The Prosecutor's Office of Andalusia, Ceuta, and Melilla maintained similar procedural activity to the previous year, initiating a total of 340,701 cases in preliminary proceedings. Despite this stability in workload, the Superior Prosecutor, Ana Tárrago Ruiz, stated that litigation in the autonomous community remains "very high" relative to available resources.
The report highlights a slight overall decrease of 2.6% in criminality, with 2,591 fewer cases, totaling 101,055 cases considered indicators of criminality. However, this general trend contrasts with the increase in more serious proceedings.
Specifically, summary proceedings, which deal with crimes carrying higher penalties, have experienced a 15% increase. 658 summary proceedings were opened last year, compared to 572 the previous year, an increase of 86 cases. The provinces of Almería, Cádiz, Jaén, and Málaga have registered the highest upturn in these types of offenses.
On the other hand, urgent proceedings or rapid trials decreased by 4.3% (31,816 cases), while abbreviated proceedings increased by 6.9% (39,960 cases). Jury trials and trials for minor offenses also showed decreases of 14% and 11.3%, respectively.
Investigation diligences recorded a 14% increase, with 506 more cases, reaching a total of 4,142. Oral trial indictments decreased by 3.6%, and criminal sentences fell by 11.2%, with 71,498 resolutions.
The Penal Mediation Service, implemented two years ago by the Junta, has become an effective tool, doubling agreements in conflicts and expecting an increase in minor offenses to focus resources on more complex cases.
The Prosecutor's Office of Andalusia, Ceuta, and Melilla, with headquarters in Granada, Málaga, and Seville, intervened in 621 criminal proceedings before the High Court of Justice of Andalusia, a 19% increase. 24 appeals with hearings in Jury Court proceedings were held, and 68 criminal competence issues were initiated.
