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POLICY GUIDELINES - EXERCISE OF PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION

NCJ Number
65163
Journal
Prosecutor Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 132-136
Author(s)
K E NORTH
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
PROPOSED POLICY GUIDELINES FOR THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF LAW, TERRITORY OF GUAM, ARE PRESENTED AS A MODEL FOR PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION, A MOST CRITICAL PART OF THE PROSECUTOR'S FUNCTION.
Abstract
THE POLICY GUIDELINES DELINEATE THE DISCRETION EXERCISABLE BY THE PROSECUTION. THE POLICIES IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS WHERE PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION HAS BEEN RECENTLY USED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF GUAM. WHERE SUCH EXERCISE OF DISCRETION IS PROPERLY A PROSECUTORIAL FUNCTION, PARAMETERS, GUIDELINES, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE ESTABLISHED. WHERE FORMERLY EXERCISED DISCRETION OR ACTIVITY IS NOT PROPERLY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF PROSECUTORIAL FUNCTION, SUCH DISCRETION IS ELIMINATED. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE POLICIES IS TO CLEARLY DEFINE THE PROSECUTORIAL ROLE AND TO AID IN ADMINISTERING JUSTICE EVENHANDEDLY. JUSTICE SHOULD NOT FLUCTUATE UPON THE IDENTITY OF A PARTICULAR PROSECUTOR. THUS, UNIFORM POLICIES MUST BE ESTABLISHED. THE GUIDELINES COVER PRECHARGE INVOLVEMENT OF PROSECUTORS, THE DECISION TO PROSECUTE, BAIL RECOMMENDATIONS, PLEA NEGOTIATIONS, PRETRIAL GUIDELINES, SENTENCE NEGOTIATIONS, AND PRESS RELATIONS. (PRG)