Lugar de juicio en casos criminales

Explicación Simple

Cuando alguien comete un crimen, debe ser juzgado donde ocurrió ese crimen. Si no se sabe exactamente dónde pasó, el juicio puede hacerse en el lugar donde vive el acusado o donde lo encontraron.

Es como si una persona rompiera una ventana en una casa. El dueño de la casa tiene que decidir en qué lugar se va a hablar sobre la ventana rota: en su propia casa o en el barrio donde sucedió.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan robó una tienda en Richmond, Virginia. El juicio de Juan se llevará a cabo en Richmond porque ahí fue donde ocurrió el robo. Si Juan hubiera escapado y lo atraparan en otra ciudad, el juicio podría hacerse en la ciudad donde lo encontraron.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 19.2-244 - Venue in general. A. Except as otherwise provided by law, the prosecution of a criminal case shall be had in the county or city in which the offense was committed. Except as to motions for a change of venue, all other questions of venue must be raised before verdict in cases tried by a jury and before the finding of guilty in cases tried by the court without a jury. B. If an offense has been committed within the Commonwealth and it cannot readily be determined within which county or city the offense was committed, venue for the prosecution of the offense may be had in the county or city (i) in which the defendant resides; (ii) if the defendant is not a resident of the Commonwealth, in which the defendant is apprehended; or (iii) if the defendant is not a resident of the Commonwealth and is not apprehended in the Commonwealth, in which any related offense was committed. C. The courts of a locality shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the courts of any other locality adjoining such locality over criminal offenses committed in or upon the premises, buildings, rooms, or offices owned or occupied by such locality or any officer, agency, or department thereof that are located in the adjoining locality. 1975, c. 495; 2015, cc. 632 , 637 ; 2018, c. 164 .