Prosecutorial Discretion In Criminal Justice Cases

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Prosecutors, without doubt, are the most powerful and influential decision makers in the criminal justice system. The decisions they make on who will be charged with a crime or whether to accept a case at all, which charges to file, and various other vital decisions. When it comes to making these decisions, prosecutors possess the power to exercise their discretion at their choice without many limitations. Prosecutors, without doubt, are the most powerful and influential decision makers in the criminal justice system. The decisions they make on who will be charged with a crime or whether to accept a case at all, which charges to file, and various other vital decisions. When it comes to making these decisions, prosecutors possess the power to exercise their discretion at their choice without many limitations. In some cases, determining between life and death. While it is important that an individual in a position that has vast knowledge of the criminal justice system, such as a prosecutor, be able to make these decisions without bias or malicious intent. I do believe that too much of that …show more content…

For example, alleged possession of a recreational drug may lead to criminal charges in one state but not another. In another instance, a prosecutor may charge an individual with a felony yet in a different state the same case may be charged as a misdemeanor or no charge at all. Other issues may revolve around the amount of evidence needed to bring upon charges, in one state the amount of evidence may be insufficient to bring upon charges but, in another state, the same evidence may be enough to bring upon charges. While there is no "easy" solution to any of these issues, there should be a focus on providing clear guidelines for prosecutors on what amount of evidence is worthy of taking on a case, whether a certain crime should be charges as a felony or misdemeanor,

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