The jurisprudence of the Supreme Court (1870-1995) on offences committed by public officials: disobedience and refusal of assistance

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse how jurisprudence has contributed to the configuration of offences committed by public employees, specifically disobedience, refusal of assistance and refusal to hold public office. Even though criminal law is one of the branches of the legal system in which the evolution of a society is most noticeable, if we analyse the precepts of the different Penal Codes in force from 1870 to 1995, referring to offences committed by civil servants, they hardly vary in content. In this sense, it is necessary to study criminal jurisprudence as it carries two fundamental tasks for developing law: its interpretation and configuration - that is, in part, its creation.