# Judiciary and law enforcement URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/judiciary-and-law-enforcement Type: Priority topic Published: 2020-03-18 Updated: 2020-04-13 --- An independent judiciary and clean law enforcement are central to democracy and rule of law. Strengthening independent judiciaries through higher salaries and better legal protections is an effective way to tackle corruption, holding the corrupt accountable and giving their victims justice. People’s experiences with the judiciary and law enforcement are often very different from this: many face demands for bribes to dismiss a charge, fast-track a case or slow down a trial. Judges can also be bribed, or subject to political pressure and interference from above. ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/sebastian-pichler-bAQH53VquTc-unsplash.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) Photo: Sebastian Pichler / unsplash.com Corruption in the judicial system breaks the basic principle of equality before the law and deprives people of their right to a fair trial. In a corrupt judicial system, money and influence may decide which cases are prioritised or dismissed. Perpetrators may get away unpunished while victims are left with no answer and no justice. Simple reforms can prevent this. An independent body and public oversight can guarantee that appointments in the judiciary are based on merit rather than favouritism. Judicial personnel should be adequately trained and receive fair salaries and pensions, to make them less vulnerable to bribery. Judges’ personal liability for decisions should be limited and, to protect them from pressure by powerful interests, only credible and transparent investigations should be conducted against them. **Civil society, the private sector, and the media – we all have a vital role to play.** Judicial bias must be exposed and reforms to increase courtroom honesty implemented. To ensure a fair adjudication of each and every case, judiciary has to be independent, impartial and act with integrity. ## What are we doing about it? ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/inaki-del-olmo-NIJuEQw0RKg-unsplash.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) Photo: Iñaki del Olmo / unsplash.com ## We provide research and evidence that analyses the systemic failures that compromise the integrity, independence and accountability of the judiciary. ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/jonathan-borba-fNmUtZQwErM-unsplash.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) Photo: Jonathan Borba / unsplash.com ## We support governments and policy makers to build a strong, independent and accountable judiciary and law enforcement. Together with our international, regional and national partners, we push for the adoption, monitoring and enforcement of anti-corruption laws and standards. ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/you-x-ventures-Oalh2MojUuk-unsplash.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) Photo: You X Ventures / unsplash.com ## We encourage and educate practitioners to stand up for integrity in the judiciary and to demand changes in attitude and practice – because change must come from within the system. ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/freestocks-Sm0WHQnZmlw-unsplash.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) Photo: freestocks / unspash.com ## We mobilise citizens and offer them channels to voice their concerns and hold the judiciary accountable. ## Find out more about our work ### News [+ More](https://www.transparency.org/en/search/filter?priority=judiciary-and-law-enforcement&type=newsPost) ## [CPI 2025: Findings and insights](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2025-findings-insights-corruption) News • 10 February 2026 As corruption worsens globally, a decline in bold, accountable leadership is undermining reform. ## [EU enlargement must prioritise fighting corruption](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/eu-enlargement-must-prioritise-fighting-corruption) News • 06 December 2024 Corruption in candidate countries threatens those societies and the entire European Union. ## [Captured states in the Western Balkans and Turkey](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/captured-states-western-balkans-turkey) News • 11 December 2020 ## [Legally sanctioned lying: A moment of truth for the Czech Republic?](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/a-moment-of-truth-for-the-czech-republic) News • 26 February 2020 A court in Prague struck a blow to civil society in the Czech Republic on Friday, ruling in favour of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in a libel suit brought by TI Czech Republic. ### Publications [+ More](https://www.transparency.org/en/search/filter?priority=judiciary-and-law-enforcement&type=publication) ## [Annual Report 2025](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/annual-report-2025) Publication • 17 July 2026 In 2025, Transparency International pursued its mission to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society. ## [Corruption Perceptions Index 2025](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/corruption-perceptions-index-2025) Publication • 10 February 2026 The Corruption Perceptions Index scores 182 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts and business people. ## [Between anti-corruption reform and decline: Examining key actors, strengths and weaknesses in the Western Balkans and Türkiye’s national integrity systems](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/anti-corruption-reform-decline-examining-key-actors-strengths-weaknesses-western-balkans-t%C3%BCrkiyes-national-integrity-systems) Publication • 19 June 2024 Assessments in the Western Balkans and Türkiye reveal a complex mixture of slow progress in strengthening integrity systems, along with democratic backsliding that strongly… ## [Corruption Perceptions Index 2023](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/corruption-perceptions-index-2023) Publication • 30 January 2024 The Corruption Perceptions Index