In accordance with the Código Penal (Spanish Criminal Code), specifically Ley Orgánica 10/1995, de 23 de noviembre, in its current consolidated version (last updated via Ley Orgánica 4/2023 and other subsequent reforms), the crime of robbery with violence or intimidation is detailed as follows:
1. Definition and Elements (Artículos 237 and 242)
According to Artículo 237 of the Código Penal:
"Son reos del delito de robo los que, con ánimo de lucro, se apoderaren de las cosas muebles ajenas empleando fuerza en las cosas para acceder o abandonar el lugar donde éstas se encuentran o violencia o intimidación en las personas, sea al cometer el delito, para proteger la huida, o sobre los que acudiesen en auxilio de la víctima o que le persiguieren."
In English, this defines robbery as the seizure of personal property belonging to others, with the intent to profit, using:
- Violence: Physical force applied to a person.
- Intimidation: The use of threats or psychological pressure to overcome the victim's will.
2. General Penalties (Artículo 242.1)
The basic penalty for robbery with violence or intimidation is established in Artículo 242.1:
- Penalty: Prison sentence (prisión) of 2 to 5 years.
- This penalty is applied regardless of the value of the stolen item. Unlike theft (hurto), the use of violence automatically classifies the act as a serious crime (delito), not a minor offense (delito leve).
3. Aggravating Circumstances
The Código Penal specifies certain situations where the penalty is increased:
- Use of Weapons (Artículo 242.2): If the perpetrator uses weapons or other equally dangerous means, the penalty shall be imposed in its upper half (mitad superior).
- Range: 3 years, 6 months, and 1 day to 5 years of imprisonment.
- Inhabited House or Public Buildings (Artículo 242.3): If the robbery is committed in an inhabited house (casa habitada), a building open to the public, or their dependencies:
- Penalty: Prison sentence of 3 years and 6 months to 5 years.
- Cumulative Aggravation: If weapons are used during a robbery in an inhabited house, the penalty is imposed in its upper half (4 years, 3 months, and 1 day to 5 years).
4. Mitigating Circumstances (Artículo 242.4)
In cases where the violence or intimidation is of "lesser entity" (menor entidad), and considering the circumstances of the act, the court may:
- Impose the penalty lower by one degree (pena inferior en grado).
- Range: 1 to 2 years of imprisonment.
5. Relevant Jurisprudence and Interpretation
The Tribunal Supremo (Spanish Supreme Court) has established several criteria for these cases:
- Immediate Violence: Jurisprudence (e.g., Sentencia del Tribunal Supremo 121/2020) clarifies that violence can occur before, during, or after the seizure of the object if it is used to facilitate the escape or to protect the stolen goods.
- Intimidation: It must be "sufficient and effective," meaning it must be capable of causing a reasonable fear of immediate danger in an average person.
- Concurrence of Crimes: If the violence causes actual injuries (lesiones), the perpetrator is typically charged with both the robbery and the specific crime of injury (concurso de delitos), as per Artículo 242.1 in fine.
6. Summary Table of Penalties
| Type of Robbery | Legal Basis | Prison Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Type | Art. 242.1 | 2 to 5 years |
| Using Weapons | Art. 242.2 | 3 years 6 months and 1 day to 5 years |
| Inhabited House | Art. 242.3 | 3 years 6 months to 5 years |
| Lesser Entity | Art. 242.4 | 1 to 2 years |
Official Source: Ley Orgánica 10/1995, de 23 de noviembre, del Código Penal - BOE
MANDATORY WARNING: This information is for guidance purposes only and is based on the current Spanish legislation. The final interpretation and application of the law correspond exclusively to the Courts and Tribunals of Spain. For any real legal matter or criminal proceedings, you must consult with a qualified criminal defense lawyer (abogado penalista).