THESIS ABSTRACT

Title: On Trial: Challenges Encountered by Police Officers

Testifying in Court in Dagupan City

Researchers: SHAIRA JOY ROSARIO, KAREN JOY DELA CRUZ, RELAND

DELA ROSA, RICKY DE GUZMAN

Degree: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINOLOGY

Name of Adviser: CLAIRE D. RUFINO

Institution: PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY-BINMALEY CAMPUS

Address of Institution: SAN ISIDRO NORTE BINMALEY, PANGASINAN

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The issue of prosecuting police officers for criminal

misconduct has gained significant attention in recent years,

particularly following high-profile cases involving the deaths of

individuals at the hands of law enforcement. Historically,

prosecuting police officers has been rare and contentious, with

prosecutors often reluctant to charge officers due to their close

working relationships with law enforcement (Levine, 2016c). This

reluctance has led to concerns about the lack of accountability

within police forces, especially among communities of color that

have long reported incidents of police misconduct (Dukes & Kahn,

2017). Although legal mechanisms such as 18 U.S.C. § 242 exist to

allow for federal prosecution of police misconduct, scholars like

Jacobi (2000) have argued that these frameworks are insufficient

and should be expanded to ensure that officers who commit serious

misconduct face appropriate legal consequences. The failure to

hold police accountable has undermined public trust in the

justice system and contributed to growing tensions between law

enforcement and minority communities (Skogan & Meares, 2004).

The difficulties surrounding the prosecution of police

officers also involve conflicts of interest within the

prosecutorial system. Local prosecutors often rely on police

cooperation to successfully prosecute other criminal cases,

creating an inherent bias when deciding whether to prosecute

officers for misconduct (Chavis Simmons, 2015; Levine, 2016c).

This conflict of interest has led some scholars to propose

reforms, such as outsourcing the prosecution of police officers

to independent or external prosecutors, in order to ensure

impartiality and restore public confidence in the justice system

(Levine, 2016c). Additionally, the failure of prosecutors to act

in cases of police brutality has been attributed to a culture of

complicity between law enforcement and the legal system, where

prosecutors have turned a blind eye to abuses by police officers

(Trivedi & Gonzalez Van Cleve, 2020). This study aims to examine

the factors contributing to the lack of accountability in the

prosecution of police misconduct, focusing on the legal and

institutional challenges that perpetuate this issue.

Building on Amagnya’s (2022) findings, this study analyzes

the issues that police prosecutors face in Ghana, as well as the

implications for the Global South's justice system. Amagnya

notes that police prosecutors frequently underestimate the

necessity of pre-trial discussions with witnesses, complainants,

and accused individuals, which are critical for a smooth court

process. The absence of defined protocols and proper training

for police prosecutors, along with the difficulties of verbal

abuse from lawyers, presents major problems for police-led cases.

These challenges reflect broader weaknesses in the justice

system, making it more difficult to ensure fair trials and

transparent results. The purpose of this research is to

investigate how similar difficulties are seen in other nations in

the Global South, as well as the impact they have on overall

justice.

Police officers face a variety of problems during

investigative interviews, particularly when speaking with

suspects. One of the most serious concerns is the breakdown of

basic discussion principles, such as cooperation, when suspects

attempt to conceal the truth or worry that speaking with the

police will exacerbate their predicament. Language problems make

things much more complicated, especially when interpreters are

required or multilingual cops must act as both investigator and

interpreter. These communication issues can make it difficult to

obtain correct information. Filipović (2019) examines real

interview data from police agencies in the United Kingdom and the

United States, highlighting the obstacles and proposing potential

ways to improve communication and obtain more trustworthy

outcomes in investigations.

Davies and McCarthy (2025) highlight the advantages of

employing Mock Court Simulations to prepare police officers for

court appearances. According to their findings, the simulation

increased participants' confidence and competence. The experience

allowed students to apply what they learned in class to real-life

scenarios, making them better prepared to handle court

proceedings. The facilitator's role was also critical in making

the simulation effective, since they provided continual feedback

that helped students stay engaged and progress.

Their study indicates that mock court exercises are an

effective tool for police training. They not only improve

practical abilities, but also make cops feel better prepared to

testify in court. The students' positive reactions support the

assumption that these simulations are necessary for developing

the abilities required in real-world police work, making the

transfer from theory to practice easier.

Understanding how investigative interviewing has evolved is

essential for enhancing police operations in the Philippines. By

examining present procedures and comparing them to international

norms such as the Méndez Principles, we may identify areas for

improvement and develop strategies to reform the judicial system.

This is critical to ensuring that police officers are adequately

trained and can conduct sensitive interviews, which can have a

significant impact on investigations. Moving beyond this broad

perspective, it's crucial to consider how these practices play

out in local settings, as regional differences may bring unique

obstacles and chances for progress.

Lintao and Gahar's (2025) study examines how police officers

in the Philippines conduct interviews with victims, witnesses,

and suspects. It investigates how these practices evolved over

time, taking into account legislative and regulatory

developments. The study examines key materials such as the PNP

criminal investigation manuals, standard operating procedures,

and legal guidelines. It also examines police officer training

programs, the normal setting of police stations for conducting

interviews, real interview recordings, and the papers that police

officers must create afterward. By comparing these methods to

international norms such as the Méndez Principles, the study

hopes to identify problems and make recommendations for

improvements to the country's police practices.

In recent years, the use of body cameras by law enforcement

officials has become an important trend, particularly in

addressing concerns of transparency, accountability, and public

trust. These cameras capture real-time footage of police

activity, providing an effective means to check officers'

behavior during operations. In Philippines, the Philippine Drug

Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has implemented body cameras in its

operations to increase openness and eliminate charges of

misbehavior. The use of these devices has been shown to increase

the credibility of law enforcement activities by giving concrete

evidence that may be used in investigations and judicial

hearings, particularly following the execution of search

warrants. According to Mabanglo (2023), body cameras are critical

for increasing transparency in law enforcement since they capture

operations and ensure that officers follow legal procedures.

This study, On Trial: Challenges Encountered by Police

Officers Testifying in Court in Dagupan City, investigates the

difficulties that police officers face when testifying in court,

such as legal technicalities, hostile cross-examinations, and

insufficient training, all of which have an impact on the quality

of the testimony. Previous research on the function of security

personnel in crime prevention and their involvement in legal

processes is consistent with the objectives of this study.

Previous findings show that many law enforcement officials,

including those in Dagupan City, lack the required skills to

testify effectively in court. Unfamiliarity with judicial

processes, as well as inadequate preparation, make it difficult

to present credible evidence in criminal prosecutions.

The study additionally relies on previous literature, which

emphasizes the importance of increased training in high-pressure

judicial settings to ensure police officers' credibility in court

(e.g., Lintao and Gahar, 2024). This study draws on

criminological theories and security management methods, applying

them to the setting of police officers' courtroom evidence in

Dagupan City.

The significance of this research stems from its ability to

inform legislative reforms and enhance police tactics connected

to court testimony. By recognizing the challenges that police

officers experience, this study sheds light on how law

enforcement training programs might be improved to better prepare

officers for the legal intricacies of court. Furthermore, the

study is consistent with broader initiatives to improve

transparency and accountability in law enforcement, providing

significant insights into how these concepts can be used to

improve police officers' performance as witnesses. Finally, the

findings will help to drive improvements that could result in

more effective, reliable, and trustworthy testimony in Dagupan

City's criminal justice system.

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