scores 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts and business people. ### Projects [+ More](https://www.transparency.org/en/search/filter?priority=judiciary-and-law-enforcement&type=project) ## [Ending impunity for grand corruption in the Western Balkans and Turkey](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/grand-corruption-western-balkans-and-turkey) Project Assesses and tracks National Integrity Systems—ways to strengthen institutions and anti-corruption policies—in the Western Balkans and Turkey. ## [CRIMJUST: Strengthening criminal justice along drug trafficking routes](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/justlead-strengthening-criminal-justice-along-the-cocaine-route) Project Strengthening criminal justice institutions’ integrity and accountability to fight organized crime and drug trafficking. ## [Western Balkans and Turkey: Citizen engagement for public integrity (CEPI)](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/western-balkans-turkey) Project This action builds on the Western Balkans and Turkey projects Ending Impunity for Grand Corruption Crimes, completed in 2021, and Strengthening National Integrity Systems,… ## [Strengthening EU Collaboration to Uncover and Resist Emerging Corruption (SECURE)](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/strengthening-eu-collaboration-uncover-resist-emerging-corruption-secure) Project SECURE aims to enhance EU-level efforts against corruption by addressing current and emerging threats in Europe. ### Blog posts [+ More](https://www.transparency.org/en/search/filter?priority=judiciary-and-law-enforcement&type=blogPost) [## An insider perspective on tackling corruption strategically Transparency Int'l 10 May 2022](https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/insider-perspective-tackling-corruption-strategically "An insider perspective on tackling corruption strategically") [## Ghana: Independent oversight urgently needed to increase trust in criminal justice & law enforcement institutions Michael Boadi 14 May 2021](https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/ghana-trust-criminal-justice-law-enforcement-citizens-independent-oversight-needed "Ghana: Independent oversight urgently needed to increase trust in criminal justice & law enforcement institutions") [## In North Macedonia, public pressure opens a door to combat entrenched corruption Slagjana Taseva 11 February 2021](https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/in-north-macedonia-public-pressure-opens-a-door-to-combat-entrenched-corruption "In North Macedonia, public pressure opens a door to combat entrenched corruption") [## Vanuatu: Corruption worsening the impacts of COVID-19 and natural disasters Transparency Int'l 28 January 2021](https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/cpi-2020-vanuatu-corruption-worsening-the-impacts-of-covid-19-natural-disasters "Vanuatu: Corruption worsening the impacts of COVID-19 and natural disasters") ### Press releases [+ More](https://www.transparency.org/en/search/filter?priority=judiciary-and-law-enforcement&type=pressRelease) ## [Garífuna lands seized for palm oil ahead of COP30](https://www.transparency.org/en/press/gar%C3%ADfuna-lands-seized-for-palm-oil-ahead-of-cop30) Press • 07 November 2025 ## [Transparency International: Indonesia crackdown on protest is dangerous erosion of civic space](https://www.transparency.org/en/press/transparency-international-indonesia-crackdown-on-protest-is-dangerous-erosion-of-civic-space) Press • 02 September 2025 ## [Guatemala: Attorney general’s reappointment threatens anti-corruption efforts and civic space](https://www.transparency.org/en/press/guatemala-attorney-generals-reappointment-threatens-anti-corruption-efforts-and-civic-space) Press • 19 May 2022 ## [El Salvador: Decisions undermining independence of justice institutions should be revisited](https://www.transparency.org/en/press/el-salvador-judges-attorney-general-dismissal-undermine-independence-of-justice-institutions) Press • 03 May 2021 ## Explore all priorities - [Asset recovery and the theft of public money](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/asset-recovery-and-the-theft-of-public-money) - [Business integrity](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/business-and-corruption) - [Climate crisis](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/climate-crisis) - [Defence and security](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/defence-and-security) - [Dirty money](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/dirty-money) - [Extractive industries](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/extractive-industries) - [Foreign bribery enforcement](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/foreign-bribery-enforcement) - [Gender](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/gender-and-corruption) - [Grand corruption](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/grand-corruption) - [Health](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/health-and-corruption) - [Judiciary and law enforcement](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/judiciary-and-law-enforcement) - [Land corruption](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/land-corruption) - [Political integrity](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/political-integrity) - [Public procurement](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/public-procurement) - [Right to information](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/right-to-information) - [Sustainable Development Goals](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/sustainable-development-goals) - [Whistleblowing](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/whistleblowing) Asset recovery and the theft of public money Business integrity Climate crisis Defence and security Dirty money Extractive industries Foreign bribery enforcement Gender Grand corruption Health Judiciary and law enforcement Land corruption Political integrity Public procurement Right to information Sustainable Development Goals Whistleblowing