8.3: Prosecutorial Duties
- Page ID
- 48401
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Prosecutorial Duties
The prosecutor has a number of duties in addition to appearing in court.
Enforce The Law
One of the prosecutor’s main duties is to enforce the law. This is a broad ranging duty which means they may cooperate in investigations, they may initiate special investigations as needed, and they interview witnesses. They may also be involved in training police officers, or probation officers, or even parole officers in the proper way of obtaining warrants and proceeding with revocation hearings. It is the prosecutor who also makes the important decision in deciding what charges, if any, will actually be filed against the potential defendant and their decision may or may not be the same as what the police felt should happen. They also may be view applications for both search warrants and arrest warrants.
Represent The People
As mentioned earlier the prosecutor does not directly represent the victim but rather they represent the government, or in other words the people, of the jurisdiction they serve. As part of this duty they participate in numerous pretrial hearings and various motion procedures they also represent the government if any cases are up on appeal.
Maintain Proper Standards
Given that the prosecutor is one of the most visible members of the court system it is important that they maintain proper standards both in the courtroom as well as outside of it. Being professional means that they should cooperate with courtroom workers in a professional capacity whether they agree with them or not, it is also important that they conduct a proper trial, that they not be overly politically persuaded in their decisions, and that they not withhold evidence.
Develop Programs and Reforms
Since the prosecutor is serving for the benefit of the people, it is important that they think about changes in the laws which would help the people. For instance, often the prosecutor’s office is involved with victim advocate program or witness protection program and so on. Additionally, if they encounter laws that are outdated and need to be removed from the box or changed in some way the prosecutor is in the perfect position to bring this issue forward.
Public Spokesperson
Since the prosecutor serves for the people, it is also important that they are willing to address various civic groups who wish to learn more about the courtroom process or various laws. They should also develop mechanisms to solicit input and take time to listen to business as well as citizen legal or law related concerns in their community. While interacting with the public they must always remember that while in the public eye they are representing the entire court component of the criminal justice system. Many citizens will form an opinion about the criminal justice system based on their interactions with the prosecutor’s office or on the image of the prosecutor in the public media.