Guidance

Nicaragua: prisoner pack

Updated 8 October 2021

1. Disclaimer

This booklet was compiled by the Consular Section, British Embassy San Jose. It is revised on a regular basis. If any of the information contained in this booklet is incorrect, please draw inaccuracies to our attention so that we can make amendments. The British Embassy in San Jose is not accountable for the information provided in this booklet. Local proceedings are subject to change at any time.

2. Introduction

2.1 Who can help?

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO): The FCDO is represented overseas by its Embassies and Consulates (High Commission in Commonwealth Countries). Both employ consular officers, and one of their duties is to provide help and advice to any British National who gets into difficulty in a foreign country. There is no British Embassy in Nicaragua and services are provided by the Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica.

2.2 About the Embassy

We are impartial; we are not here to judge you. We aim to make sure that you are treated properly and fairly in accordance with local regulations, and that you are treated no less favourably than other prisoners.

We can answer questions about your welfare and about prison regulations but you must ask your lawyer or the court about legal matters. The attached list of lawyers is provided by the British Embassy for your convenience, but neither His Majesty’s Government, nor any official of the Consulate, take any responsibility for the competence or probity of any firm/advocate on the list or for the consequence of any legal action initiated or advice given.

We cannot get you out of prison, pay fines, stand bail or interfere with local judicial procedures to get you out of prison nor secure you an earlier trial date; we cannot investigate a crime.

We have tried to make sure that the information in this booklet is accurate and up to date, but the British Embassy cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information. If in doubt, contact a lawyer.

2.3 Who are the Consular Representatives?

Andrew Castle, Vice-Consul. Email: Andrew.Castle@fcdo.gov.uk

2.4 Contact Information

British Embassy

Edificio Centro Colón, Paseo Colón and Streets 38 and 40
San Jose
Apartado 815 - 1007
San Jose
Costa Rica

Telephone (506) 2258-2025/ +44 20 7008 5000

Fax (506) 2233 9938

For general enquiries, email: ukin.costarica@fcdo.gov.uk

For consular enquiries (e.g. relating to difficulties encountered by British nationals), please use our contact form: www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-san-jose

Embassy working hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Thursday; 8:00am – 1pm Fridays.

3. First Steps

3.1 Who will know I have been detained?

As soon as a British citizen is arrested and detained in Nicaragua, the Nicaraguan authorities should normally contact the British Embassy. But we may not be informed within 24 hours. It is your right to decide whether we are contacted or not. N.B-You do not have to inform us. However, it is also your right to contact us, and if you wish to do so it is essential that you inform the British Embassy or Consulate as soon as possible after your arrest. You may also be able to make a phone call to the Embassy or to family (with a covering charge).

3.2 What will my family be told?

For reasons of confidentiality we are not permitted to tell anyone that an adult has been detained or what the charges are, without that adult’s permission. However, if a minor is detained we are obliged to inform the minor’s next of kin.

Should a detained adult wish to inform his/her family, we can make contact with them through our colleagues in the FCDO in London. We can give your family or next of kin advice on prison procedure, regulations, and how you are doing. We can also pass on any messages from you.

3.3 What will the Consulate do?

We aim to contact you 24 hours after we learn of your arrest and arrange a consular visit as soon as reasonably practicable, ideally within 48 hours; after this we aim to visit you every quarter. During our routine visits you will have the opportunity to discuss any health issues, security concerns, your treatment in prison and any other general issues that you wish to raise with our consular staff. At each consular visit, our staff will complete a “Visit Report Form”. If there is any information that you would prefer not to disclose to a Next of Kin you should let us know during the visit.

If appropriate, and you agree, we will consider approaching the local authorities if you are not treated in line with internationally-accepted standards.

In case they wish to transfer any money to you, we can tell your next of kin how to transfer money through the FCDO in London. Enquiries on transferring money for prisoners can be sent to:

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Desk Officer for Costa Rica, WH4.8
Consular Casework Team
Consular Directorate
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH
Tel: 020 7008 0169

If you have dual nationality and are imprisoned in the country of your other nationality the British Consul cannot help you formally, under International Law. However, Consular staff will provide whatever informal assistance the local authorities will allow. Your relatives and friends can contact the above address for advice from the FCDO in London.

3.4 Would I have a criminal record in the UK?

You should be aware that if you have been convicted for certain serious offences, such as sexual assault or drugs trafficking, we are obliged to inform the UK police. It is therefore possible that information about this offence may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer.

4. Visits

4.1 How do my family and friends arrange a visit?

You are allowed to receive visitors.

