Liberalismo, legislação criminal e codificação : o Código Penal de 1852 : cento e cinquenta anos da sua publicação

Abstract

On the 150th anniversary of the appearance of the first Portuguese penal code, we seek to clarify the conditions which lead to its approval. Although it was essentially a failed attempt to reform penal legislation, it was nevertheless a vital instrument to accomplish the transition between the absolutist and the liberal, constitutional regime.