NCJ Number
135667
Date Published
1989
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The administration of criminal justice in Sri Lanka is based on a variety of institutional mechanisms and personnel, and each component plays different but connected roles.
Abstract
The legislature promulgates laws, the police prevent and detect breaches of these laws, and prosecutors present charges against those accused of breaking the laws. The judiciary identifies the guilty and imposes sanctions provided by the legislature, while the executive enforces sanctions imposed by the judiciary. In particular, police enforce criminal laws, investigate criminal offenses, prevent crime, help the prosecution, maintain order in public places, guard persons and facilities, regulate traffic, control vice, collect information about political and subversive activities, and monitor elections. The improvement of police-community relations is a key factor in crime prevention. To this end, the police have developed appropriate provisions for dealing with minor complaints, increased the quality of police-community contacts and police-initiated contacts on matters concerning crime prevention, and responded differentially to particular groups such as the unemployed and ethnic minorities. Police officer duties involve personal discretion based on sound and balanced judgment. Fairness is the desired end result in Sri Lanka's coordinated criminal justice process.