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Trial monitoring of corruption cases: An innovative answer to the quest for evaluation tools

Impartial, competent and efficient judiciaries are vital in addressing corruption. Both qualitative and quantitative aspects of performance should be considered when assessing the effectiveness of a judicial system in handling corruption cases. Trial monitoring can substantially enrich the evaluation and analysis of the judicial response to corruption.

2 February 2020
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Trial monitoring of corruption cases: An innovative answer to the quest for evaluation tools

Main points

  • The prosecution and adjudication of grand and political corruption present unique challenges due to the legal and factual complexity of these crimes and the risk of undue political pressure in the process.
  • Minimal attention has been given to devising and applying criteria and instruments for assessing the performance of the judiciary in processing corruption cases. In order to develop satisfactory tools for this task, it is important to understand those practices, policies, and reforms that work, and those that do not.
  • Trial monitoring programmes have the potential to strengthen how we evaluate judicial response to corruption. A successful programme should incorporate a methodology for assessing all the features that a judicial system should have – impartiality, competence, and efficiency – and both qualitative and quantitative aspects of performance should be considered when assessing the effectiveness of a judicial system.
  • Trial monitoring by independent organisations can be used as an effective instrument to enhance public and external scrutiny on the work of the justice system in tackling corruption.
  • A new approach to trial monitoring could be adopted and implemented by international actors active in the field of anti-corruption and judicial reforms, and would enable the comparison of results across different jurisdictions.

Cite this publication


De Sanctis, F. (2020) Trial monitoring of corruption cases: An innovative answer to the quest for evaluation tools. Bergen: U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, Chr. Michelsen Institute (U4 Practice Insight 2020:1)

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About the author

Francesco De Sanctis

Francesco De Sanctis is a lawyer with fifteen years of professional experience in the areas of anti-corruption, criminal justice reform, and transitional justice. He is currently working as an expert for the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he previously held the position of Head of Rule of Law. In the past, he worked as a consultant in several internationally funded projects and for the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) as legal officer. He has a Ph.D and an LL.M in international human rights law and published articles on international law reviews, including the International Journal of Criminal Justice. De Sanctis can be contacted on fradesan@gmail.com.

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