The Roles and Challenges of Assistant Investigators in Criminal Dispute Mediation: A Theoretical and Human Resource Management Perspective

Abstract

This research article aims 1) to analyze the role of assistant investigators in the criminal dispute mediation process during the investigation stage under the Dispute Mediation Act B.E. 2562, and 2) to propose approaches to enhance the effectiveness of criminal mediation at the investigation stage in a sustainable manner, focusing on developing the role of assistant investigators in line with the legal framework, the concept of restorative justice, and systematic human resource management. This study employs a qualitative research design using documentary research methods. The research instruments included the Document Abstraction Form, the Thematic Coding Table, and data and reference management software. Relevant documents such as legal texts, regulations, and academic research are collected. Data collection was conducted through searches in reliable databases. The data were analyzed through Content Analysis, grouping by analytical dimensions, Thematic Analysis, and linkage with conceptual and theoretical frameworks.

The study found that 1) assistant investigators played an important role in supporting the mediation process, which included preparing documents, verifying and collecting evidence, coordinating with the disputing parties, and facilitating the scheduling and recording of negotiation results. Such a framework of work reflected that assistant investigators were key personnel who ensured that the mediation process operated smoothly at the police station level. However, they still lacked a clear legal status, resulting in ambiguity in their roles, while the training curriculum did not yet emphasize the development of competencies and behavioral skills essential to the restorative justice process. 2) the human resource management system still encountered structural problems, including the allocation of personnel that did not correspond to the workload, the lack of a career advancement pathway, and inequalities in supporting resources. The policy recommendations are as follows: the Royal Thai Police should focus on clearly defining the roles and legal authority of assistant investigators in the law, and on developing training curricula within its educational institutions—particularly the police non-commissioned officer programs—based on competency frameworks that integrate restorative communication skills, as well as managing human resources to ensure access to resources that serve as mechanisms supporting the alternative justice process, such as having computers, photocopiers, printers, and designated spaces for conducting criminal dispute mediation effectively and sustainably.