Increasing Effectiveness of Justice Sector in Fight Against Organised Crime and Corruption
While sound and comprehensive policies for combatting corruption have already been designed by way of the recent Anti-Corruption Strategy, an additional emphasis has been made in the JSRS Action Plan to make a sensible contribution of the justice sector in the anti-corruption efforts. In particular, internal mechanisms will be developed for increasing accountability and dealing with corruption within the judiciary and prosecution, as part of the institutional development of these two key sector stakeholders. In addition, this separate Sub-Chapter will foresee concrete steps to be made by the prosecution, judiciary and other sector stakeholders in effectively detecting and preventing corruption. Attention will be paid to the development of institutional capacities of prosecutors to effectively lead investigations in corruption and organised crime cases. Furthermore, greater application of research, analysis and risk management to guide crime detection and prevention policies will be promoted, coupled with greater factual control of the executive investigation services by the prosecution and enhanced inter-agency cooperation in detection and prevention of crime at the domestic and international levels. Moreover, substantive and procedural legal framework will have to be improved to bring Ukraine closer to EU Acquis in criminal justice, most notably the legislation in the field of combatting organised crime. Common standards in substantive and procedural criminal law would also facilitate judicial cooperation in criminal matters, facilitating building of closer cooperation with Eurojust, other EU agencies and Member States.
- ADRAlternative dispute resolution
- APAction Plan
- APU/PAUPresidential Administration of Ukraine
- ASSETBTCBar Training Centre
- CBChamber of Bailiffs
- CCConstitutional Court
- ВНЗВищі навчальні заклади
- CCBECouncil of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
- CCLAPCoordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision
- CEISCriminal Executive Inspection
- CEPEJEuropean Commission for the Efficiency of Justice
- CJ/CoJCouncil of Judges of Ukraine
- CJR/JRSCouncil for Justice Reform (or Justice Reform Council)
- CoE CMCoE Committee of Ministers
- CoE/CoECouncil of Europe
- CPCouncil of Prosecutors
- CPEPerformance Evaluation Framework
- CSOCivil society organizations
- DCMISDetainee case management system
- DFATDDepartment of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada
- DG JustDirectorate-General for Justice and Consumers of the European Commision
- DOJUnited States Department of Justice
- EaPThe Eastern Partnership
- ECHREuropean Convention on Human Rights
- ECJEuropean Court of Justice
- ECtHREuropean Court of Human Rights
- EPPEvaluation of Prosecutors’ Performance
- EU MSEU Member State(s)
- EUEuropean Union
- EUAMEuropean Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine
- FLAFree Legal Aid
- FoIFreedom of information
- GDPGross domestic product
- GOU/GoUGovernment of Ukraine
- HACHigher Administrative Court
- HCCHHague Conference on private international law
- HCJHigh Council of Justice of Ukraine
- HEIHigh educational institutions
- PCFCoE/EU Eastern Partnership Programmatic Co-operation Framework
- PDPPersonal data protection
- PEEPerformance effectiveness evaluation
- PEOPrivate enforcement officer
- PFMPublic financial management
- PGProsecutor General
- PMFPerformance Management Framework
- PPOPublic Prosecutor’s Office
- PPPPublic-private partnership
- PRPublic Relations
- QALAQuality and Accessible Legal Aid Ukraine Project
- RBCRegional Bar Council
- RPORegional Prosecutor’s Office
- PQDCsRegional Qualification and Disciplinary Commission
- SCSupreme Court
- SDPStrategic development plans
- SEPSector expenditure plan
- HELPEuropean Programme on Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals
- HQCHigh Qualification Commission
- HQDCHigher Qualification and Disciplinary Commission
- HRHuman Resources
- HRTFHuman Rights Trust Fund
- HSCHigher Specialised Court
- IMFInternational Monetary Fund
- IMSInformation management system
- IOPInteroperability
- INLUS Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
- IRZGerman Foundation for International Legal Cooperation
- ISInformation system
- ISDInternal Security Department
- JCsee CJ
- JITJoint investigative team
- JSRSJustice Sector Reform Strategy
- LPOLocal Prosecutor’s Office
- LPPLegal Professional Privilege
- M&E;Monitoring and evaluation
- MISManagement information system
- MOEMinistry of Education of Ukraine
- MOFMinistry of Finance of Ukraine
- MOHMinistry of Health of Ukraine
- MoI/MoIAMinistry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
- MOJ/MoJMinistry of Justice of Ukraine
- MORMinistry of Regional Development, Construction, and Communal Living of Ukraine
- MOUMemorandum of Understanding
- MSPMinistry of Social Policy of Ukraine
- MTBFMedium-term budgetary framework
- NACBNational Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine
- NALSNational Academy of Legal Science of Ukraine
- NAPUNational Academy of Prosecutors of Ukraine
- NBCNational Bar Council
- NCPNational Conference of Prosecutors
- NPMNational Preventive Mechanism
- NSJNational School of Judges
- OSCEOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
- SGSSelf-governance system
- SGUASupport Group for Ukraine
- SITSpecial investigative techniques
- SJAState Judicial Administration of Ukraine
- SJGBSingle Judiciary Governance Body
- SLAService-level agreements
- SOPStandard operating procedures
- SPSState Penitentiary Service of Ukraine
- SSUSecurity Service of Ukraine
- TCTraining Centre
- THBTrafficking in human beings
- TOTTraining of trainers
- UNBAUkrainian National Bar Association
- USAIDUnited States Agency for International Development
- USAID FAIRThe FAIR Justice Project of USAID
- VETVocational educational training
