subject to the principles of subsidiarity, suitability and proportionality, laid down in Articles 193, 202 and 204 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, meaning that the measure applied must be strictly necessary, suited to the precautionary requirements of the specific case, and proportionate to the seriousness of the crime and the foreseeable sanctions. Coercive measures range from the statement of identity and residence (<em>termo de identidade e resid\u00eancia<\/em>), the mildest, and the only one that can be applied to any <em>arguido<\/em> regardless of the seriousness of the crime, through bail or the obligation to report periodically, up to pre-trial detention, which is the most severe measure and must be applied only as a last resort, when the other measures prove inadequate or insufficient.<\/p>\n<h2>Stages of criminal proceedings<\/h2>\n<p>Criminal proceedings typically unfold in the following stages:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Investigation (<em>inqu\u00e9rito<\/em>) &#8211; the investigative stage led by the Public Prosecutor&#8217;s Office, with the assistance of criminal police bodies, aimed at investigating whether a crime has been committed, identifying the perpetrators and their responsibility, and gathering evidence, ending with an indictment or the closing of the case;<\/li>\n<li>Preliminary judicial stage (<em>instru\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>) &#8211; an optional stage, requested by the <em>arguido<\/em> or by the assistant to the prosecution (<em>assistente<\/em>), in which an investigating judge reviews the decision to indict or close the case made at the end of the investigation, and may confirm or overturn it;<\/li>\n<li>Trial &#8211; the stage at which the court assesses the evidence produced and decides on the criminal responsibility of the <em>arguido<\/em>, which may end in acquittal or conviction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>The importance of legal assistance from the start<\/h2>\n<p>Being assisted by a lawyer from these early stages allows the <em>arguido<\/em>&#8216;s procedural rights &#8211; including the right to silence and the right to submit evidence &#8211; to be exercised in an informed and strategic way, and not merely reactively, at the trial stage.<\/p>\n<h2>Criminal defence and other related matters<\/h2>\n<p>A conviction, or other decisions given in criminal proceedings with financial repercussions, may also give rise to enforcement issues, dealt with in general terms in the article <a href=\"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/enforcement-of-judgments\/\">Enforcement of judgments in Portugal &#8211; how to recover what you are owed<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>About Ara\u00fajo &amp; Associados<\/h2>\n<p>Established in 1980, with offices in Porto and Lisbon, Ara\u00fajo &amp; Associados provides legal advice in criminal proceedings at all stages, in Portuguese, English, French, German and Spanish.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions about criminal defence<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-370c803 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"370c803\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12318fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-adv-accordion\" data-id=\"12318fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-adv-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t            <div class=\"eael-adv-accordion\" id=\"eael-adv-accordion-12318fc\" data-scroll-on-click=\"yes\" data-scroll-speed=\"300\" data-custom-id-offset=\"120\" data-accordion-id=\"12318fc\" data-accordion-type=\"accordion\" data-toogle-speed=\"300\">\n            <div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"faq-1\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1901\"><h3 class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">What does being made an arguido mean?<\/h3><span class=\"fa-toggle fa-toggle-svg eaa-svg\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"#000000\" width=\"800px\" height=\"800px\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 256\" id=\"Flat\"><path d=\"M128,180a3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1-2.82861-1.17139l-80-80.00024a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722-5.65674L128,170.34326l77.17139-77.17163a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722,5.65674l-80,80.00024A3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1,128,180Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1901\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-1\"><p>It means that, from that moment, the person is formally considered a suspect of having committed a crime in criminal proceedings, simultaneously acquiring a set of procedural rights and duties of their own, notably those set out in Article 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"faq-2\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"2\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1902\"><h3 class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">Can I refuse to answer questions after being made an arguido?<\/h3><span class=\"fa-toggle fa-toggle-svg eaa-svg\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"#000000\" width=\"800px\" height=\"800px\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 256\" id=\"Flat\"><path d=\"M128,180a3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1-2.82861-1.17139l-80-80.00024a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722-5.65674L128,170.34326l77.17139-77.17163a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722,5.65674l-80,80.00024A3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1,128,180Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1902\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2\"><p>Yes. The <em>arguido<\/em> has the right to silence at any stage of the proceedings, and this right cannot be interpreted against them or treated as evidence of guilt.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"faq-3\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"3\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1903\"><h3 class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">Is pre-trial detention applied in all criminal cases?<\/h3><span class=\"fa-toggle fa-toggle-svg eaa-svg\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"#000000\" width=\"800px\" height=\"800px\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 256\" id=\"Flat\"><path d=\"M128,180a3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1-2.82861-1.17139l-80-80.00024a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722-5.65674L128,170.34326l77.17139-77.17163a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722,5.65674l-80,80.00024A3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1,128,180Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1903\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-3\"><p>No. Pre-trial detention is the most severe coercive measure and should be applied only as a last resort, when the other measures prove inadequate or insufficient in light of the precautionary requirements of the specific case, in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity, suitability and proportionality.