Visitors must identify themselves when they arrive at the prison by showing an identification document containing a photograph (e.g. passport). This is held by the prison and returned at the end of the visit. Visitors will be searched before entering the prison.

We advise the family to contact us well in advance so that we can inform the prison governor and work on the visiting programme.

4.2 How many visits am I allowed?

Individual prison policy may vary but both remanded and sentenced prisoners should find 1-2 weekly visits allowed for family travelling from within Nicaragua and the prison authorities are normally well disposed to extra visits for family coming from outside the country. You are also permitted a conjugal visit once or twice a month.

4.3 Consular visits

Under current guidance for Central America, we currently visit every 3 months. You will be called to the prison administration offices during a consular visit. You can also contact us by telephone (Tel: +506 2258 2025)

4.4 What can visitors bring?

Once a week, visitors can bring prison comforts. All bags and parcels will be searched before entry and authorities have the right to withhold items that they deem unacceptable (amongst others, weapons, knives, alcohol, drugs, clothes made of black fabric, sunglasses, caps, canned food, grapes, apples and any other food from which alcohol can be produced). It is possible and very common to bring cigarettes.

Visitors are not allowed to use blue clothing in their visits to avoid any confusion because that is the uniforms’ color of the prisoners, nor can they bring their cellphones, or wear accessories such as watches and rings. It is also prohibited for female visitors to use halter or strap shirts, earrings, bracelets, or any other accessories.

5. Prison conditions/services

5.1 Arrival at Police Station/Prison

Nicaraguan authorities can usually be relied on to notify to consular of someone’s detention and should cooperate in allowing consular contact.

General prison conditions. Although the prison conditions in Nicaragua may vary depending on the jail, they tend to be quite poor – in the worst of cases (at the police detention centres) the cells are poorly lit, poorly ventilated and have no furniture or bedding. The cells are also highly over-crowded. Police officers tend to be professional in these centres, however, and mistreatment is rare.

Although marginally better, conditions in municipal jails - which prisoners are transferred to after their trials – are still very poor, with overcrowding, little hygiene and occasional incidents of violence have been reported.

Nicaragua also has two larger state prisons in Managua – one for men and one for women – where, compared to the regional jails, conditions are much better. The biggest advantage at these prisons is that there is more space, because normally for every cell there are 20 people sleeping in hammocks.

Hammocks are brought in by relatives who leave them behind the counter and then prison guards deliver them to the inmates. Visitors can also bring mattresses, but they are easily damaged because of poor conditions within the cells.

Because of the extremely low budgets of Nicaraguan prisons, prisoners are supplied with very little by the jails themselves – they are given two small meals a day and maybe a roll of toilet paper and some toothpaste once a month if there’s money left over – and it is expected that families and friends will instead supply the prisoners with anything they need, including extra food. Each jail has a centre where these supplies can be dropped off daily and prison guards can usually be relied on to give them to the prisoners.

5.2 How can I receive money?

There are two ways in which you can receive financial assistance while in prison.

• Private Funds: It is possible to transfer money through the FCDO in London. Family or friends should contact the desk officer for Nicaragua on 0207 008 0169 or 0207 008 0192 for more information.

• Prisoners Abroad: This charity (see pages 14-15) can help prisoners who have no other financial support, by sending a monthly sum granted via the Embassy for the purchase of food and other essentials. Let the Embassy know if you need this support, or write directly to the Prisoners Abroad caseworker for Nicaragua. They can also send a supply of vitamin pills.

5.3 Can I work in prison?

Yes – there are work programmes at the prisons through which prisoners do any work that is needed by the municipality. These programmes provide the prisoners with small wages and can help reduce a prisoner’s sentence.

5.4 Can I study in prison?

Yes. Although there is no education system provided by the jails themselves, the prisons do allow NGOs and other organisations to run learning programmes that prisoners can attend.

5.5 Can I receive medical and dental treatment?

Although there is a certain level of medical and dental care at the jails and prisoners will be brought to a regional hospital if necessary, the care is very basic, as is any medication supplied. If any special medication is needed, such as medication for chronic illnesses, it is expected that the families or friends of the prisoners will supply it, as the jails simply do not have the resources to do so.

5.6 Food and Diet

Because of the very scarce resources of the jails, a typical meal – which is supplied twice a day – includes a small bowl of rice and beans, and family members are expected to provide the prisoners with any more food required, which they are allowed to drop off daily. In the larger state prisons, more food is supplied at the canteens there, but at an extra cost.

