The Senate of the Republic approved over 70 changes to the Penal Process Code yesterday, Wednesday 26 March. The modifications include authorizations to make injuries caused by domestic violence subject to public action and to allow judges of the First Instance to decide cases involving sentences of up to five years in prison. The legislation also involves deadlines for filing charges as well as the possibility of holding the Justice Department responsible for poor performance of its duties. One important point, according to El Nuevo Diario, is that judges can now authorize search warrants at night in cases involving drug trafficking, kidnapping or terrorism while at the same time withdrawing the authority of the National Police to search private residences in the absence of Justice Department officials or in urgent circumstances. Another major change that was approved by the Senate was the extension of preventive custody to 24 months in normal cases and to as much as 36 months in cases that are declared to be complex.