Perspectives and strategies to ensure compliance in Ecuador’s criminal justice system

Abstract

The research analyzed the oversight of legality in the Ecuadorian criminal justice system, emphasizing its importance as a guarantee of the rule of law and the challenges inherent to its application. The main objective was to evaluate effective alternatives to strengthen this oversight based on existing regulations, case analysis, and expert consultations. A mixed methodology was employed, combining deductive and inductive approaches. The deductive method involved a systematic review of academic and legal literature, while the inductive method focused on the analysis of specific cases and expert consultations using multicriteria methods such as AHP and VIKOR. Among the key findings, obstacles were identified, including inadequate judicial training, corruption, and limited institutional independence. Of the proposed solutions, the most highly rated alternative was the creation of a rigorous framework for the admission and oversight of evidence, surpassing options such as continuous judicial training and independent audits. This approach was considered the most viable to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the legitimacy of criminal proceedings. It was concluded that strengthening the oversight of legality requires structural reforms, including measures to improve judicial training, enhance transparency, and ensure adequate procedural supervision.