Prosecutors and Police to Share 'Criminal Case Processing Procedures' Starting This October

Published 29 Apr.2024 17:46(KST)

Introducing Next-Generation 'KIX' to
Track Details of Supplementary Investigations
“Expect Strengthened Accountability in Investigations”

A function that allows prosecutors and police to share the process of handling cases will be introduced in the next-generation Criminal Justice Information System (KICS·KIX) scheduled for implementation in October this year. Due to the adjustment of investigative authority between prosecutors and police, the existing KIX did not share case transfer details between the prosecution and police, but the next-generation KIX will enhance data sharing between the two agencies. The legal community expects that the number of cases where criminal records become unclear due to the inability to verify them electronically during supplementary investigations will decrease, and that responsible investigations will be strengthened.

[Image source=Beomryul Newspaper]

According to a comprehensive report by the Legal News on the 26th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is adding a function to the next-generation KIX, currently under development with a target launch in October, that allows tracking of case handling and transfer details between prosecutors and police. KIX, operated since 2010, is a period information system jointly operated by the Ministry of Justice, prosecution, police, and coast guard to link information and documents for handling criminal justice tasks. While the main direction is to fully digitize criminal justice procedures, the case sharing system is also being reorganized to fit the practical cooperation framework between prosecutors and police.

Until now, the legal community has pointed out the problem that the existing KIX does not allow prosecutors to know the status of cases sent to the police for supplementary investigation. This phenomenon arose after the adjustment of investigative authority between prosecutors and police, where the two agencies cooperate instead of prosecutors directing police investigations. When investigative direction was possible, even if prosecutors requested supplementary investigations and sent cases to the police, the KIX system displayed the cases as handled by the prosecution, allowing sharing of case progress. However, after the adjustment of investigative authority, when prosecutors transfer cases to the police for supplementary investigation, the cases are classified as closed at the prosecution stage, and the case details are erased from the prosecution's system. Instead, a new case number is assigned in the police system. Because of this, frontline prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers have pointed out that it became difficult to track case transfer details and the overall investigation period, weakening responsible investigations.

In the next-generation KIX, the two agencies have reportedly completed discussions to share data to address these issues. A function will be added to track case transfer details through shared data. When a case is transferred to the police for supplementary investigation, the new case number assigned at the police stage will also be added to the case details recorded in the prosecution's system, linking the two. Furthermore, these case transfer details will be notified to the complainants, accusers, suspects, and other involved parties.

With the next-generation KIX reflecting case transfer details, there is also an expectation that responsible investigations will be strengthened. This is because both investigative agencies will be able to review the overall investigation period and supplementary requests from the time the case is received. A lawyer with a police background said, “There are cases where investigations sent from the prosecution to the police for supplementary investigation are delayed from a few months up to a year,” adding, “If the case handling process can be seen at a glance, I hope such cases will decrease even slightly.”

Meanwhile, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is currently conducting testing before introducing the next-generation KIX. After testing information and document sharing among the agencies jointly operating the next-generation KIX, pilot offices will be designated for trials before full implementation. However, it is expected to take some time before it is linked with the court's criminal electronic litigation system. The criminal electronic litigation system, separately being developed by the Supreme Court, is expected to be introduced as early as June next year. The Supreme Court plans to gradually introduce areas such as the execution of warrants issued electronically and summary judgment cases.