Implementing Innovative Crime Investigation Methods in Greece: Bridging Research with Systemic (or & Cybernetics) Practices

• In Event: Advances in Experimental Methods Panel 1 : Experimental Frontiers in Policing and Threat Assessment

Abstract

In democratic societies, the absence of a structured investigative methodology within the criminal justice system challenges fair and effective case resolution. Greek investigations rely on linear autonomous procedural frameworks rather than systemic, method-driven approaches. This lack of structured reasoning leads to fragmented decision-making at all levels: Police, Legal practitioners, Courts and prosecutions resulting in case dismissals or ineffective resolutions. Consequently, impunity prevails, eroding public trust and allowing criminal behavior to persist unchecked/unpunished.
To address this, we implemented holistic investigative methodologies in real cases, utilizing disruptive innovation principles and systems thinking models. We integrated tools such as: “Elephant Canvas," “Systems Iceberg Model,” Viable & Causality Models, Concentric Circles etc. Additionally, we applied legal design thinking to enhance decision-making clarity and radical innovation to uncover deep-seated causal relationships and systemic inefficiencies. This structured investigative process facilitates evidence synthesis, enhances inter-agency collaboration, and improves case outcomes.
Our methodology was tested in law enforcement, successfully navigating legal complexities without resorting to traditional litigation. This framework enabled agencies to adopt a structured, evidence-based approach, leading to discussions at the Police Academy and higher administrative levels. Subsequently, we extended our work to the prosecutorial level, proposing two scalable methodological models—top-down and bottom-up—designed to enhance systemic decision-making in criminal investigations.
While law enforcement has responded positively, challenges remain in institutional adoption. Systemic delays at the prosecutorial level, where discretionary case dismissals undermine investigative rigor, highlight the need for structured methodologies within judicial practices to ensure fair and transparent case handling.
This research contributes to criminology by bridging legal theory and investigative practice. It introduces a systemically structured approach aligned with European criminological priorities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs16&17). By sharing our applied innovation framework, we aim to foster academic and policy discussions on implementing systemic methodologies in criminal investigations, reinforcing justice system integrity and efficiency.

Author

• SOPHIA GEORGIOU, Panteion University