Convicted persons must be provided with an advocate within 24 hours - law comes into force

From now on, the administration of places of detention has a duty to immediately allow convicted persons to inform their advocate of the punishment imposed on them. The right to free legal aid in disciplinary proceedings is also guaranteed.

Today, July 4, Law No. 4490-IX «On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Ensuring the Right to Free Legal Aid» came into force.

In particular, according to its provisions, the disciplinary procedure defined in Article 135 of the Criminal Enforcement Code has been changed. Part 5 of the Code provided that if a person serving a custodial sentence did not have access to an advocate or legal expert, the administration of the penal institution was obliged to provide him with the opportunity to seek legal assistance from entities providing such assistance. This obligation is now limited in time: «without delay, but no later than 24 hours from the moment of receiving the relevant request from such a person or their close relatives».

A new provision has also been introduced, whereby in such cases the disciplinary commission shall suspend disciplinary proceedings until it receives a copy of the decision to provide free secondary legal aid. The suspension of disciplinary proceedings shall suspend the period for imposing the penalty.

In addition, in accordance with the procedure for applying penalties to persons deprived of liberty (Article 134 of the Code), when imposing a penalty on a convicted person, the prison administration must give them the opportunity to notify their close relatives, advocate, or other legal professionals who are entitled by law to provide legal assistance in person or on behalf of a legal entity. This obligation is also specified: first, the method of notification must be chosen by the convicted person himself; second, the administration must provide this opportunity without delay, but no later than 24 hours from the moment the penalty is imposed.

In addition to the Criminal Enforcement Code, Law No. 4490-IX also amended the Law on Free Legal Aid. From now on, close relatives and family members of persons who have disappeared under special circumstances are entitled to free secondary legal aid in the form of drafting procedural documents and representation (in courts, other state bodies, local self-government bodies, before other persons). They can receive FLA on issues related to the protection of their rights or interests and/or the rights or interests of a person missing under special circumstances, as defined by the Law on the Legal Status of Persons Missing under Special Circumstances.