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"faq-4\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"4\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1904\"><h3 class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">Am I always entitled to a lawyer in criminal proceedings?<\/h3><span class=\"fa-toggle fa-toggle-svg eaa-svg\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"#000000\" width=\"800px\" height=\"800px\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 256\" id=\"Flat\"><path d=\"M128,180a3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1-2.82861-1.17139l-80-80.00024a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722-5.65674L128,170.34326l77.17139-77.17163a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722,5.65674l-80,80.00024A3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1,128,180Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1904\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-4\"><p>Yes. The <em>arguido<\/em> is entitled to be assisted by defence counsel at all procedural acts in which they take part, including the right to communicate with counsel even when deprived of liberty.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"faq-5\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"5\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1905\"><h3 class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">What is the difference between the investigation stage and the preliminary judicial stage?<\/h3><span class=\"fa-toggle fa-toggle-svg eaa-svg\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"#000000\" width=\"800px\" height=\"800px\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 256\" id=\"Flat\"><path d=\"M128,180a3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1-2.82861-1.17139l-80-80.00024a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722-5.65674L128,170.34326l77.17139-77.17163a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722,5.65674l-80,80.00024A3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1,128,180Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1905\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-5\"><p>The investigation (<em>inqu\u00e9rito<\/em>) is the investigative stage led by the Public Prosecutor&#8217;s Office, which ends with an indictment or the closing of the case. The preliminary judicial stage (<em>instru\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>) is an optional stage, requested by the <em>arguido<\/em> or the assistant to the prosecution, in which an investigating judge reviews the decision taken at the end of the investigation.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"eael-accordion-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"faq-6\" class=\"elementor-tab-title eael-accordion-header\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tab=\"6\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1906\"><h3 class=\"eael-accordion-tab-title\">Do all criminal cases have the three stages - investigation, preliminary judicial stage and trial?<\/h3><span class=\"fa-toggle fa-toggle-svg eaa-svg\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"#000000\" width=\"800px\" height=\"800px\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 256\" id=\"Flat\"><path d=\"M128,180a3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1-2.82861-1.17139l-80-80.00024a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722-5.65674L128,170.34326l77.17139-77.17163a4.00009,4.00009,0,0,1,5.65722,5.65674l-80,80.00024A3.98881,3.98881,0,0,1,128,180Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1906\" class=\"eael-accordion-content clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-6\"><p>Not necessarily. The preliminary judicial stage is optional and takes place only if requested by the <em>arguido<\/em> or the assistant to the prosecution; there are also special forms of proceedings, with a simpler procedure, applicable to certain situations.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87abe69 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"87abe69\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ddcf21 animated-slow elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ddcf21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Contact us<\/h2>\n<p>For more information on criminal defence, or to book a legal consultation, you can contact us through our Porto or Lisbon offices, by telephone, email or via the form on the website. We provide legal advice in Portuguese, English, French, German and Spanish.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44048c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"44048c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6e13cc elementor-mobile-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f6e13cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">contact by email<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c26cbc5 elementor-mobile-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"c26cbc5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send\/?phone=351938604316&#038;text&#038;type=phone_number&#038;app_absent=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Contact by WhatsApp<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a701688 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a701688\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44c8732 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"44c8732\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"LegalService\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/#organization\",\n            \"name\": \"Ara\u00fajo & Associados\",\n            \"url\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/\",\n            \"foundingDate\": \"1980\",\n            \"description\": \"Law firm with offices in Porto and Lisbon, providing legal advice in criminal proceedings at all stages.\",\n            \"knowsLanguage\": [\n                \"pt\",\n                \"en\",\n                \"fr\",\n                \"de\",\n                \"es\"\n            ],\n            \"areaServed\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Country\",\n                \"name\": \"Portugal\"\n            },\n            \"location\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Place\",\n                    \"name\": \"Porto office\",\n                    \"address\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",\n                        \"addressLocality\": \"Porto\",\n                        \"addressCountry\": \"PT\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Place\",\n                    \"name\": \"Lisbon office\",\n                    \"address\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",\n                        \"addressLocality\": \"Lisbon\",\n                        \"addressCountry\": \"PT\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/#website\",\n            \"url\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/\",\n            \"name\": \"Ara\u00fajo & Associados\",\n            \"inLanguage\": [\n                \"pt-PT\",\n                \"en-GB\",\n                \"fr-FR\"\n            ],\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/#organization\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/#webpage\",\n            \"url\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/\",\n            \"name\": \"Criminal Defence in Portugal - Rights of the Accused\",\n            \"description\": \"Criminal defence in Portugal: when you are made an arguido, the fundamental rights of the accused, coercive measures, stages of criminal proceedings and the importance of legal assistance. Ara\u00fajo & Associados.