Symbolic formalism in life sentencing and its impact on personal liberty: a jurisprudential analysis of the Peruvian Constitutional Court
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71112/388app98Keywords:
life imprisonment, personal liberty, proportionality, resocialization, human rightsAbstract
This article analyzes the legal application of life imprisonment in Peru, assessing its compatibility with the fundamental right to personal liberty. Based on a study of five Constitutional Court rulings, it identifies patterns and deficiencies regarding the proportionality of the sentence, judicial review, and its resocialization purposes. Although national jurisprudence validates this sanction under the condition of a review at 35 years, this requirement often operates as a symbolic formality without guaranteeing effective rehabilitation. It also notes that this penalty disproportionately affects vulnerable populations with limited access to adequate defense, deepening the structural inequalities of the justice system. The article argues that the current application of life imprisonment violates fundamental rights such as personal liberty, human dignity, and the possibility of social reintegration. It proposes a critical review of this penalty from a human rights and due process perspective.
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