Crime Victims
Under current legislation, crime victims of domestic violence, maltreatment, bodily harm and sexual assault can report directly to the branches and offices of
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (INMLCF), without the need for prior intervention by any judicial authority or criminal police body.
When the complaint is made, a medical-legal expert examination will be carried out, involving the collection of any traces. The INMLCF will subsequently forward the complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office, as well as the report of the expert examination carried out.
As part of its expert intervention, the INMLCF promotes, whenever necessary, access to victim support institutions or health services.
Private Examinations
Accordingly to its statutes, the INMLCF provides services not only to Courts and other administration of justice bodies, but also to other public and private entities, as well as individuals, in areas involving the application of medical-legal knowledge and other forensic sciences.
Examinations carried out at the request of public or private entities and private individuals usually involve the following:
- Autopsies and other cadaveric examinations for clinical (non-judicial) purposes;
- Embalming;
- Post-traumatic bodily harm assessment tests for accident or assault victims;
- Investigation of filiation / paternity;
- Toxicological examinations.
Citizens' Office
The Citizen's Office is a service management tool and a defence mechanism for its users. Its mission is to collect, process and forward citizens' requests for information, suggestions and compliments.
The office is located at INMLCF, I.P. headquarters and can be contacted at: gabinete.cidadao@inmlcf.mj.pt
Centre Branch
Area of activity:
Comarcas de: Anadia, Arganil, Condeixa-a-Nova, Coimbra, Lousã, Oliveira do Hospital, Pampilhosa da Serra, Penacova, Penela and Tábua.
Medical-Legal and Forensic Offices dependent on the Centre Branch:
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of Baixo Vouga (former Medical-Legal Office of Aveiro)
- Açores Ocidental Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (formerly Angra do Heroísmo Medical-Legal Office)
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of Beira Interior Sul (former Medical-Legal Office of Castelo Branco)
- Madeira Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (former Funchal Medical-Legal Office)
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of Beira Interior North (former Medical-Legal Offices of Guarda and Covilhã)
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of Pinhal Litoral (former Medical-Legal Office of Leiria)
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of the Middle Tagus (former Medical-Legal Office of Tomar)
- Dão-Lafões Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (formerly Viseu Medical-Legal Office)
- Açores Oriental Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (former Medical-Legal Office of Ponta Delgada).
North Branch
Areas of Activity
Comarcas de Gondomar, Porto, Maia, Matosinhos, Póvoa de Varzim, Valongo, Vila do Conde, Vila Nova de Gaia
Medical and Forensic Offices dependent on the Northern Branch:
- Cávado Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (former Braga Medical-Legal Office)
- Gabinete Médico-Legal e Forense de Alto Trás-os-Montes (former Gabinete Médico-Legal of Bragança)
- Gabinete Médico-Legal e Forense do Ave (former Guimarães Medical-Legal Office)
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of Tâmega (former Medical-Legal Office of Penafiel)
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of Entre Douro e Vouga (former Medical-Legal Office of Santa Maria da Feira)
- Minho-Lima Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (former Viana do Castelo Medical-Legal Office)
- Douro Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (former Medical-Legal Offices of Vila Real and Chaves)
South Branch
Area of Activity:
Comarcas de Amadora, Lisboa and Loures.
Medical-Legal and Forensic Offices dependent on the Southern Branch
- Setúbal Península Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (formerly GML Setúbal)
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of Baixo Alentejo (former Medical-Legal Office of Beja)
- Central Alentejo Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (formerly Evora Medical-Legal Office)
- Sotavento Algarvio's Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (formerly Faro's Medical-Legal Office)
- Barlavento Algarvio Medical-Legal and Forensic Office (former Portimão Medical-Legal Office)
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of Alentejo Litoral (former Medical-Legal Office of Santiago do Cacém)
- Medical-Legal and Forensic Office of Alto Alentejo (former Medical-Legal Office of Portalegre)
- Western Medical and Forensic Office (formerly Torres Vedras Medical and Legal Office)
- Lezíria do Tejo Medical-Legal and Forensic Office
- Grande Lisboa Norte Medical and Forensic Office (formerly Vila Franca de Xira's Medical-Legal Office);
- Grande Lisboa Noroeste Medical-Legal and Forensic Office
