Chapter 6 Checkpoint

Week 6 Checkpoint: Courtroom Players

CJS200

Kenneth Bitting

Ashli Tafoya

October 26, 2012

What is considered to be a courtroom work group?

According to the text, a courtroom work group is defined as the professional courtroom actors, including judges, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, public defenders, and others who earn a living serving the court. (pg. 312 or 17, 1st para.)

How does this courtroom work group interact on a daily basis?

The courtroom work group work together to ensure that the cases on the dockets are ran smooth and without fail. The judge, prosecuting and defense attorneys work together with the judge to ensure that all the evidence is submitted and used in accordance to the law.

What is the role of the prosecutor?

The role of the prosecutor is to represent the community and government in whatever case is being tried. They are to protect the community and government against any wrong doings of the defendant. They are to make sure that the defendant is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

How does a prosecutor determine which cases to pursue?

According to the text, the prosecutor has a lot of power when it comes to decision making. Before the case goes to trial, the prosecutor may decide to dismiss the case, accept a plea bargain, or ask the suspect to seek counseling. (pg. 316 or 21, 2nd paragraph). The main reason a prosecutor may not pursue a case would be because of lack of evidence against the defendant in the case. The evidence may not be strong enough to convict the accused.

What would happen if the criteria for taking a case were more, or less, stringent?

If the details of a case were more complex, the prosecutor and defendant may have to refuse other cases because of the time that it will take for a more perplexed case. If the details of a case were an ‘open, shut’ case, then the attorneys would be able to continue to accept new cases. (I don’t fully understand this question)

What...