Reward Law
Congreso Nacional
- Decree: 21-2014
- Published: March 3, 2014
- Issuing body: Congreso Nacional
- Category: Criminal
Summary
This law creates the Most Wanted Program, which allows publishing information about investigated or accused individuals in the media. It offers cash rewards to citizens who provide useful information to capture criminals, keeping their identity secret. The Security Department manages the program and sets reward amounts based on case difficulty.
Considerations
Whereas security is paramount for the development of the country, and the State must protect the life, physical integrity, and other rights and freedoms of the population through laws, appropriate institutions, policies, and concrete actions.
Whereas to achieve such purpose, creative alternatives must be sought that allow for the development of effective security work in favor of people who live day to day and coexist with impunity.
Whereas in accordance with Article 205, attribution 1) of the Constitution of the Republic, it is the competence of the National Congress to create, enact, interpret, amend, and repeal laws.
Whereas in accordance with Article 189 of the Constitution of the Republic, the recess must be defined in the Organic Law of the Legislative Branch and in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 55 of the aforementioned Law, it corresponds to the period from May 1st to May 31st of each year.
Whereas there is an imperative need to alternate the recess period of the National Congress, exceptionally, for the study and approval of several Decrees of general interest for the country.
Whereas in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 189 of the Constitution of the Republic, Ordinary sessions may be extended for such time as may be necessary.
Whereas in accordance with Article 205, attribution 1) of the Constitution of the Republic, it establishes: to create, enact, interpret, amend, and repeal laws.
Articles
The PROGRAM OF THE MOST WANTED is hereby created under the direct responsibility of the State Secretary of the Security Office, with the purpose of publishing in television, radio, print, digital, and other alternative media, videos, photographs, composite sketches or other analogous mechanisms of persons subject to the Honduran Criminal Process, whether in its investigative stage, the process itself, or the execution stage; as well as to determine those guilty parties.
The State Secretary of the Security Office may establish reward payments for information from those persons who, without having participated in the crime, provide useful data to achieve the apprehension of those who took part in the execution of the crimes, must be supported by the services of the emergency line 911 or another that the authority determines with security standards, likewise the webpage of the most wanted in Honduras must be created. The identity of the person who provides the information must be kept secret throughout the entire process and also after it concludes. The amount of the reward must be set taking into account the complexity of the case and the difficulties that exist in obtaining the information that permits its clarification, the payment of the reward must be made by bank transfer.
Government officials, public employees and personnel belonging to any of the Defense Forces, Security, State Intelligence Agencies, Justice Operators, officials of the Supreme Court of Justice and the Public Ministry, relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity and spouses who are not considered relatives, may not be beneficiaries of the Rewards System of this Program.
The Executive Branch shall include annually in the Draft General Budget Law of Income and Expenses of the Republic, the Budget Item for the Operation of the Program of the Most Wanted through the State Secretary of the Security Office.
TRANSITIONAL. For the operation of the Program of the Most Wanted in the Fiscal Year 2014, the Technical Committee of the Trust Fund for the Protection and Public Safety shall grant the funds required by the State Secretary of the Security Office for the execution of the Program.
The State Secretary of the Security Office shall issue the necessary regulations to comply with this Law within fifteen (15) days after its enactment.
This Decree shall become effective as of the day of its publication in the Official Gazette "La Gaceta". Given in the city of Tegucigalpa, Municipality of the Central District, in the Session Hall of the National Congress, on the twenty-second day of the month of April of two thousand fourteen. MAURICIO OLIVA HERRERA PRESIDENT MARIO ALONSO PÉREZ LÓPEZ SECRETARY ROMÁN VILLEDA AGUILAR SECRETARY To the Executive Branch. Therefore: Execute. Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., May 20, 2014. JUAN ORLANDO HERNÁNDEZ ALVARADO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC THE STATE SECRETARY OF THE SECURITY OFFICE. ARTURO CORRALES ÁLVAREZ Legislative Branch DECREE No. 22-2014 THE NATIONAL CONGRESS, WHEREAS: That in accordance with Article 189 of the Constitution of the Republic, the recess must be defined in the Organic Law of the Legislative Branch and in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 55 of the aforementioned Law, it corresponds from May 1 to 31 of each year. WHEREAS: That the need arises to alternate the recess period of the National Congress, exceptionally, for the study and approval of several Decrees of general interest for the country. WHEREAS: That in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 189 of the Constitution of the Republic, Ordinary sessions may be extended for the time deemed necessary. WHEREAS: That in accordance with Article 205, power 1) of the Constitution of the Republic, establishes: to create, decree, interpret, reform and repeal laws. THEREFORE; IT DECREES:
Postpone the recess dates of the National Congress to the period from June 11 to July 12, and at the same time, enable its sessions from May 1 to 31 of the present year, and resume its sessions on July 15 of the current year.
Related laws
- Law on Rewards Decree No. 21-2014 — This law creates the Most Wanted Program, which publishes information about people in criminal proceedings to help their capture. It allows paying rewards to citizens who provide useful information to apprehend offenders, keeping their identity secret. It benefits public safety and those who collaborate with justice. (Decree 21-2014, 2014)
- Decree 258-2011 Amending Article 78 of the Law on Permanent Deprivation of Property — This decree reforms how money and assets seized from criminals are distributed. Confiscated funds are allocated as follows: 55% to police, prosecutors, and courts that investigated; 4% to the administrative office; 2% to victims; 2% to witness protection; 1% to informants; and 15% to sports. It benefits law enforcement institutions, crime victims, and social programs. (Decree 258-2011, 2010)
- Reform to the Childhood and Adolescence Code (Decree 35-2013) — This decree reforms Honduras' Code of Childhood and Adolescence to modernize child protection. It establishes that all persons under 18 years are children with inalienable rights, prohibits maltreatment, sale of harmful products, and child labor. It creates a special justice system for juvenile offenders focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment. (Decree 35-2013, 2013)
- Resolución No. 2023-3913 — Registro de Señal de Propaganda FROM A STORE TO A STORY (Decree 2023-3913, 2024)
- Resolución No. 2023-3912 — Registro de Marca de Servicio DUFRY (Decree 2023-3912, 2024)