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Description
Prosecution Service faces challenges related to adequate response to new forms of criminality, the changing social environment, the necessity to strengthen communication with the public and interaction with pre-trial investigation institutions and courts. The public has particularly high expectations of the Prosecution Service; however, the level of public trust in Prosecution Service is low.
The aim of the project is to build up modern and open Prosecution Service and strengthening the efficiency of criminal proceedings.
The project includes:
- Analysis and evaluation of the present situation of criminal proceedings;
- Measures to strengthen the quality of criminal procedure;
- Measures to speed up criminal proceedings in financial and economic crimes;
- Specialized training for prosecutors, judges and pre-trial investigation officers;
- Training on administrative and managerial capacities of Prosecution Service staff;
- Modernization of IT infrastructure;
- Assessment on the improvement of the public image of the Prosecution Service and implementation of communication strategy;
- Establishment of quality standard of service provision in the Prosecution Service;
- Communication training.
The project is expected to reduce the length of pre-trial investigation of crimes affecting national and EU financial interests in 5%. In addition, the project will contribute to making a positive shift from the current assessment levels of interaction of Prosecution Service with users and its partners (by 5 percentage points).
Target groups of the project are prosecutors, judges, officials of pre-trial investigation institutions, as well as the public.
Donor project partner National Authority for the Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim) will provide expert assessment of the evaluations and recommendations developed during the project and will participate in training activities.
Summary of project results
The prosecution service faced challenges related to low public trust, the need for an adequate response to new forms of criminality and a changing social environment, workload optimization, administrative and management issues, including the continued reliance on manual processes. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving the efficiency of criminal proceedings, enhancing the administrative capacity of the prosecution service, and making the service more accessible to the public and the media.
The main results of the project:
- Analysis and evaluation of the present situation of criminal proceedings was performed.
- The quality of the prosecutor‘s office procedural activities was assessed and recommendation that could improve the quality of prosecutors'' final procedural decisions were prepared.
- Case-models related to the most frequent type of cases were prepared (the following criminal acts were identified as being those, for which the pre-trial investigation is carried out the most frequent: causing physical pain or a negligible health impairment (with domestic violent element); theft (from premises); destruction of or damage to property; production, storage or handling of counterfeit currency or securities; unlawful possession of narcotic or psychotropic substances for the purpose other than distribution; driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol).
- The effectiveness of the practice of prosecuting economic and financial crimes was evaluated.
- A methodology for assessing and determining the workload of prosecutors and prosecutor''s offices was developed.
- 1193 prosecutors, prosecutors’ assistants, communication specialists, judges and pre-trial investigation officers attended the training.
- IT infrastructure was modernized (including the development of Prosecution Administration Information System).
- A quality standard of service provision in the Prosecution Service was established.
- A social information campaign was launched.
The project contributed to building up modern and open Lithuanian Prosecution Service, strengthening the efficiency of criminal proceedings and improving the capacities of Prosecution Service staff.
The project contributed to the reduction of the length of pre-trial investigation of crimes affecting national and EU financial interests (from 584 to 387 days). In addition, the project contributed to making a positive shift of interaction of Prosecution Service with users and its partners (from 61 % to 63.8 %).
Summary of bilateral results
Activities implemented together with a project partner from Norway (National Authority for the Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime - Økokrim) contributed to improved knowledge of the institutions of both countries. The project partner''s experience in the prosecution of complex crimes, work organization practices, competence in communication and other areas not implemented by the Lithuanian Prosecutor''s Office contributed to strengthening the activities of the Prosecutor''s Office and improving its efficiency.Continuous cooperation during the project allowed the development of mutual dialogue, strengthening practical cooperation in cases related to both countries and improving the exchange of information on specific cases.