Criminal procedure

The role of the police

The police play a primary role in the investigation. They are responsible for interrogating suspects and witnesses, and they carry out arrests, searches, and seizures. In Anglo-American legal systems the police perform investigations on their own authority, whereas on the Continent they act under the formal supervision of public prosecutors or investigating magistrates.

The role of the magistrate

In some countries, such as France and Italy, a magistrate conducts the investigation in cases of serious criminal offense, personally hearing witnesses and directing police to perform such relevant acts as the seizure of evidence.

In many other jurisdictions, as in the United States and Germany, magistrates do not organize or conduct the investigation. Their role is limited to authorizing particular acts of investigation involving serious invasions of civil rights—most important, instances of arrest, pretrial detention, search, seizure, and surveillance of mail and telecommunication. Generally, such acts are lawful only upon prior written judicial authorization (the warrant). Under U.S. law, warrants are issued only upon probable cause—that is, when there is evidence leading to a reasonable belief that the person to be arrested has committed a crime or that an object connected with criminal activity can be found at the place to be searched. Other legal systems employ less-stringent standards of suspicion.

When it is necessary for police to act on the spot—for example, because the suspect is about to escape or because he will destroy the contraband sought—they can take the proper measures without prior judicial authorization. In most cases, such provisional measures can or must be submitted later to judicial control.

The role of the prosecutor

Public prosecutors are lawyers appointed by the government as its representatives in criminal matters. In the United States, most state or county prosecutors are elected.

In some legal systems, as in Germany, the prosecutor is formally responsible for conducting criminal investigations. In practice, however, his role is generally limited to advising and supervising police. Only in very serious or politically sensitive matters does he personally conduct the investigation.

The role of the suspect

Since the 19th century, the law has gradually recognized the suspect’s autonomous position as a subject of the criminal process. His right to remain silent in order to avoid incriminating himself has, in principle, been acknowledged universally. However, few legal systems go so far as the United States, where, under the Miranda v. Arizona ruling of 1966, the defendant’s statements will be excluded from evidence if he is not specifically warned of his right to remain silent before interrogation while in police custody. In most countries, evidence of a confession is admissible in court unless the confession is shown to have been “involuntary”—for example, acquired by torture or threats.

On the other hand, the defendant has a universally recognized right to present to the court his view of the facts. In many jurisdictions, this right can be exercised even before the court decides whether there is sufficient evidence to hold a trial.

The role of defense counsel

The defense lawyer has a double function in the investigation phase of the criminal process: to assist the suspect in gathering exonerating evidence and to protect him from violations of his rights at the hands of law-enforcement personnel. All legal systems grant the suspect the right to the assistance of an attorney, and in many countries the suspect must be informed of this right before police interrogate him. If the suspect does not have the means to hire a lawyer, often the state will pay the attorney’s fee or provide the suspect with state-employed counsel.

However, the law also restricts defense counsel’s ability to carry out his functions. In some jurisdictions, as in France, the attorney has no right to be present when the suspect or a witness is interrogated by the police; only a few countries, such as the United States, grant the defense the right to compel witnesses on its behalf to appear in court. Moreover, in most jurisdictions the defense has no or only limited access to information gathered by the prosecution before the case reaches the court.

Pretrial detention

Incarceration of the suspect before trial most seriously impairs the preparation of an effective defense. Nevertheless, all legal systems permit pretrial detention, though under differing conditions.

In Anglo-American jurisdictions the rule is that suspects arrested and not released immediately for want of cause are held in custody. However, the suspect generally has a right to be released on a financial surety, or bail, the amount of which is set by the magistrate according to the individual circumstances of the case. The purpose of bail is to ensure appearance of the suspect at the trial; hence, it will be forfeited if the suspect absconds. In appropriate cases the suspect can be released on his own recognizance (i.e., without providing bail). Only under special circumstances—for example, when it is thought that the suspect might commit further offenses if released—can bail be denied altogether.

In continental Europe the law treats pretrial detention as the exception rather than the rule. The magistrate can remand the suspect to custody before trial only if this is necessary to prevent him from escaping, tampering with evidence, or committing further serious offenses. Even on the Continent, the law authorizes the court to release a suspect from custody if sufficient surety is posted.