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ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ROLE IN PROSECUTION

NCJ Number
39338
Author(s)
G A COHEN
Date Published
1977
Length
27 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT UPDATES AND SUPPLEMENTS SECTIONS OF THE JUNE 1974 REPORT, 'THE PROSECUTION FUNCTION: LOCAL PROSECUTORS AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,' AND HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE FIRST REPORT.
Abstract
THE INFORMATION IS DERIVED PRIMARILY FROM QUESTIONNAIRES TO ATTORNEYS' GENERAL OFFICES AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH SELECTED STATES. IT FOLLOWS THE GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE 1974 REPORT, EXCEPT MAJOR CHANGES WHICH HAVE OCCURRED IN A FEW STATES (KENTUCKY, MARYLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA) ARE DESCRIBED IN MORE DETAIL. THE 1974 REPORT DESCRIBED THE VARIOUS STATE STATUTORY SYSTEMS FOR ASSIGNING RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROSECUTIONS, AND THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND LOCAL PROSEUCTORS. IT ALSO DISCUSSED JUDICIAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THESE ROLES, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTUALLY EXERCISED THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN HIM. PROGRAMS FOR PROSECUTOR ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING WERE ALSO DESCRIBED. STATE-BY-STATE TABULAR DATA WERE ALSO INCLUDED. FOR THE 1974 REPORT, SEE NCJ-13878. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...ELW