- WGWorking Group
Action | Implementation Deadline | Performance Criteria | ||||
End of 2016 | End of 2018 | End of 2020 | Measures/Outputs | Responsible Body / Means | Outcomes | |
Area of Intervention 10.1 Increased Efficiency by Streamlined Competences in Criminal Investigation | ||||||
10.1.1 Streamlining of duties and powers of each body involved in criminal investigation | 1. Reviewed regulatory framework on bodies involved in criminal investigation | PPO, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended | - Practical and effective procedural and disciplinary oversight by PPO over police officers conducting criminal investigations - Clear delineation of mandates of each investigative body dealing with various types of crime, including PPO, MOI, IRS, NACB and other | |||
Area of Intervention 10.2 Enhanced Capacities in Fighting Organised Crime | ||||||
10.2.1 Promoting greater specialisation, application of research, analysis and risk management to guide crime detection and prevention | 1. Specialised units fully operational, tasked with fighting cybercrime, trafficking in human beings (THB), money laundering, illicit drugs and arms dealing, terrorism, other major organised crime categories | PPO / Decisions, contracts, job descriptions, placement plans, trainings, SOPs, manuals, forensic and other technical equipment, hardware and software procured | - Specialised capacities of justice agencies to deal with organised crime - Core EU legislation in fighting organised crime and implemented in Ukrainian law, including directives and framework decisions on - Research and analysis units at PPO producing risk assessment reports, defining risks and threats and providing guidance for activities of - Risk assessment reports updated and exchanged regularly between authorised domestic and European and international counterparts, serving - Constant feedback and flow of information between research and analysis units and specialised units fighting organised crime - Risk management serves as key guidance for intelligence operations and application of special investigative techniques (SITs) - Specialised methodological and forensic capabilities for fighting each major category of organised crime, including cybercrime, THB, | |||
2. Implementation of EU Acquis in fighting organised crime | PPO, Parliament, MOJ / Decisions, statutes and rules amended, directives transposed | |||||
3. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) developed and reviewed regularly for each major organised crime category, including provisions for undercover operations, effective joint investigative teams (JITs), and procedures for resolving jurisdictional issues | PPO / Decisions, reports,SOPs | |||||
4. Risk assessment reports developed and produced regularly, recommending improvements in fighting each major organised crime category. SOPs updated regularly by reference to risk assessment | PPO / Publications, reports, SOPs | |||||
5. Practice guides and training modules on investigating each major organised crime category developed, disseminated online, and updated regularly | NAPU, PPO / Decisions, trainings, publications | |||||
10.2.2 Enhancing domestic and international cooperation in criminal investigation | 1. International cooperation networks involving Eurojust and other important European and international counterparts in place | PPO / Decisions, MOUs, cooperation plans, review reports | - Cooperation and constant flow of data between national and international counterparts (Eurojust, EU MS investigative bodies etc.) regarding crime detection and prevention- ‘Task force’ approach, joint investigative teams and other modalities of enhanced domestic and international inter-agency cooperation applied regularly - Increased mutual recognition of forensic reports, expert opinions, administrative decisions, extradition requests, in context of | |||
2. Electronic communication channels between justice sector and other bodies, and international counterparts in fighting organised crime, in place and used effectively | PPO, law enforcement agencies / Decisions, MOUs, hardware and software in place, trainings, manuals, review reports | |||||
10.2.3 Development of mechanisms and procedures to recover proceeds of crime | 1. Reviewed regulatory framework on confiscation of proceeds of crime | PPO, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended | - Criminal law providing for confiscation, non-conviction based confiscation, third party confiscation, freezing of assets in line with new EU legislation etc.- Formalisation of standards of proof with regard to different confiscation procedures, with particular emphasis on clear and foreseeable regulation of reverse onus - Signature, ratification, and application of mutual legal assistance instruments and international communication channels involving | |||
2. Asset recovery agency fully operational | MOJ, Parliament, PPO / Decisions, statutes and rules amended | |||||
Area of Intervention 10.3 Increased Checks and Balances Provided by Justice Sector to Counteract Abuse in Criminal Investigations | ||||||
10.3.1 Development of internal and external oversight mechanisms | 1. Reviewed regulatory framework on case assignment and management | PPO, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended | - Clear, foreseeable, and applicable rules for case assignment and management systems at PPO and criminal investigation services, providing safeguards for functional independence of prosecutors and investigators- Clear, foreseeable and applicable rules on use of weapons and SITs - Mixture of consultative and coercive approaches in performance management systems - Risk management effectively used as performance management tool - Involvement of whole chain of command in internal control mechanisms | |||
2. Reviewed regulatory framework on the use of lethal and non-lethal weapons | PPO, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended | |||||
