Brevic Justice

There isn't really anything resembling a "strong, reliable police/investigative force" in Brevoy. The town guards are mainly there to act in a military capacity against outside threats, but they'll break up a tavern brawl or haul a mugger off to the headsman's block if they see the crime being committed. It's often up to individual citizens to pursue other forms of justice.

The larger settlements and noble houses are often wealthy enough to retain the services of a professional Investigator (as well as have enough work to keep such a person busy in the first place), but smaller villages more often rely on the tenacity of the community or the good-will of wandering adventurers passing through to find transgressors that have fled from justice.

If a perpetrator is on the run, typically the government doesn't have the resources or time to track them down, so a writ of outlawry will be issued, declaring the life and property of the fugitive to be forfeit. If the perp in question is said to be guilty of a capital crime, any able-bodied citizen is not only allowed, but legally obligated to kill the fugitive if circumstances permit (you don't have to put yourself in harm's way, but letting them get away when you could have done something may make you an accomplice). Any property the outlaw is carrying (except stolen goods that are returned to the victim if possible) are forfeit and rightfully belong to the one who brought the outlaw to justice as their reward for carrying out their lawful duty. Some people do this professionally as bounty hunters and make a decent living at it.

Similarly, anyone who's been banished from the kingdom will have their life and property forfeit if they show their face inside Brevoy's borders.

If you want something investigated, you typically have to make your own arrangements, and then bring your case before the appropriate official.

Justice tends to be simple, rough, and swift, (as are most aspects of life in Brevoy) but of course, favoring those of higher socio-economic status, or at least with more respect within the community. Citizens of any caste have the advantage of being under the law's protection - even a lowly farmhand will be given the benefit of the doubt against a foreign vagabond (aka "adventurer").