Public defenders rely on full-time salaried staff. Staff members include defense attorneys, defense investigators, and office personnel. Many public defender’s offices employ what critics call a “plead ’em and speed ’em through” strategy, which typically means they meet their clients for the first time in the courtroom and use plea bargaining to move the cases through court faster (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 323). The role of the prosecutor is to determine whether or not to press charges against an offender, depending on the quality, and strength of the evidence provided to him, or her. Once the prosecutor determines he or she will pursue charges, he or she must decide what charges to press according to the presented facts of the case.
They let them know if there is enough information and evidence to charge a suspect with the crime. They also determine what charges will be filed against the offender, interview witnesses, review search warrants, and subpoena witnesses. In preparation for trial should a plea bargain not be offered or accepted. When and if the case goes to trial, they represent the government in pretrial hearings and motion procedures, enter into plea-bargain negotiations with the defendant and his or her counsel. The prosecutor will try the actual case, make sentence recommendations, upon the defendant being found guilty, and represent the government in appellate court, should an appeal be filed.
I observed the police prosecutors consulting the defendants’ legal agent on many occasions discussing alternatives to a prison sentence and what the prosecutors felt was fair in way of punishment for this defendant. The bench clerk is the person appointed to assist the Magistrate in the court
5. In order to bring charges against both Slick Martin and Jim Lawbreaker, what would you do as the prosecutor? 1. Prior to appointing counsel, what needs to be read out loud in open court? 2.
Prosecutor’s Role The prosecutor has major influence in the courtroom. The prosecutor is generally elected (the District Attorney), but the Assistant District Attorneys are hired staff. Elected prosecutors are usually in a highly visible role, which allows them to climb the career ladder quickly. The prosecutor represents society, making a crime against one person a crime against society. Prosecutors are responsible to make sure the guilty person is prosecuted and that innocent people are protected from unwarranted prosecution.
A District Attorney is a public official who acts as prosecutor for the state or the federal government in court in a particular district (Hill 2005). A DA is involved in both the investigative and prosecutorial stage of interaction with a criminal defendant. Their role is to investigate the crimes the defendant has allegedly committed and deciding to file criminal charges or bring forth evidence that may lead to an indictment for a
Week 1 Individual Work Criminal Evidence Judith Ramos The country that I chose to write about is Aruba. I believe all countries have different approaches in determining the truth in criminal proceedings. In the U.S. the legal lsystem is det up with judges; lawyers; juries; and prosecutors. What the purpose of the trials in court is to bring justice to the victims involved in the crime. We have to make sure that all evidence is brought to court; all witnesses are present; have all the necessary documents needed to prove a guilty or innocent verdict.
If enough evidence is present a trail will be in act. A trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute to present information. During the trial eye witnesses are questioned. These witnesses can be eye witness or experts. In a trial a jury is present.
They will discuss the matter of the case with the prosecution. They will be trying to find some kind of fault with the prosecution and everything in the case. They will represent the defendant at all the pretrial procedures such as, the arrest, interview, lineup, and arraignment. They also can enter into negotiations with the prosecution. They will defend the client in court and any where else they may need to go.
November 18, 2012 An arraignment is the process by which the defendant, the person being accused of a criminal act, is read specific charges against him. It is the first step in the criminal process after arrest, it just a brief court hearing. All arraignments are conducted after the suspect is arrested and booked by law enforcement. An arraignment takes place only after the prosecuting attorney decides to file charges. The first two steps in an arraignment are for the accused person, defendant, is addressed by name.