Quality Control in Preliminary Examination: Volume 1

This is the first of two volumes entitled Quality Control in Preliminary Examination. They form part of a wider research project led by the Centre for International Law Research and Policy (CILRAP) on how we ensure the highest quality and cost-efficiency during the more fact-intensive phases of work on core international crimes. The 2013 volume Quality Control in Fact-Finding considers fact-finding outside the criminal justice system. An upcoming volume concerns quality control in criminal investigations. The present volume deals with 'preliminary examination', the phase when criminal justice seeks to determine whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed to full criminal investigation. The book does not specifically recommend that prosecutorial discretion in this phase should be further regulated, but that its exercise should be more vigilantly assessed. It promotes an awareness and culture of quality control, including freedom and motivation to challenge the quality of work.

Volumes 1 and 2 are organized in five parts. The present volume covers 'The Practice of Preliminary Examination: Realities and Constraints' and 'Case Studies or Situation Analysis', with chapters by the editors, Andrew T. Cayley, Runar Torgersen, Franklin D. Rosenblatt, Abraham Joseph, Matthias Neuner, Matilde E. Gawronski, Amitis Khojasteh, Marina Aksenova, Christian M. De Vos, Benson Chinedu Olugbuo, Iryna Marchuk, Thomas Obel Hansen, Rachel Kerr, Sharon Weill, Nino Tsereteli and Ali Emrah Bozbayindir, in that order, and with forewords by LIU Daqun and Martin Sørby.

Morten Bergsmo is Director of the Centre for International Law Research and Policy (CILRAP).

Carsten Stahn is Professor of International Criminal Law and Global Justice at Leiden Law School, and Programme Director of the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies in The Hague.