5.7 Mail/Parcels

The jails themselves do not offer a postal service, so any mail that a prisoner wishes to send or receive must go through a family member or friend. If a prisoner has no outside contacts they can send their mail through a friend of an inmate, but they will often be charged.

5.8 Can I make telephone calls?

Prisoners held in “Semi-Abierto” or restricted regime are not permitted cellphones and may make calls for an hour once every 15 days from a fixed line. Prisoners in “Abierto” or the less-restricted regime can use cellphones and make unlimited calls from the fixed lines.

5.9 Leisure and entertainment

Again because of the very low budget of the jails, there is virtually no entertainment for the prisoners. Some of the larger jails have sports, such as football or basketball, but they are badly organised and that is the extent of any leisure activities offered by any of the jails. However, family members are permitted to bring entertainment (e.g. MP3 players, radios, televisions, books etc.) for the prisoners.

5.10 Drugs

Prisoners are strongly advised to avoid any involvement in drugs. Drugs are freely available within Nicaraguan prisons, although officially prison authorities deny this. Do everything you can to find other ways to cope with life in prison and avoid consuming drugs. Not only will drug consumption weaken further your state of health, but drug taking invariably results in the creation of personal debts. These debts will attract accelerated rates of interest and if not paid off, could result in serious verbal and physical harassment. It is also important that any offer of drugs is not taken up because, even if they appear to be given without charge, in many cases money is later requested and violent situations can arise when a prisoner owes another money. Also, if any prisoner is caught with drugs within prison, the custodial sentence may increase or prison guards may restrict visits for a certain period of time.

5.11 How can I make a complaint about mistreatment?

If you wish to file a complaint please write to the Embassy/Consulate or let us know during the consular visit so that we take your concerns forward.

6. The Nicaraguan Judicial System

(This section also covers Appeals, Remission, Parole, Clemency and Transfer)

The Embassy/Consulate cannot interfere with the Nicaraguan Judicial system. We cannot ask for your case to be judged quickly or ask the authorities to waive any penalties. Below you will find more information about the Nicaraguan judicial system.

6.1 Is the system the same as the UK?

Although not identical, the system is very similar to the system in the UK. For example, prisoners are presumed innocent until proven guilty; they have a right to a legal representative, interpreter, fair trial and appeal. There are also trials by jury and by judge, depending on the case and whether you are being tried in a criminal or a civil court.

Remember that you should never sign anything you cannot read.

6.2 What should happen when I am arrested?

If you are arrested you will initially be sent to a police detention centre nearby. Police have up to 90 days to charge you or you must be released. While this is usually respected, it is important to understand that this time refers to working hours, so if, for example, you are arrested on a Friday, the earliest you can be released by is Monday. If charged, police should read the charges and your rights and provide an interpreter. Whilst you are there police will usually gather evidence and interrogate you. You will then be placed on remand and will remain at the police detention centre until the time of your trial. You will be assigned a Public Defender if you request one.

At the detention centre you will share a cell with a number of people. You may have access to your belongings, but this depends on whether the police consider them as evidence. If considered as evidence you will not be allowed to keep your possessions. Your passport and other identification will be taken away, but are usually held in safe keeping until such time as you leave the prison.

6.3 For how long can I be remanded in custody?

Prisoners can be held on remand (without trial) for three months. At the end of this period the judicial process can continue but the detained person should be released on bail.

6.4 What happens when I am charged?

For a serious offence, such as a drug related crime, you are likely to be detained in “prisión preventiva”, which is the equivalent to the UK’s remand in custody.

6.5 What provision is there for bail?

Although it is possible to be released on bail while awaiting your trial, this is only for very minor charges and even then it occurs very rarely.

6.6 What kind of legal assistance is available?

Consular staff cannot give legal advice, but they can provide you with a list of lawyers, all of whom speak English. You can hire a lawyer for yourself at any time after your arrest; a list of lawyers is included in this information pack. Normally if you hire a private lawyer s/he will ask you for a cash advance of his/her estimated legal fees before s/he will take your case on. The British Embassy cannot pay legal fees or guarantee to a lawyer that you will pay them.

If you cannot afford a private lawyer you can apply at any time for a public defender. The Court must appoint a Legal Aid/Pro Bono Lawyer (Defensor Público) if you do not have funds to hire a private lawyer and you are charged with a crime. However, it is very rare that a public lawyer speaks English and you must be aware that hiring a translator often leads to misunderstandings through mistranslation, as well as occasional breaches of client confidentiality by the translators.

