The Administration of Criminal Justice in Palestine: Development, Reform and Challenges

Abstract

The Palestinian Criminal Justice System faces serious challenges. The challenges arise out of the process of establishing rule of law and criminal justice agencies amid continuing conflicts and violence, limited resources and social conditions that are- to say the least- not favorable to the implementation of internationally accepted criminal justice standards. This study, which contributes to the growing body of research on transitional justice, describes the historical roots of the Palestinian criminal law and its current state, deals with ongoing law reforms and the particular problems faced in the process of building and reforming the Palestinian Criminal Justice system and analyzes data collected through interviews and questionnaires in various criminal justice institutions. The data open a clear view on attitudes and perceptions of various criminal justice actors and identify those areas and issues which present core problems in the transition to well- functioning and rule of law based criminal justice operations.