What is the most important factor a prosecutor considered when deciding whether to charge a suspect?

(a) A prosecutor should seek or file criminal charges only if the prosecutor reasonably believes that the charges are supported by probable cause, that admissible evidence will be sufficient to support conviction beyond a reasonable doubt, and that the decision to charge is in the interests of justice.
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Which factors should be considered by a prosecutor when deciding which charge or charges to file against a defendant?

When determining whether or not to pursue criminal charges, prosecutors will analyze:
  • The Evidence. ...
  • The Credibility of Witnesses and Victims. ...
  • The Circumstances Surrounding the Accusations or Arrest. ...
  • The Possibility of a Plea Bargain. ...
  • Current Political Pressures.
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What factors affect prosecutors charging decisions?

The decision to prosecute is based on the following factors:
  • The sufficiency of the evidence linking the suspect to the offense.
  • The seriousness of the offense.
  • The size of the court's caseload.
  • The need to conserve prosecutorial resources for more serious cases.
  • The availability of alternatives to formal prosecution.
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What factors should be taken into consideration when deciding whether or not to take a case to trial?

If you're considering testifying at trial, there are four important factors to keep in mind. Your case conditions, credibility, composure under pressure, and how convincing your testimony is to the court should all be taken into account when deciding whether or not to testify at trial.
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What do prosecutors have which gives them power to decide what charges to file and whether or not to negotiate a plea agreement?

Prosecutorial discretion is when a prosecutor has the power to decide whether or not to charge a person for a crime, and which criminal charges to file.
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What considerations influence the prosecutor's decision about whether to bring charges and what to charge?

21Prosecutors may legitimately consider any number of factors in making charging and plea-bargaining decisions. These factors include the strength of the evidence, the likelihood of conviction, the interest of the victim in prosecution, and the cost and complexity of the prosecution and trial17.
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Which of the following is a key consideration for prosecutors when deciding whether to offer a defendant a plea deal?

A victim's preference for a trial is among the most important factors that a prosecutor considers when deciding whether to offer a defendant a plea bargain.
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What are the three primary factors that determine whether evidence collected during an investigation will be admissible in court?

Basically, if evidence is to be admitted at court, it must be relevant, material, and competent.
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What are the two factors for the court to consider when deciding whether the statute is Constitutional?

Courts must determine whether the person challenging the law has the standing to bring a law suit. Then, courts need to decide whether the law requires a higher level of scrutiny because it impacts fundamental rights or distinguishes people based on their race, religion, or natural origin.
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Which factor does the Supreme Court generally consider especially important when deciding which?

Overturn an act of Congress that violates the Constitution. Which factor does the supreme court generally consider especially important when deciding which cases to review? Whether the case deals with broad issues that apply to many different cases.
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What are the four primary types of factors linked to prosecutorial decision making?

These constraints—rules, resources, and relationships—could trump evaluations of strength of the evidence, seriousness of the offense, and defendant criminal history, forcing prosecutors to make decisions that they might not consider ideal.
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What is a factor that increases the power of the prosecutor?

Political ambition. Political ambition may also influence prosecutors. Most prosecutors are elected officials, and many of them view their position as a stepping stone to higher office. Public opinion and important support groups often affect their decisions on charges.
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Which of the following statements best describes when prosecutors can initiate charges against a suspect?

Which of the following statements best describes when prosecutors can initiate charges against a suspect? A prosecutor may initiate charges when they have probable cause to believe the suspect has committed a crime, and they feel there is enough evidence.
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Who decides whether to charge a suspect with a crime?

The prosecutor decides whether to charge the crime as a felony or a misdemeanor. The prosecutor can file charges on all of the crimes for which the police arrested the defendant or can decide to file fewer charges or more charges than were included in the arrest report. 3.
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How do the police decide to prosecute?

When deciding whether there is enough evidence to prosecute, prosecutors must consider whether the evidence can be used in court and whether it is reliable. This means that they must assess the quality of the evidence from all witnesses before reaching a decision.
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What is the primary goal of the prosecutor in the charging decision?

A prosecutor "must ensure that all necessary and reasonable inquiries are made and the result disclosed to the suspect, whether that points towards the guilt or the innocence of a suspect.
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What criteria do you think should be used to determine whether a Supreme Court decision is a landmark decision?

What criteria do you think should be used to determine whether a Supreme Court decision is a landmark decision? Wether it is new law or a law on controversy issue.
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What factors determine whether the state or federal court system hears a case?

For the most part, federal courts only hear: Cases in which the United States is a party; Cases involving violations of the U.S. Constitution or federal laws (under federal-question jurisdiction); Cases between citizens of different states if the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 (under diversity jurisdiction); and.
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What are the two general principles that determine whether the federal courts have jurisdiction over a case?

What are the two general principles that determine whether the federal courts have jurisdiction over a case? Federal question and subject jurisdiction.
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Why evidence is important in prosecuting the accused?

“Evidence forms the building blocks of the investigative process and for the final product to be built properly, evidence must be recognized, collected, documented, protected, validated, analyzed, disclosed, and presented in a manner which is acceptable to the court.”
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Why do prosecutors sometimes choose not to prosecute criminal cases?

Prosecutors may decline to press charges because they think it unlikely that a conviction will result. No matter what the prosecutor's personal feelings about the case, the prosecutor needs legally admissible evidence sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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What factors should juries take into account when they sentencing juveniles?

For instance, judges may typically consider factors that include the following:
  • the defendant's past criminal record, age, and sophistication.
  • the circumstances under which the crime was committed, and.
  • whether the defendant genuinely feels remorse.
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What are some of the factors that you would consider when deciding whether the defendant should accept a plea bargain?

Incentives for the Defendant to Accept a Plea Bargain
  • Saving money. ...
  • Getting out of jail. ...
  • Resolving the matter quickly. ...
  • Having fewer or less-serious offenses on one's record. ...
  • Having a less socially stigmatizing offense on one's record. ...
  • Avoiding hassles. ...
  • Avoiding publicity. ...
  • Keeping others out of the case.
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Which of the following is motivation for prosecutors to offer a plea bargain?

Which of the following is motivation for prosecutors to offer a plea bargain? The strength or weakness of the evidence.
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What is one of the major factors influencing bargaining and discretion?

The three major factors influencing bargaining and discretion are the presumption of factual guilt, the costs and risks of trial to all parties, and the question of what sentence to impose upon the guilty.
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