As in any country, some lawyers are better than others (paying a large fee does not guarantee that you will get a good lawyer). If you do decide to pay for a lawyer, it is wise to agree a flat fee for the whole case before they begin work or you may find yourself facing “extra expenses”. Ex-prisoners advise talking to other prisoners, as they often know which lawyers to avoid and what hidden costs there might be. However do not pay any money without seeing the lawyer recommended first.

6.7 What happens at the trial?

Depending on the crime, your case will either be heard by a jury or a judge. If your trial is by jury, you will present your case to the jury, who will then decide whether you are guilty or not guilty and, if you are found guilty, a judge will appoint your sentence. If you are subjected to a bench trial, the judge will determine both whether or not you are guilty and your sentence.

All the documents relating to the case and further evidence must be submitted to the president of the court. The trial will be heard in Spanish, an interpreter will be provided.

6.8 The Right to Defence

The Nicaraguan right to defence is regulated by the Political Constitution and is classed as a fundamental right. Defence therefore is a right of all accused, which must be guaranteed in any trial to which s/he may be subjected. This right is also regulated and guaranteed by different International Treaties.

The right to defence discussed above can be exercised in the following three ways: 1. The accused has the right to be defended by private lawyers, the cost being paid by the accused. 2. When the accused does not elect a private defence lawyer the Court will name a Public Defender, in which case the State assumes the corresponding costs. The designation of a Public Defender does not prejudice the right of the accused to later name his own defence. 3. The accused can also defend himself, as long as this does not prejudice the efficiency of the defence or the normal working of the process.

6.9 Sentences

After a court hearing, a sentence is given by the secretary of the court. This sentence depends on the crime committed, and any time spent in a detention centre prior to the trial counts towards the sentence. Life imprisonment was recently implemented to punish “hate crimes”, to punish femicides, sexual assault crimes perpetuated against minors and parricides. For all other crimes, the maximum penalty is 30 years.

6.10 How can appeals be made?

The accused has the right to appeal their sentence to a High Court through their lawyers. However, the appeal process is very slow, and can lead to delays in finalising the sentence. This becomes a problem when a prisoner wants to apply for prison transfer to the UK. It is worth seeking a second opinion before taking the decision to appeal a sentence. Be wary of private lawyers who are happy to appeal so that they can remain on your pay roll.

6.11 What provision is there for reduction of sentence (remission) e.g. for good behaviour?

A remission is only available to prisoners once half of their sentence has been served.

6.12 What provision is there for early release e.g. on parole?

At the half-way point it is possible to request parole, (“libertad condicional” in Spanish) and such a request is reviewed by the judge who originally sentenced the prisoner. This is a very bureaucratic process and it is subject to many conditions:

• Certificate stating that the prisoner has already served half of the sentence
• Prisoner’s application to the director of the prison requesting “media pena” (“sentenced halved”)
• Certified copy of trial papers
• Certified copy of final and enforceable sentence
• Good behaviour report from the prison director
• Medical/character/psychological reports
• Certificate ruling out any intention of escape
• Criminal record certificates from all criminal tribunals, judicial police, drugs, police, traffic police from the province where you were detained confirming that a prisoner has no other outstanding cases against them
• Legalised contract of employment
• Accommodation certificate confirming that the prisoner will remain in Nicaragua during the period of the “media pena”.

It is difficult for foreign prisoners to qualify for “libertad condicional” given the accommodation and employment requirement. It is also hard to convince a judge that a foreign prisoner will remain in Nicaragua whilst they serve the remainder of the sentence.

6.13 What provision is there for clemency or pardon?

Application for amnesty or pardon can be made to Congress. However, those convicted of crimes such as torture, drug trafficking, and “heinous” crimes including aggravated murder, aggravated rape and robbery resulting in death are not eligible for amnesty/pardon.

It is possible to apply for clemency only on medical grounds if a prisoner falls terminally ill whilst in prison in Nicaragua, however this is a long process.

6.14 Review of Sentencing

It is possible to request a review of your sentence at any point prior to release. This is a long process however and it often takes more than one year for a decision to be made. In requesting a review, the prisoner, with the help of his/her lawyers, requests certain documents be disqualified from the decision process, etc.

6.15 What about any financial penalties?

These will depend on individual cases and you are advised to speak to your lawyer.

6.16 Is transfer to another prison within Nicaragua possible?

Yes, if the prisoner requests a transfer and local prisoner directors authorise the transfer. If you are interested in a transfer, please speak to the Prison directly.

