Code of Criminal Procedure of Haiti

The code has 472 articles. Its first provisions say that the action to apply penalties belongs only to the officials charged with it by law, that public action ends with the death of the accused, and that civil action may be brought at the same time and before the same judges. Further parts cover the judicial police and the officers who exercise it, government commissioners, investigating judges and their orders, and referral of accused persons to the criminal court. They also cover the dean's direction of jurors and the duty of citizens to sit on juries. The closing articles set time limits: three years for correctional offenses and one year for police contraventions. Article 472 repeals contrary laws and makes the code enforceable from January 1, 1836. Later amendments are flagged in the text, including laws of July 12, 1920 and March 29, 1928, a decree-law of May 19, 1937 and a decree of November 10, 1962.