Ministerio Público de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Ministerio Público
Summary
The Ministerio Público (Public Ministry / Attorney General's Office) is constitutionally established under Article 285 of the 1999 CRBV as part of the Poder Ciudadano. It independently directs all criminal investigations, including those against law-enforcement officers. Specialized penitentiary prosecutors (fiscales de ejecución penitenciaria) are mandated to visit all detention facilities, monitor conditions, and receive complaints, with statutory access to all such establishments. The Fiscal General is elected by the National Assembly for a single seven-year term. Under the Maduro government the institution has functioned with significantly reduced independence in practice, but the statutory framework retains broad investigative and corrections-monitoring powers.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Legislative appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | 7 years |
| Removal standard | Impeachment only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | Yes |
| Compel testimony | Yes |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela; Ley Orgánica del Ministerio Público
- Citation
- CRBV Art. 285; LOMP Art. 16; COPP Art. 111
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
National jurisdiction over all criminal investigations including those involving law-enforcement officers and corrections personnel; statutory mandate to monitor conditions in police stations, prisons, juvenile facilities, military detention, and all state detention facilities; penitentiary prosecutors make regular visits and receive complaints.
Other ombudsman bodies in Venezuela
- Defensoría del Pueblo 62/100