International legal protection of criminal justice bodies: typical examples of regulation

Abstract

The article examines the peculiarities of international legal regulation of criminal justice bodies through the lens of their legal protection. The author conducts a thorough analysis of key international documents, particularly the European Code of Police Ethics and the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials. The paper reveals a five-component system of criminal justice bodies, which includes police (law enforcement agencies), prosecution, courts, penitentiary system, and defense institution. Special attention is paid to analyzing the provisions of the European Code of Police Ethics regarding the independence and autonomy of each element of the criminal justice system, as well as the mechanisms of checks and balances between them. The author thoroughly examines the issues of legal protection of law enforcement officers, their civil and political rights, socio-economic guarantees, and specific measures for health and safety protection. The article emphasizes the importance of ensuring clarity and accessibility of police legislation for the public, as well as the necessity of proper educational and professional training for law enforcement officers. Based on the conducted research, the author concludes that although there are no direct norms at the supranational level regarding the protection of criminal justice bodies’ activities, proper legal regulation exists through general international legal acts and documents concerning law enforcement activities.