The Chilean government announced today the suspension of sentence reduction decrees for all types of crimes, amid the crisis sparked by benefits granted to 56 individuals convicted of sexual abuse against minors.

According to government spokesperson Gonzalo Arenas, the shift in policy stems from the Executive branch now supporting a bill presented in the Senate that completely eliminates sentence reductions.

The release of those responsible for rapes and other assaults against children and adolescents provoked widespread outrage both in the streets and in Congress, where the opposition announced a constitutional impeachment attempt against Justice Minister Fernando Rabat.

The scandal intensified upon learning that three individuals convicted of crimes against humanity during the dictatorship (1973–1990) and 115 foreign nationals sentenced for drug trafficking were also among the beneficiaries.

This Monday, the government spokesperson had to address fresh criticism regarding the prison benefit granted to a 40-year-old man from the Valparaíso region convicted of murdering an elderly person.

The decree was signed just last Thursday by Minister Rabat and the new Undersecretary of that ministry, Josefina Soto, while the crisis was at its peak and had already forced the departure of the department's second-in-command, Luis Silva.