“Fase de instrucción” is a Spanish legal term used in criminal proceedings. In English, it is usually translated as:

• investigative phase
• pre-trial investigation phase
• or examining stage

In the criminal justice system in Spain, this is the stage where a judge and investigators gather and examine evidence before deciding whether there is enough for a trial.

During the “fase de instrucción,” authorities may:

• take witness statements
• order forensic examinations
• analyze phones/computers
• obtain expert reports
• request banking or phone records
• identify possible suspects or victims

The judge overseeing this stage is often called the:

• Juez de Instrucción (Investigating Judge)

The purpose is not yet to decide guilt, but to determine:

• what happened,
• who may have been involved,
• and whether the case should proceed to trial.

Possible outcomes include:

• the case being dismissed/archived,
• continuing the investigation,
• or moving forward to formal charges and trial proceedings.

In complex cases—especially involving digital evidence, financial matters, safeguarding concerns, or multiple jurisdictions—the instruction phase can last a long time.