6.17 Is transfer to the UK a possibility?

Yes, if all parties agree. A prisoner should submit a written petition for transfer. Transfers can only take place if prisoners have, amongst other things, a “final and enforceable sentence” (i.e. an appeal is not pending) and support from the relevant authorities in Nicaragua and the UK. In order to be transferred, a prisoner must fill out a transfer request form and submit it to the prison authorities. The transferral is a lengthy process and it can take up to several years between submitting the request and actually being transferred. Thus, transfers only occur for prisoners with lengthy sentences.

6.18 What are the procedures for release and deportation?

Once the Director of the Prison has submitted your order for release to the Police Headquarters, you will be picked up by the immigration authorities and transferred to an Illegal Immigrants Detention Centre. You will then be kept there until the relevant paperwork has been filled out - which usually takes about a week - and until you obtain the required documents to leave the country, such as a passport and air ticket.

7. Prisoners Abroad

Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad has offered practical support and advice to British citizens imprisoned overseas. It is the only UK charity providing this service and it is available to all, whether guilty or innocent, convicted or on remand. Prisoners Abroad is concerned with your health and welfare, both during your imprisonment and also on your return to the UK, through their resettlement service (if you have registered whilst in prison). They can also provide support and advice to your family during your imprisonment. In order to access any services, prisoners must first register with Prisoners Abroad by signing and returning their authorisation form.

Once you seek help from Prisoners Abroad, the Prisoner & Family Support Service will be your point of contact for advice and information. The type of assistance they can offer will vary from country to country, but generally they can provide you with information, in English, on:

• your rights as a prisoner and issues that may affect you such as health or transfer to the UK
• obtaining magazines, newspapers, books and the regular Prisoners Abroad newsletter
• writing to a pen pal
• learning the language of your country of imprisonment
• translation of documents
• grants for food if you are in a developing country and don’t have funds from other sources
• grants for essential medicines and toiletries if you don’t have funds from other sources
• preparing for release
• help for your loved ones, including information, family support groups and assistance with the cost of visiting

Address:
Prisoners Abroad
89 – 93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
UK

Telephone: 00 44 (0)20 7561 6820 or, for your relatives in the UK: Freephone 0808 172 0098 (Mondays to Fridays 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, UK time)

Email: info@prisonersabroad.org.uk

Website: www.prisonersabroad.org.uk

7.1 Registration

When we make our initial visit to a prisoner we will ensure that the Prisoners Abroad general information sheet and authorisation form are given to you. If you wish to become a member you may complete the form, either in our presence and then we will take it for you and fax it on or at a later date.

7.2 Financial Assistance Available

Craig Feehan Fund (CFF)

The Craig Feehan Fund (CFF) is available to prisoners in developing countries, including Nicaragua, who have no other source of income. Regular payments from the fund help prisoners to buy essentials, such as clothing and toiletries. In order to qualify for financial assistance the prisoner must have no financial support from family members.

Medical Fund:

Prisoners Abroad can help to pay for essential medical and dental treatment not provided by the prison authorities where the prisoner has no other means available to pay. An application procedure exists.

Vitamin Fund:

This fund is used to purchase a 3-month supply of vitamins for each prisoner who is a member of Prisoners Abroad in a number of countries including Nicaragua.

Resettlement:

Provided you are registered with Prisoners Abroad before your sentence finishes, Prisoners Abroad may help provide you with resettlement services.

