Criminal Justice

What role do prosecutors play in issues of racial equity? What are the 7 decision points that can impact people of color? What can be done to affect the role of the prosecutor?

ANSWER

The Role of Prosecutors in handling Racial Equity

Prosecutors play a vital role in the criminal justice systems, and especially in handling racial equity. They are deemed as the most powerful officials in the judicial system (Davis, 2013). These professionals make discretionary charging and plea-bargaining decisions. They rely on their power and discretion to make suitable decisions that adhere to equality provisions. This means that the prosecutor will depend on available structures to create reforms in the criminal justice system. They eliminate unwanted racial disparities by ensuring that their charges and plea-bargaining decisions are not based on ethnic or racial characteristics. People of color encounter plights due to distinct decision points.

One of the key points likely to impact the people of color is disproportionate offending. Black people are associated with a disproportionate number of crimes (Davis, 2013). Law enforcement officers are likely to arrest people of color if they have probable cause to believe that they committed a crime and subsequent prosecution. The other crucial factor is racial profiling, where people of color may be deemed as committing a crime due to their race. Also, the war on drugs is another vital decision likely to implicate colored individuals. If these persons are associated with drug utilization, the law might this for their disadvantage. Notably, policies act as vital decision points since prosecutors rely on these frameworks to pass judgment. Practices act as another imperative decision element that primarily disadvantages persons of color. Organizational culture might disadvantage these populations. Charging and plea-bargaining decisions impact racial disparities (Davis, 2013). They can also act as potential decision points in cases involving people of color. Lastly, power might cause unintended and undesirable consequences among these individuals.

Equality policies and practices should guide the prosecutorial role. In most cases, their role is determined by rules and relationships that sometimes trump the strength of evidence at their disposal. This might lead to a favorable or adverse outcome depending on the case at hand. Thus, the utilization of quality policies and practices might affect the prosecutor’s role with the central aim of achieving a viable outcome.

References

Davis, A. J. (2013). In Search of Racial Justice: The role of the prosecutor. NYUJ Legis. & Pub. Pol’y, 16, 821.

Frederick, B., & Stemen, D. (2012). The Anatomy of Discretion: An Analysis of Prosecutorial Decision Making Technical Report.