The authors are Portuguese-Americans and both attorneys at law. Tony Castro, however, embrace the office of assistant district attorney in the Bronx, New York City. Longtime friends and former associates when Tony Castro was still practicing in the private sector, they had the pioneer idea of writing this book of Compared Penal Law in which they establish the major differences between the American and Portuguese Penal systems. The precedent case in the US versus the codes in Portugal, the legal proceedings in both systems, the opening of a criminal case, the plea bargains, the trial and appeals, life and death sentences, 25 years as the maximum prison sentence in Portugal, etc.

The book also identifies the law enforcement agencies in both systems and it appoints the judicial errors in the US where people wrongly convicted remain in prison for decades and, in some cases, they were executed innocent. It also speaks about the “Big Dan’s” rape case which involved several Portuguese citizens living in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the first national televised case that even inspired a movie with the famous Hollywood actress Jodie Foster.

Finally, the book has a set of American and Portuguese forms such: search warrants, arrest warrants, accusatory, sentences and other important legal documentation.

Click here to acquire the book.