Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................................8
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND MONITORING METHODOLOGY ........................................................................11
CHAPTER ONE. CASES AND DEFENDANTS ......................................................................................................14
1.
2.
3.
4.
TYPES OF CRIMES TRIED ................................................................................................................................ 14
NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS AND THEIR GENDER................................................................................................... 15
JUDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................................... 16
PRISON SENTENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 17
a)
b)
c)
5.
Length of prison sentences ................................................................................................................................. 17
Severity of prison sentences ................................................................................................................................ 18
Severity of sentencing by crime type................................................................................................................... 19
JUDGMENTS BASED ON ISRAELI MILITARY ORDERS .............................................................................................. 20
CHAPTER TWO. COURTS’ INFRASTRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION ................................................................22
1.
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES ...................................................................................................................... 22
a)
b)
2.
Timeliness of court hearings start ....................................................................................................................... 22
Compliance with daily case schedule .................................................................................................................. 23
COURTS’ INFRASTRUCTURE ............................................................................................................................ 24
a)
b)
c)
Police protection ................................................................................................................................................. 24
Presence of court recorders and bailiffs .............................................................................................................. 25
Courtroom acoustics and size ............................................................................................................................. 25
CHAPTER THREE. COURTS’ EFFICIENCY IN ADJUDICATING CRIMINAL CASES ..................................................27
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
COURTS’ CASE PROCESSING CAPACITY .............................................................................................................. 27
CASE POSTPONEMENTS................................................................................................................................. 29
REASONS FOR POSTPONEMENTS ..................................................................................................................... 31
LENGTH OF TRIAL POSTPONEMENTS................................................................................................................. 32
MEASURES TO ADDRESS REASONS FOR POSTPONEMENTS..................................................................................... 33
CHANGES IN TRIAL PANELS ............................................................................................................................ 33
DURATION OF PROCEEDINGS.......................................................................................................................... 35
CHAPTER FOUR: FAIR TRIAL RIGHTS...............................................................................................................37
1.
2.
3.
4.
RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY A TRIBUNAL ESTABLISHED BY LAW ....................................................................................... 37
RIGHT TO A TRIAL BEFORE AN IMPARTIAL COURT ................................................................................................ 38
EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW (WITH A FOCUS ON GENDER) .................................................................................... 38
RIGHT TO PERSONAL FREEDOM....................................................................................................................... 40
a)
b)
c)
5.
.6
7.
.8
.9
.01
.00
a.
b.
12.
Maximum duration of detention......................................................................................................................... 40
Establishing adequate grounds for deprivation of personal liberty .................................................................... 41
Detention vs other measures to ensure integrity of criminal proceedings .......................................................... 42
RIGHT TO BE TRIED IN ONE’S PRESENCE ............................................................................................................ 43
RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED BY A LAWYER .......................................................................................................... 43
RIGHT TO A PUBLIC TRIAL (FOCUS ON SEXUAL OFFENCES) ..................................................................................... 44
RIGHT TO BE INFORMED OF THE CHARGES AGAINST ONSELF .................................................................................. 45
RIGHT TO BE TRIED IN A LANGUAGE ONE UNDERSTANDS ...................................................................................... 46
RIGHT TO CROSS-EXAMINE PROSECUTION WITNESSES AND TO CALL WITNESSES IN OWN DEFENCE ............................ 46
RIGHT NOT TO BE SUBJECTED TO TORTURE, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT ....................... 47
Physical violence to ensure orderly conduct of proceedings ............................................................................... 47
Allegations of torture during the investigation ................................................................................................... 48
INFORMATION TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS ............................................................................... 49
RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................................................................50
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