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Presumption of Innocence: Procedural Rights in Criminal Proceedings Social Fieldwork Research (FRANET)

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Presumption of Innocence: Procedural Rights in Criminal Proceedings Social Fieldwork Research (FRANET) Presumption of Innocence: procedural rights in criminal proceedings Social Fieldwork Research (FRANET) Country: AUSTRIA Contractor’s name: European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Authors: Isabella Meier, Markus Möstl Reviewer: Klaus Starl Language editing: Livia Perschy Date: May 2020 DISCLAIMER: This document was commissioned under contract as background material for a comparative analysis by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) for the project: Presumption of Innocence. The information and views contained in the document do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA. The document is made publicly available for transparency and information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion. Table of Contents PART A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 4 PART B. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 6 B.1 PREPARATION OF FIELDWORK ........................................................................................... 6 B.2 IDENTIFICATION AND RECRUITMENT OF PARTICIPANTS ................................................... 6 B.3 SAMPLE AND DESCRIPTION OF FIELDWORK ...................................................................... 6 B.4 DATA ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................. 7 B.5 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................................... 8 PART C. MAIN REPORT ANALYTICAL STRUCTURE ........................................................................... 9 C.1 The right to be presumed innocent in general ................................................................... 9 a. How are the different professions implementing the presumption of innocence? ............... 9 b. Potential factors that have an effect on guaranteeing the presumption of innocence ....... 11 c. The role of prejudices and stigma ......................................................................................... 13 d. Discussion of findings ............................................................................................................ 17 C.2 Public references to guilt .................................................................................................. 18 a. How do the different professions liaise with the media? ..................................................... 18 b. Mapping of laws and guidelines ........................................................................................... 19 aa. Positive effects .................................................................................................................... 22 bb. Negative effects .................................................................................................................. 23 d. Differences in media coverage concerning certain groups .................................................. 27 aa. Men and women ................................................................................................................. 27 bb. Children and adults ............................................................................................................. 27 cc. Nationals and non-nationals (including ethnic minorities, e.g. Roma) ............................... 27 dd. Persons with disabilities...................................................................................................... 29 ee. Popular persons .................................................................................................................. 29 e. Discussion of findings ............................................................................................................ 29 C.3 The presentation of suspects and accused persons ....................................................... 30 a. Measures used to present the accused and its impact on their presumption of innocence ... 31 b. Clothing ..................................................................................................................................... 33 c. Presentation of vulnerable groups ............................................................................................ 35 d. Reactions to presenting accused as being guilty ...................................................................... 35 e. Discussion of findings ................................................................................................................ 36 C.4 Burden of proof ............................................................................................................... 37 a. Confession ............................................................................................................................. 39 2 b. Discussion of findings ............................................................................................................ 42 C.5 The right to remain silent and not to incriminate oneself ............................................. 43 a. The right to remain silent in practice ........................................................................................ 44 b. How is information on the right to remain silent and not to incriminate oneself shared with the accused? ................................................................................................................................. 47 c. Self-incrimination ...................................................................................................................... 47 d. Right to remain silent ................................................................................................................ 49 e. Discussion of findings ................................................................................................................ 51 C.6 The right to be present at the trial and to have a new trial ........................................... 52 a. Consequences of non-appearance ............................................................................................ 52 b. What has been understood as “effective participation”? ........................................................ 54 c. Vulnerable groups ..................................................................................................................... 55 d. Discussion of findings ................................................................................................................ 58 C.7 Challenges and improvements ........................................................................................ 58 a. Challenges ............................................................................................................................. 58 b. Improvements ....................................................................................................................... 58 c. Suggestions ........................................................................................................................... 58 PART D. GENERAL ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................. 60 PART E. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................... 62 3 PART A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The fundamental rights of defendants included in Directive 2016/343/EU were implemented in: The right to be presumed innocent in general: The right to be presumed innocent is the guiding principle of the work during the investigation procedure. It is practically implemented by the law enforcement authorities through objective investigations, which seek to collect both, incriminatory and exculpatory evidence. The judges similarly apply the principle through the objective evaluation of evidence, which is neutral towards incriminatory and exculpatory evidence. Still, a confession which is in line with the other evidence and a pre-trial detention challenges the practical implementation of the presumption of innocence. Moreover, the following group-based disadvantages were named by the interviewees: previous convictions are assessed as incriminating factor for the case at stake, members of certain nationalities and asylum seekers are disadvantaged by experience-based prejudices among the authorities, according to which they commit certain crimes more frequently. Popular or public persons are disadvantaged because of intense and biased media coverage of their cases. Public references to guilt: The effect of the media coverage on the presumption of innocence depends on the quality of reporting. Intense and biased media coverage during the investigation proceeding in large cases, involving popular or public defendants, are likely to affect the presumption of innocence, the defendants’ right to privacy and even the judgement in jury trials involving lay assessors only. Thus, media coverage during the investigative proceedings is perceived as problematic for the fairness of the proceedings, while media coverage during the main trial serves the public scrutiny and the public’s interest to access trials. Almost all interviewees are hesitant in liaising with the media on criminal cases. The presentation of suspects and accused persons: Defendants in pre-trial detention are presented in handcuffs and accompanied by law enforcement officers. Defendants
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