8. Glossary of Terms

SPANISH	ENGLISH
A quo, el	Lower court from which a case is being appealed to a higher court
Abogado	Lawyer
Abrogar (una ley)	To repeal, to abrogate
Acción (para demandar)	Cause of legal action
Acción penal privada	Private prosecution
Acción penal pública, delito de	A criminal offence –can be prosecuted even when no action is taken by the injured party
Accionante	Plaintiff
Actuario	Clerk of a court of justice
Acusación de oficio	Compulsory prosecution
Afinidad, pariente por	Relative by marriage
Alegatos	Summation, allegation, brief
Allanamiento (a la demanda)	To accept a lawsuit (civil law)
Allanamiento (por la policía)	Raid, search
Allanamiento y robo	Breaking and entering and robbery
Ampliatoria, declaración	To expand one’s testimony before a court
Antecedentes (criminales)	Criminal record
Anteproyecto de constitución	Bill, draft law
Anticrético, contrato	Antichretic-agreement by which debtor offers creditor income from a property which has been pledged in lieu of interest on the debt
Apelación o reclamación	Appeal or complaint
Aplicación	Application
Asistencia judicial	Legal Aid Lawyer
Audiencia	Hearing, court
Auto interlocutorio	Procedural court ruling (abbreviated A.I.)
Autor intelectual (del crimen)	Mastermind
Autor material (del crimen)	Perpetrator
Beneficio de inventario, aceptar	To avoid liability for debts of the deceased, the heir may accept or reject the estate based on an inventory. In ordinary usage: to voice reservations about something
herencia
Beneficio de la duda	Benefit of the doubt
Bienes gananciales	Community property
Careo	Confrontation of criminals, suspects of witnesses
Celda	Punishment cell
Cláusula penal	Penal clause
Coartada	Alibi
Código Criminal	Criminal code
Código de Procedimento Criminal	Criminal Procedure Code
Colegio de Abogados	Bar Association
Condonación (de una deuda)	Remission or pardoning of a debt
Contravención	Minor offence
Cortes arbitrales	Arbitration courts
Culpable	Guilty
Daño intencional	Malicious mischief
Deber de obediencia	Duty of obedience
Declaración informativa	Testimony by someone who is neither a defendant nor a witness
Declaración testifical	Testimony by witness before a judge
Decreto supremo	Executive, presidential decree
Defensor Público	Public Defender
Delito	Major offence
Delito calificado	Specified offence
Delito de sangre	Crime involving personal injury or death
Denuncia / Acusación	Charge, accusation, report
Denuncia de la víctima	Criminal prosecution by victim
Derecho a juicio	Right to a trial
Derecho comparado	Comparative jurisprudence
Derecho de réplica	Right of rejoinder, right of rebuttal
Desacato (a la autoridad judicial)	Contempt of court
Detención provisional	Preliminary detention
Difamación / Calumnia	Slander, libel (if written)
Diligencias del sumario	Pre-trial inquest proceedings
Dolo	Malice, criminal intent
Edicto	Judicial notice
Error en persona	Mistaken identity
Estado de Derecho	Rule of law
Estado de emergencia	State of emergency
Estafa	Embezzlement, fraud
Estupro	Statutory rape
Evaluación de pruebas	Evaluation of evidence
Exámen de sangre	Blood test
Examen físico	Physical examination
Excarcelación	Release from jail
Excepción perentoria	Peremptory plea
Expediente	File
Expediente completo	Completed file
Extradición	Extradition
Extrajudicial (acuerdo)	Out of court settlement
Fallo	Ruling, decision
Fallo absolutorio	Finding for acquittal
Falso testimonio	Perjury
Falta	Misdemeanour
Fiscal	Public Prosecutor
Fiscal General	Chief Prosecutor
Fiscalía	Public Prosecutor’s Office
Guardia	Prison Warder
Homologar	To approve, to confirm, to ratify
Imputado	Defendant
Inhabilitación	Disqualification (from holding public office or from exercising any political or civil rights)
Inhabilitación absoluta	Total disqualification (from holding public office or from exercising any political or civil rights)
Inhabilitación especial	Partial disqualification (from holding certain offices or from exercising certain rights)
Instancia única	Exclusive jurisdiction
Instituto Médico-Legal	Forensic Institute
Instruir sumario	To open a pre-trial inquest
Intelectual, propiedad	Copyright
Interpelación judicial	Court summons
Intérprete	Interpreter
Intervención	To make a speech, to place a private or state-owned company under receivership, to interfere, intervene, to put an organisation under a board of trustees
Inviolabilidad (del domicilio)	The right to protection against trespassers
Juez	Judge
Juez de faltas	Misdemeanour judge
Juez de instrucción	Arraigning judge
Juez de la Corte Suprema de Justicia	Supreme Court judge
Juez de primera instancia	Lower court judge
Juez de segunda instancia	Appellate court judge
Juicio / Sentencia	Judgement
Juicio político	Impeachment, trial for malfeasance
Jurídico	Legal
Jurisdicción	Jurisdiction
Justicia	The courts, justice
Justicia ordinaria, común	Courts of law
Justicia, someterse a	To bring to trial
Juzgado Penal	Criminal Court
Laudo arbitral	Award

8.1 List of English-Speaking Lawyers in Nicaragua

This list is provided by the British Embassy in San José for the convenience of enquirers, but neither His Majesty’s Government nor any official of the consulate takes any responsibility for the competence or probity of any firm/advocate on the list or for the consequences or any legal action initiated or advice given.

You can find the updated list here. All correspond in English and Spanish.

You can find a list of official translators and interpreters in Nicaragua here.