Modernization of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Inspection System

Recently published, Law No. 65/X/2025, of September 10, 2025, which is already in force, introduces a profound reform to the Public Prosecutor’s Office Inspection System (simply SIMP), making it more modern, efficient, and oriented towards meritocracy and accountability.

The new law strengthens the oversight, evaluation, and discipline of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, ensuring greater transparency and credibility in the justice system in Cape Verde.

Mission and fundamental principles

The SIMP‘s mission is to oversee the activities of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, evaluate the service and merit of magistrates, court officers, and other human resources, and ensure discipline (Articles 1 and 4).

Its actions are based on principles such as legality, equality, impartiality, autonomy, confidentiality, and continuity (Articles 16 to 26), ensuring fair and impartial inspections.

Structure and composition

SIMP is composed of Public Prosecutors, supported by its own secretariat. The direction of the service is the responsibility of the Senior Inspector, who prepares the annual inspection plan, conducts high-level disciplinary proceedings, and chooses the secretary of the inspection secretariat (Articles 6 to 12).

Continuous monitoring and specialized inspections

The law distinguishes between two types of legal action:

• Concurrent monitoring: continuous monitoring throughout the year, preventing irregularities.
• Inspection actions: specific, planned or extraordinary inspections (Articles 27 and 28).

Inspections are divided into:

• Classifications: evaluate the performance and merit of judges and court officers, with direct consequences for their careers, ranging from promotions to dismissals (Articles 35 to 62).
• Non-classificatory: they analyze the functioning of the prosecutor’s offices and services, as well as the working conditions (Article 35).

Objective Assessment and Accountability

The law establishes clear evaluation parameters, with scores ranging from 0 to 20, ratings from “Very Good” to “Mediocre,” and defined coefficients for each criterion (Articles 69 to 74). Ratings below expectations may lead to extraordinary inspections, preventive suspension, or disciplinary proceedings, ensuring effective accountability.

Valuing and professionalizing SIMP staff

The staff statute provides for function and exclusivity allowances, merit-based promotions, reduced service time for retirement, and rigorous recruitment criteria, making the role more attractive and professional (Articles 82 to 107).

Key innovations and expected impact

• Continuous and preventative monitoring, allowing for closer and more regular performance tracking.
• A clear separation between evaluating people and services, with a focus on greater specialization and objectivity.
• A merit-based system with concrete consequences, thus promoting justice, transparency, and accountability.
• Enhanced safeguards, such as randomly selecting inspectors, the right of reply for those being inspected, and principles of impartiality, ensure fair processes.
• Professionalization of tax inspectors, with improved benefits and rigorous recruitment criteria, enhances the career.

It is important to mention that, according to its Article 115, Law No. 85/VIII/2015, of April 6, and Law No. 62/IX/2019, of August 6, are repealed, thus consolidating the modernization and updating of SIMP.

In short, Law No. 65/X/2025 of September 10, 2025 transforms SIMP into a central pillar of the quality, efficiency, and credibility of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, strengthening public trust and consolidating a more transparent, rigorous, and meritocratic justice system in Cape Verde.