The Final Investigation in a Public Prosecution: Balancing the Protection of the Accused and the Achievement of Justice

Abstract

The final investigation phase in public prosecution is considered the decisive stage in the criminal proceedings, during which evidence is presented and discussed before a competent judicial authority to rule on the charges against the defendant, either by conviction or acquittal. The study focuses on the organization of criminal courts under Algerian law, particularly the Criminal Court, the Misdemeanor Court, and the Minor Offenses Court, in terms of their jurisdiction, composition, procedures for convening, and the conduct of proceedings before them. It also addressed the developments introduced by Law No. 25-14, which includes the Code of Criminal Procedure, and which strengthened procedural safeguards and enshrined the principles of criminal justice by improving trial procedures, regulating appeal mechanisms, and enhancing the legal framework to ensure procedural transparency and the soundness of judicial rulings.