“How will police investigations work after the separation of investigation and prosecution?” Discussion on strengthening expertise and accountability

[Financial News] Amid changes to the criminal justice system following the separation of investigation and prosecution, measures to strengthen the expertise and accountability of police investigations were discussed. Participants called for improving the completeness of police investigations, including by overhauling the recruitment and training system for investigators and strengthening case reviews before referral.
According to the Korean National Police Agency on the 23rd, the Institute for Police Policy Studies at the Korean National Police University held an academic conference that day at Songdo Convensia in Incheon, under the theme “Directions for a Desirable Police Investigative System Following the Separation of Investigation and Prosecution.”
The event was organized to explore ways to enhance investigative capabilities and secure public trust as the police take on greater responsibility for investigations following the overhaul of the criminal justice system. About 100 people attended, including police officials, academic experts from organizations such as the Korean Association of Public Security Administration and the Korean Society of Criminology, and researchers in criminal justice.
Presentations and discussions were held on three topics, focusing on interagency cooperation, investigative expertise, and accountability in investigations.
Choi Sun-ho, a professor at Seoul Digital University who gave the first presentation, proposed that the police should redefine their role in line with the overhaul of the national investigative system. The proposal was that the police should focus their capabilities on investigations for which they are legally responsible, while establishing a system to connect matters requiring public services or specialized support related to investigations with appropriate public- and private-sector entities.
Yun Dong-ho, a professor at Kookmin University, then proposed recruiting and training investigators capable of applying criminal law, and strengthening investigative independence and ex ante oversight, as ways to enhance police investigative capabilities after the overhaul of the criminal justice system.
Professor Yun stressed, “If the police are granted authority and discretion on a foundation of respect and trust and are held accountable, while receiving commensurate job security and treatment, talented people will be drawn to the force, thereby improving its investigative capabilities.”
Discussions also continued on how to ensure accountability in police investigations following the separation of investigation and prosecution. Kim Il-hun, a research fellow at the Institute for Police Policy Studies, proposed ways to improve the completeness of police investigations, focusing on the system for requesting supplementary investigations. In particular, he said it was necessary to strengthen the internal case review system before cases are referred and improve the investigation quality management system by analyzing requests for supplementary investigations.
Experts in police investigations and criminal justice participated as panelists in the presentations that day, exchanging views on the challenges arising from the overhaul of the investigative system and ways to improve it.
Kim Jong-cheol, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, urged in his congratulatory remarks, “The police must strengthen their investigative capabilities and expertise in response to the changing environment and continue to earn the public’s trust as a responsible investigative agency.”
Jang Han-ju, director of the Institute for Police Policy Studies, said, “We will continue to identify timely research topics and hold academic conferences bringing together experts from diverse fields, proactively respond to the changing public safety environment, and do our utmost in police policy research that earns the public’s trust.”


[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter