澳大利亚 – 新州法律协会：调查无损于法治 – 澳洲新闻 – 澳洲唐人街 – – 澳洲华人生活大全

                新州法律协会说刑事司法系统之外的调查无损于法治。<br />

法治的实质在于所有权力都受法律约束 – 包括民法和刑事法 – 而且法律面前人人平等。

法治要求立法，行政和司法权的分离，这样可对这些权力的负责人进行检查和平衡。

刑事司法系统是法治运作的方式之一。在司法审判中，检方有责任证明在超越合理怀疑的条件下某人犯了一项被指控的罪。被告不需自证清白或驳斥说某些事件从未发生过。

民事诉讼可与刑事流程分开进行，一般发生于刑事程序涸尽时 （定罪或无罪释放）或未进入刑事程序（不提出起诉）时。

民事诉讼可公开或私下进行，并且也不要求任何人自证清白。程序公正性的规则适用于此类诉讼程序，并且当事人有机会发表意见。

在纪律处分过程中，主张指称的严重性造成体面或适当性缺失的机构可以比刑事证据的标准较低的责任提出调查。

行政调查也可以具体的职权范围设定调查的范围。

所有这些刑事和民事流程都涉及国家权力的普通和合法使用，构成法治的一个方面。

The essence of the rule of law is that all authority is subject to law, both civil and criminal, and everyone is equal before the law.

The rule of law requires a separation of powers between the legislature, executive and judiciary, which allows for checks and balances between those heads of power.

The criminal justice system is one aspect of the way in which the rule of law operates. In a criminal trial, the prosecution bears an onus to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that a person is guilty of a charged offence. An accused is never required to prove her or his innocence or to disprove that certain events occurred.

Civil proceedings may occur separately to the criminal process, and usually when the criminal process is exhausted (where there has been conviction or acquittal) or not engaged (where no charges have been laid).

They may be in public or private and they too, do not require any person to prove their innocence. The rules of procedural fairness apply in such proceedings and the subject has an opportunity to be heard.

In disciplinary processes, it is for the body asserting a lack of propriety or fitness to make its case, on a lesser onus than the criminal standard of proof, but with regard to the seriousness of any allegations raised.

Executive inquiries may also be ordered with specific terms of reference setting out the scope of the inquiry.

Each of these criminal and civil processes involves the ordinary and lawful use of state authority, and comprises an aspect of the rule of law.”