Prosecutorial Decision Making
Factors That Influence Prosecutorial Decision Making
Prosecutors play a significant role in the criminal justice system to uphold the law and ensure justice is served. Typically, prosecutors act as government representatives in criminal cases taken to court by the accused people[jc1] . Prosecutors are expected to examine the evidence they have before filing charges[jc2] to enhance justice. According to Cole (1969), the prosecutorial decision-making process is influenced by many factors and one of them is the policies of criminal activities. Prosecutors should examine such regulations before filing charges to ensure the established guidelines are followed. Prosecutorial decisions are also made based on the political drive and ambitions where their decisions are influenced by the perception of public and significant groups in social influence. Additionally, they are affected by the justice requirements as prosecutors are obligated to be fair and uphold the law. However, prosecutors occasionally charge to suit the justice requirements.
Policy Implications of Prosecutorial Decision Making
Observing legal policies in the prosecutorial decision-making process has many benefits. One of the main advantages is that it allows the prosecutors to identify the problems, examine the policy demands, adopt the relevant regulations and implement them, and evaluate the progress of the criminal justice system (DeMatteo & Anumba, 2016). Additionally, it ensures that the prosecutors adhere to the guidelines of the system, which raises the productivity and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Making prosecutorial decisions based on the set policies also allows the prosecutors to critically examine the evidence presented to them to boost fairness and ensure they make effective decisions. Policies also increase the effectiveness of the prosecutorial decision-making process by allowing the prosecutors to be relevant and focused on achieving their set goals and objectives.
The relevance of Offering Training to District Attorneys
District attorneys are responsible for representing the government in criminal cases. Therefore, training these officials has positive implications for the entire criminal justice system and it substantially triggers development. District attorneys are trained on how to handle complex cases involving child abuse, biased offenses, corruption, sex offenses, and domestic disputes among others. Learning opportunities offer district attorneys knowledge and competence that guide them in their careers. As postulated by Mallicoat and Gardiner (2013), training district attorneys familiarize them with the essential aspects of the criminal justice system, for instance, the prosecution processes and laws, courtroom processes, and ethical guidelines in the criminal justice system. Training district attorneys ensure that they are updated with the current trends in the criminal justice system, which allows them to gain the relevant expertise and competence in various fields of law. Furthermore, it improves their skills and legal capabilities to stimulate career development (Mallicoat & Gardiner, 2013). Training services also ensure that district attorneys reinforce ethical and professional standards that are significant in upholding justice.
Prosecutorial decision-making is a significant process that influences the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and thus should be addressed appropriately. Adhering to the policies of criminal justice is important for the prosecutorial decision-making process. Training district attorneys also has many benefits for the criminal justice system as it enhances their skills and expertise thus boosting the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.
References
Cole, G. F. (1969). The decision to prosecute. Law & Soc’y Rev., 4, 331.
DeMatteo, D., & Anumba, N. (2016). The validity of jury decision-making research. In Jury
psychology: Social aspects of trial processes (pp. 23-46). Routledge.
Mallicoat, S. L., & Gardiner, C. L. (Eds.). (2013). Criminal justice policy. Sage Publications.
[jc1]This conflicts with the first sentence.
[jc2]Why do they need t oexamine the evidence?