The Respect for Human Rights In Pre-trial Criminal Investigation (The Case of Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfine)
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study examines the practical observance of human rights during criminal investigation
in Oromia special zone surrounding Finfine. It attempts to analyze rights of suspects as it has
been recognized in national, regional and international human rights instruments and effort
is made to explore whether they are respected in the process of criminal investigation.
Accordingly, data was collected from three police detention centers found the Oromia special
zone surrounding Finfine. Data was collected both from primary and secondary sources.
Primary data was obtained through interview, questionnaires and personal observation
where as secondary data from different literatures, government files and legal documents are
reviewed. Questionnaires were disseminated to 41 detained criminal suspects. Interview was
made with key informants from criminal suspects, investigating police and prosecutors and
head of police stations and Justice Office. The research mainly focuses on implementation of
the already guaranteed rights of persons deprived of liberty for suspicion of committed crime.
To this end, conditions during detention and interrogation as well as treatments in police
custody are widely examined. Though the Ethiopia legal system has clearly indicated how
criminal investigation should made and what rights should be respected in the process, they
are not implemented well. The study has identified that sometimes police are arresting
individuals without evidence, criminal suspects are not brought to court in the specified time,
absence of notification of rights, long pre-trial detentions, condition of detention in police
custody are below the minimum standard and absence of external monitoring system are
major problems. Finally, the researcher has made recommendations that could rectify the
existing problems.
Description
Keywords
Pre-Trial Criminal Investigation,Criminal Investigation,Human Rights,