The abbreviated procedure in Spanish criminal law and what it is for

The abbreviated procedure is a special criminal procedure that is used to expedite the investigation, trial and adjudication of certain crimes.

It is used for offenses punishable by imprisonment for less than nine years or other non-custodial sentences. It is regulated in article 757 and following of the Spanish Law of Criminal Procedure.

The abbreviated procedure is used to prosecute those crimes that are punished with a prison sentence of less than nine years or "any other penalties of a different nature, whether single, joint or alternative, whatever their amount or duration" and that require the practice of investigation proceedings during the investigation phase. The goal is to streamline procedures.

The abbreviated procedure should not be confused with the speedy trial. One of the many differences between these two procedural tools is that speedy trials are applied to those crimes whose investigation is presumed to be simple.