FACTORS AFFECTING JUDICIAL DECISION ON CRIMINAL CASE: A PERSPECTIVE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN PHNOM PENH

Abstract

          Judges play virtual role in judicial system in creating a fair and lawful society. This research aimed to study a perspective of undergraduate students in Phnom Penh toward the factors affecting judicial decision on criminal case. The three participated universities were Build Bright University, Royal University of Phnom Penh and University of Cambodia. There were 391 students participating in this study. Quantitative method was adopted for data collection. The authors employed descriptive statistics and step-wise multiple regression to analyze the data. The result showed that legal system and judges’ personal perceptions has most influences on judicial decisions on criminal case while public opinion, politics and corruption has no revelation. This showed that legal system and judges’ personal perception are to be reliable, sustainable and accountable for the society.

         After the research study was completed, the researcher had some recommendations by depending on the findings that legal system may keep updating up to date to meet general needs, court and judicial system knowledge should be included in education system for undergraduate students, and basic knowledge procedures regarding to legal system process should be advertised more to general public.