Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
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Professor
Institution
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Role of the Prosecutor
attorney is required to scrutinize standard references as a well as police station applications that
connect with the case trial. His or her office has a prosecution is responsible for its jurisdiction.
It is his or her duty to convict and seek justice. Moreover, the prosecutor attempts to reform and
improve criminal justice administration (Mwalili, 1997). Under this instance, he or she
The final report presents the finding after investigating the witnesses involved and
information about any recovered and collected evidence. In particular, the report shows essential
case elements and evidence which has to be relied on to prove the elements presented. It is
through the report that, as the prosecutor, I shall present facts and information to defend the
defendant or used by the defense. Also, the report offers required evidence for rebutting possible
defense lines of argument. Also, it records the victim views about the proposed prosecution
(HSE, 2014). They also give a time line which aid in logical follows up for the principal suspect
exact actions.
Since it is the prosecutor’s duty to convict and seek justice, this role may not be achieved
in case the final reports are not well completed. In such a case a victim who would otherwise be
guilty may end being freed without facing the law. On the other hand, an innocent victim may
filtered out if the police officer finds out that the act was not illegal. Hence, the case does not
proceed to the next stage. An arrestment is made if the police find that the crime was committed.
The preliminary investigation is done by the patrol officers at the scene of the offense and later
agencies may be used in this process. All pieces of evidence available are utilized to establish
whether the government ought to present the case to the Federal Grand Jury. The prosecutor
uses the direct and circumstantial evidence to make any final decision.
The next stage is charging after the prosecutor decision whether to present the case to the
grand jury. A formal notice is issued to a person believed that he or she committed the crime. A
grand jury has put forward the evidence by the prosecutor for possible felony charges. Witnesses
give evidence to the grand jury. After listening to the prosecutor and the witnesses, the grand
jury votes secretly to decide whether the person accused indeed committed the crime. Based on
the evidence provided by witnesses, the grand jury may choose not to judge the person. All
information made before the grand jury is sealed. Sixteen to twenty-three members carry out the
grand juries. Only specific persons can attend their proceedings. For example, individuals who
are supposed to testify before the grand jury are not accepted to have the presence of attorney
general. The federal government may use grand juries for all felony crimes.
In preparation for a trial, there is an interrogation of the witnesses who will be used to
testify in the court. Witnesses are called to say what they know about the situation by the defense
and the prosecutor (United States Attorneys, 2014). Witnesses must take an oath to affirm to tell
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE
the truth to test. The earlier conversation with the prosecutor and the witnesses determines
whom to call as a witness in court. Defendant copies of materials and proof that the prosecution
anticipates utilizing in the trial must be provided by the prosecutors. Fines and sanctions may be
given to prosecutors who fail to provide continually defendant documents and other information.
Trial stage
Facts of a case are presented to the grand jury. Witnesses and evidence submitted are
used by attorney and jury to prove the defendant committed the crime. A judge in charge decides
the proof to be shown to the jury. Jurors are selected chosen to listen to the facts and determine
whether the person committed the crime. The prosecutor and the defense attorney are briefly
allowed to tell the accounts of the events in the opening statements. It follows the examination of
the witnesses by the prosecutor. Closing arguments by the prosecutor and defense attorney to the
jury makes the final decision of guilty or not guilty. Judge advises the board on the procedure to
reach a verdict. The final determination is made to the judges, defendant and lawyers in an open
court.
I preparation for court cases, the investigator is responsible for making facts presentation
collected from his conducted prompt and diligent investigation. He also ensures that all the
involved witnesses are notified and appear in the court. He is responsible for obtaining the court
case disposition he presented to the Superior Court and informing the investigation bureau
investigator cooperation process. They are both involved in planning, organization, leadership
and control. In planning and organization, the two officers plan orderly and corresponding
activities (Navickiene, 2010). They also solve any arising trial related organizational problems.
The prosecutor implements leadership and control functions and controls the pre-trial process
Not-guilty and acquitted have got the same meaning. In court, someone is acquitted by
the magistrate or jury when found not guilty. When the judge acquits someone in the court, this
does not necessarily mean that the criminal investigator has failed in his or her duty. It is
because, as the law states, no one is guilty until proven. Criminal investigators not only
researches on the negative sides of someone but also the good things he or she does. If there
lacks enough evidence to prove someone guilty, the investigator succeeds in freeing the accused.
There is a probability that the Automated Fingerprint Identification System will include
palm prints in future (George, 2000). It is because crime investigators often encounter latent
palm prints in crime scenes. Since there are no reference suspect palm prints, such information
cannot be investigated immediately. It is predictable that in the next 20 years, latent palm prints
obtained from crime scenes shall be photographed and sent digitally into AFIS.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE
References
Fitch Burg Police. (2016, March 12). Criminal Investigator. Retrieved March 12, 2016, from
http://www.fitchburgpolice.com/about_fpd/job_descriptions/criminal_investigator/default
.cfm
George Schiro. (2000). Forensic Science Crime Scene Investigation Past Present Future.
HSE. (2014). The prosecution report - Investigation - Enforcement Guide (England & Wales).
http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-report.htm
Mwalili, J. J. (1997). The role and function of prosecution in criminal justice.UNAFEI, Annual
Report for.
United States Attorneys. (2014). Steps In The Federal Criminal Process | USAO | Department of
federal-criminal-process