Criminal law governs crimes and their punishments. In Belgium, it's based on the Criminal Code and prosecuted by the public prosecutor's office.
Criminal law is the body of law that defines criminal offenses, regulates the apprehension, charging, and trial of suspected persons, and fixes penalties for convicted offenders. In Belgium, criminal law is primarily codified in the Criminal Code (Strafwetboek/Code pénal) and various special laws.
The Belgian criminal justice system operates on the principle of legality, meaning no act can be considered a crime unless it's explicitly defined as such by law. Crimes are classified into three categories: contraventions (minor offenses), délits (misdemeanors), and crimes (felonies). Each category has different procedural rules and potential penalties.
The public prosecutor's office (Openbaar Ministerie/Ministère public) plays a crucial role in initiating prosecutions and representing society's interests in criminal proceedings. Criminal cases are heard by specialized courts: police courts for contraventions, correctional courts for misdemeanors, and assize courts for felonies.
Key principles include the presumption of innocence, the right to legal representation, and proportionality of punishment. Belgian criminal law also emphasizes rehabilitation alongside punishment, with alternatives to imprisonment increasingly used for minor offenses.
For personalized guidance, consult a Criminal Law specialist like Joachim Van Reeth on TinRate.
The following Criminal Law experts on TinRate Wiki can help with this topic:
| Expert | Role | Company | Country | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Leyman | Lawyer | Sports Lawyer | UCI Riders' Agent | Leyman Law & Sports | A&J All Sports | Belgium | EUR 150/hr |
| Charlotte Dewit | Advocaat | Adverit legal | Belgium | EUR 180/hr |
| Evi Van den Perre | Advocaat | Advocatenkantoor Evi Van den Perre | Belgium | EUR 150/hr |
| Frederik Vanden Bogaerde | Senior Partner / Attorney | ITL Attorneys | Belgium | EUR 250/hr |
| Gert-Jan Thijssen | Advocaat | Clavis Advocaten | Belgium | EUR 100/hr |
| Joachim Van Reeth | Advocaat strafrecht | Bollen & Vandendries | Belgium | EUR 125/hr |
| John Thoen | Advocaat | Maatadvocaten | Netherlands | EUR 150/hr |
| Kato Laeremans | Advocaat | ALTA Advocaten | Belgium | EUR 125/hr |
| Liesbeth Meirens | Advocaat | Advocatenkantoor Meirens bv | Netherlands | EUR 160/hr |
| Olivier Dinet | Advocaat | Delfi Advocaten | Belgium | EUR 150/hr |