\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"isPartOf\": {\n                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/#website\"\n            },\n            \"breadcrumb\": {\n                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/#breadcrumb\"\n            },\n            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/defesa-criminal.jpg\"\n            },\n            \"mainEntity\": {\n                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/#article\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"about\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Litigation\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Criminal defence\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Criminal procedure\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Rights of the accused\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Coercive measures\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Code of Criminal Procedure\"\n                }\n            ],\n            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/#article\",\n            \"headline\": \"Criminal Defence in Portugal - Rights of the Accused\",\n            \"description\": \"Criminal defence in Portugal: when you are made an arguido, the fundamental rights of the accused, coercive measures, stages of criminal proceedings and the importance of legal assistance. Ara\u00fajo & Associados.\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/#webpage\"\n            },\n            \"url\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/\",\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/#organization\"\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/#organization\"\n            },\n            \"articleSection\": \"Litigation\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-10-17\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-10-17\",\n            \"image\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/defesa-criminal.jpg\"\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/#breadcrumb\",\n            \"itemListElement\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n                    \"position\": 1,\n                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n                    \"item\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n                    \"position\": 2,\n                    \"name\": \"Litigation\",\n                    \"item\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n                    \"position\": 3,\n                    \"name\": \"Criminal Defence in Portugal\",\n                    \"item\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/\"\n                }\n            ]\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/litigation-arbitration\/criminal-defence\/#faq\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What does being made an arguido mean?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"It means that, from that moment, the person is formally considered a suspect of having committed a crime in criminal proceedings, simultaneously acquiring a set of procedural rights and duties of their own, notably those set out in Article 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Can I refuse to answer questions after being made an arguido?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Yes. The arguido has the right to silence at any stage of the proceedings, and this right cannot be interpreted against them or treated as evidence of guilt.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Is pre-trial detention applied in all criminal cases?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"No. Pre-trial detention is the most severe coercive measure and should be applied only as a last resort, when the other measures prove inadequate or insufficient in light of the precautionary requirements of the specific case, in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity, suitability and proportionality.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Am I always entitled to a lawyer in criminal proceedings?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Yes. The arguido is entitled to be assisted by defence counsel at all procedural acts in which they take part, including the right to communicate with counsel even when deprived of liberty.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What is the difference between the investigation stage and the preliminary judicial stage?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"The investigation (inqu\u00e9rito) is the investigative stage led by the Public Prosecutor's Office, which ends with an indictment or the closing of the case. The preliminary judicial stage (instru\u00e7\u00e3o) is an optional stage, requested by the arguido or the assistant to the prosecution, in which an investigating judge reviews the decision taken at the end of the investigation.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Do all criminal cases have the three stages - investigation, preliminary judicial stage and trial?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Not necessarily. The preliminary judicial stage is optional and takes place only if requested by the arguido or the assistant to the prosecution; there are also special forms of proceedings, with a simpler procedure, applicable to certain situations.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        }\n    ]\n}\n<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Criminal defence in Portugal: when you are made an arguido, the fundamental rights of the accused, coercive measures, stages of criminal proceedings and the importance of legal assistance. Ara\u00fajo &#038; Associados.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5609,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-litigation-arbitration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5669"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5734,"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5669\/revisions\/5734"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/araujoassociados.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}