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The Examining Magistrate’s Function and Involvement in Investigative Matters

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Abstract

This article gives a brief overview of the division of roles during the investigative stage between Court, Public Prosecution Service (PPS) and Police. It explains the role either an Examining Magistrate or an Investigative Judge plays in Croatia, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, presenting his/her functions and involvement in criminal investigation and especially focussing on which actions require his/her approval.

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Notes

  1. See Barona-Vilar (2004/2005), Law policy and practice of prosecution in Spain; Mendez (2000), El proceso penal; Vadillo (1993), Criminal procedure systems in the European community; Aebi and Balcells (2008), The prosecution service function within the Spanish criminal justice system.

  2. Ordinary proceedings take place for most serious crimes (provided sentence is > 9 years imprisonment).

  3. Abbreviated Proceedings for crimes with a provided sentence of < 9 years of imprisonment and for misdemeanours.

  4. Speedy prosecution of certain crimes (with a provided sentence of < 3 years of imprisonment), flagrant crimes, domestic violence.

  5. In the first case a copy of the report will also be sent to PPS for information.

  6. See Aebi and Balcells (2008) The Prosecution Service Function within the Spanish Criminal Justice System.

  7. For less serious faltas he has got the function of a court of appeal for the judgments of justices of the peace.

  8. See Aebi and Balcells (2008) The Prosecution Service Function within the Spanish Criminal Justice System.

  9. With a provided sentence of < 5 years of imprisonment.

  10. See Turkovic (2008), The prosecution service function within the Croatian criminal justice system.

  11. See Blom and Smit (2006), The prosecution service function within the Dutch criminal justice system; Scholten (2003), Introduction Strafprozeβordnung der Niederlande.

  12. See also Pefferkorn (2006)

  13. Act n°2000–516 increasing presumption of innocence protection and victim’s rights, 15th June 2000.

  14. Act n°2004–204 about adaptation of justice to changes in crime, 9th March 2004.

  15. Full details are given in www.sfo.gov.uk.; Lewis (2006)

  16. For further information see Questionnaire Germany, available via internet under http://www.kriminologie.uni-goettingen.de/pps/.

  17. KK/StPO Wache § 163 Rn 31.

  18. See Elsner et al. (2008a, b) Police Prosecution Service Relationship within Criminal Investigation.; for further information see also Pfeiffer (2003); Satzger (2004); Kühne (2003); Meyer-Goβner (2005)

  19. Eleven people were accused of sexual assault on children and dismissed in an appeal after a very long pre-trial detention.

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Criminology at the Law Faculty, University of Göttingen, Platz der Göttinger Sieben 6, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Beatrix Elsner

  2. Center for Sociological Research on Law and Penal Institutions (CESDIP), Ministère de la Justice CNRS, 43 Boulevard Vauban, F-78280, Guyancourt (Paris), France

    Bruno Aubusson de Cavarlay

  3. Research and Documentation Center (WODC) of the Ministry of Justice, P. O. Box 2031, 2500 EH, The Hague, Netherlands

    Paul Smit

Authors
  1. Beatrix Elsner
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  2. Bruno Aubusson de Cavarlay
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  3. Paul Smit
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Beatrix Elsner.

Additional information

For detailed information on national questionnaires see www.kriminologie.uni-goettingen.de/pps.

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Elsner, B., Aubusson de Cavarlay, B. & Smit, P. The Examining Magistrate’s Function and Involvement in Investigative Matters. Eur J Crim Policy Res 14, 225–235 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-008-9063-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-008-9063-x

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