Art. 21.1 CP
Incomplete ground
A non-essential element of an exclusion ground missing: sentence reduction.
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Theory of crime · Article 21 CP · Throughout Spain
Criminal mitigating circumstances
Confessing, making amends or suffering undue delay: powerful levers to reduce the sentence.
Article 21 of the Spanish Criminal Code lists the mitigating circumstances: serious addiction, state of disturbance, confession, reparation of harm, undue delay in the proceedings. Properly argued, they reduce the sentence — sometimes by one or two degrees when highly qualified.
In brief. the mitigating circumstances of Article 21 reduce the sentence: incomplete ground (21.1), serious addiction (21.2), state of disturbance (21.3), confession before learning of the proceedings (21.4), reparation of harm (21.5), undue delay (21.6) and mitigation by analogy (21.7). When highly qualified, a mitigating factor lowers the sentence by one or two degrees.
Repères
21
Article of the Criminal Code listing the mitigating circumstances.
21.6
Undue delay in the proceedings: a frequent and effective mitigation.
24h
English-speaking lawyer, mitigation strategy throughout Spain.
What lightens the sentence
Mitigating factors act on the measure of the sentence. They do not remove liability but, under Article 66, require the court to individualise the sentence downwards according to their number and intensity.
Some are very powerful. Confession (21.4), reparation of harm (21.5) and undue delay (21.6) are frequently accepted and, when highly qualified, lead to a reduction of one or two degrees.
Strategy is prepared early. Compensating the victim, acknowledging the facts at the right time or documenting the delays of the proceedings are decisions taken from the investigation stage.
What we argue
The mitigating circumstances
Art. 21.2 CP
Serious addiction
Acting because of a serious dependence on alcohol or drugs.
Art. 21.3 CP
Disturbance or passion
Acting under a state of disturbance, anger or a powerful stimulus.
Art. 21.4 CP
Confession
Confessing to the authorities before learning of the proceedings.
Art. 21.5 CP
Reparation of harm
Repairing or reducing the victim’s harm before trial.
Art. 21.6 CP
Undue delay
Extraordinary, unjustified delay not attributable to the accused.
Art. 21.7 CP
Mitigation by analogy
Any circumstance of analogous significance to the above.
Art. 66 CP
Effect on the sentence
One factor imposes the lower half; highly qualified, one or two degrees less.
Art. 21.2 CP
Highly qualified factor
Particular intensity justifying a reinforced reduction.
Effects
Overview of the mitigating factors
| Circumstance | Article | Effect on sentence | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incomplete ground | 21.1 | One to two degrees less | Non-essential element missing |
| Serious addiction | 21.2 | Lower half | Dependence at the time |
| Disturbance / passion | 21.3 | Lower half | Powerful stimulus |
| Confession | 21.4 | Lower half | Before knowing of proceedings |
| Reparation of harm | 21.5 | Lower half | Before trial |
| Undue delay | 21.6 | Lower half or more | Delay not attributable to accused |
| Analogy | 21.7 | Lower half | Analogous significance |
| Highly qualified | 66 | One to two degrees less | Particular intensity |
Indicative elements based on the Spanish Criminal Code. The effect depends on the number and intensity of the factors and on any aggravating circumstances. This overview does not replace a lawyer’s analysis.
Our difference
Mitigation is built, not improvised
Each mitigating factor has precise conditions. Confession must precede knowledge of the proceedings; reparation must be real and before trial; undue delay must be documented in the detail of the proceedings.
We prepare mitigation from the investigation stage. A payment to the victim, a well-timed acknowledgement of the facts or a rigorous record of the delays can, together, bring the sentence down by one or two degrees.
01
Identifying every applicable mitigating factor
02
Confession and reparation strategy
03
Documenting undue delay in the proceedings
04
Seeking the highly qualified mitigating factor
How we act
A structured defence at every stage
Phase 01
Analysis of the facts and circumstances
Phase 02
Reparation and confession at the right time
Phase 03
Plea of the mitigating factors and their qualification
Phase 04
Individualisation of the sentence at judgment
Who we represent
Very different situations
D
People under investigation
Accused persons seeking to reduce the sentence through mitigating factors.
S
People with addictions
People whose dependence played a role in the commission of the acts.
R
Those willing to make amends
People ready to compensate the victim to mitigate their liability.
P
Long-standing defendants
People whose proceedings drag on without justification.
Related
Related pages
FAQ
What you should know
What are mitigating circumstances for?
They reduce the sentence. Under Article 66, one mitigating factor imposes the lower half and, if highly qualified, a reduction of one or two degrees.
Does confession always mitigate?
Only if it occurs before the perpetrator learns of the proceedings against them (Art. 21.4). A later acknowledgement falls under mitigation by analogy.
Does compensating the victim help?
Yes. Reparation of harm (Art. 21.5), made before trial, is a frequent and effective mitigation, even if partial.
What is undue delay?
An extraordinary, unjustified delay in the proceedings not attributable to the accused (Art. 21.6), which mitigates the sentence and may be highly qualified.
Can several factors be combined?
Yes. The combination of mitigating factors, absent aggravating ones, can bring a reduction of one or two degrees.
When should strategy be prepared?
From the investigation stage. Reparation, confession and documenting delays are decided early. The firm assists 24/7 in Spain.
Speak to a criminal lawyer
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