3. Reviewed regulatory framework of oversight system of use of special investigative techniques (SITs) by PPO or courts, extending (not only) to authorisation but also conduct of intelligence and undercover operations | PPO, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended | |||||
4. Risk assessment reports produced regularly, recommending improvements in management at each branch of law enforcement system | PPO / Decisions, reports | |||||
Area of Intervention 10.4 Increased Effectiveness in Combatting Corruption by Dedicated Capacities of Justice Sector | ||||||
10.4.1 Development of capacities of prosecution and judiciary to deal with corruption cases, including ‘elite’ corruption | 1. Specialised units at PPO for investigating corruption, especially ‘elite’ corruption, fully operational | PPO, NABU / Decisions, contracts, job descriptions, placement plans, trainings, practice guides, manuals, forensic and other technical equipment, hardware and software procured | - Enhanced degree of protection from undue pressure in law and practice for prosecutors and judges dealing with corruption cases; - Interoperable IS between PPO, judiciary and law enforcement bodies dealing with corruption cases - Information on successful and unsuccessful prosecutions of corruption available online; - Research and analysis units at PPO and courts regularly suggest improvements in regulatory framework and practice in order mend gaps | |||
2. Specialised sections of judges for dealing with corruption cases, especially ‘elite’ corruption, fully operational | SJGB, NABU, CJ, SC, HCSs, Courts of Appeal, District Courts, SJA / Decisions, contracts, job descriptions, placement plans, trainings, practice guides, manuals | |||||
3. Reviewed regulatory framework on protection of prosecutors and judges from undue pressure when dealing with corruption cases | PPO, CJ, NABU, MOJ, Parliament / Decisions, statutes and rules amended | |||||
4. Practice guides and training modules for prosecutor and judges dealing with corruption cases developed, disseminated and updated regularly | PPO, NABU, Training Centres and Academies / Decisions, trainings, publications | |||||
5. Statistics on prosecutions and trails of corruption cases published and analysed in Annual Activity Reports of PPO and judiciary | PPO, NABU / Reports |
Impact Indicators for Chapters 8-11
- User satisfaction surveys (conducted as part of PPO performance management system, or by external observers) attest increased trust of society in PPO in particular, and/or criminal justice system in general (baseline: 2015; suggested 2016 target - increase by 5%; 2018 target - increase by 15%; 2020 target - increase by 25%).
- Criminal trial monitoring surveys conducted by external observers attest improvement of affairs in fairness of proceedings (baseline: 2015).
- 10 % annual decrease in number of structural violations found by ECHR with regard to criminal proceedings (baseline: relevant ECHR judgments pronounced in 2015; only pilot judgments or repetitive cases taken into account).
- 5 % annual decrease in number of cases at ECHR establishing divergences in practice of Ukrainian courts in applying national legislation, or establishing breaches of independence or impartiality of tribunal, or fairness of proceedings or defence rights, or ‘reasonable time’ requirement in criminal process (baseline: relevant ECHR judgments pronounced in 2015).
- Improved implementation of general measures in view of any ECHR judgment regarding Ukraine in criminal proceedings (baseline: number of pending cases before COE CM where general measures are indicated at end of 2015; suggested 2018 target - total decrease by 15%, decrease of enhanced supervision cases by 25%; 2020 target - total decrease by 25%, decrease of enhanced supervision cases by 35%).
- 20 % annual decrease in findings by COE CM on failure to enforce individual measures in any ECHR judgment regarding Ukraine in criminal proceedings (baseline: 2015).
- 5 % annual increase in use of home arrest, electronic surveillance and other forms of alternative bail as proportion of cases of detention on remand (baseline: same point in time one year ago for which annual statistics available).
- 5 % annual decrease in overall length of criminal proceedings (from moment of ’charge’ to ‘final decision’) (baseline: 2014; from average length previous year).
- 5 % annual decrease in overall length of criminal proceedings (from moment of ’charge’ to ‘final decision’) (baseline: 2014; from average length previous year).
- Pre-trial reports developed (baseline: proportion of relevant cases at material time; suggested 2016 target – 20% of cases, 2018 target – 30%; 2020 target – 40%).
- Work provided to at least 50 % of all prisoners (baseline: proportion at material time; targets to be split per type of penitentiary establishment and category/profile of prisoner (i.e. juveniles, women etc.).
- At least 20 % of offenders engaged in vocational-educational training (VET) or other education and rehabilitation programmes (baseline: proportion at material time; targets to be split per type of penitentiary establishment and category/profile of prisoner).
- 5% annual decrease in re-offending rates of offenders under probation (baseline: proportion at material time; targets to be split per type of penitentiary establishment and category/profile of offender (i.e. juveniles, women etc.).
- Ukraine’s standing in various relevant international indices relating to performance of criminal justice system improves, including Governance Indicators and Rule of Law Index (World Bank Institute), WEF Global Competitiveness Report, rankings by Freedom House, World Justice Project (Rule of Law Index), Transparency International (CPI etc.), Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index (BTI), WB Doing Business Index (baseline: 2015).