descriminalizados

Descriminalizados is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese to describe people or acts for which the criminal penalties have been removed by law or policy, so they are no longer treated as criminals for those specific behaviors. The term emphasizes a shift from criminalization to a framework that treats certain conduct as a civil, administrative, or health issue rather than a crime.

Etymologically, the word combines de- (removal) with criminalizar (to criminalize) and is commonly used in discussions of drug policy, sexuality, and other areas where jurisdictions have substituted punitive sanctions with non-criminal responses. It does not necessarily imply full legalization, as decriminalization can still carry fines, mandatory treatment, or administrative measures, while the conduct remains outside the criminal code.

Differences with legalization are central to its use: decriminalization removes criminal penalties for specific acts but may retain regulatory controls, whereas legalization fully authorizes the act under law. In many cases, descriminalizados may still face administrative consequences or health-based interventions, and record expungement or relief from past criminal designations is not automatically guaranteed.

Notable examples are found in drug policy reforms, such as Portugal’s decriminalization framework implemented in 2001, which treats possession of small amounts as a non-criminal matter subject to administrative penalties and public health approaches. The term also appears in debates about sexuality, prostitution, or other conduct historically criminalized, where reforms aim to reduce stigma and emphasize public health, rights, and social inclusion.