In this week's discussion:

• Within juvenile justice, the prosecutors have broad discretionary powers pertaining to which cases are brought before a court for formal adjudication.
• This prosecutorial discretion has been the source of much debate.
• Some scholars and media personnel maintain that prosecutors weigh far too many external variables extraneous to the specifics of a case in the decision of whether to bring a case before a court.
• Others assert that the discretionary powers of a prosecutor are intended to allow an attorney to weigh as many factors as are relevant as they make decisions regarding to the disposition of cases.

Include:

• Using the Peak (2021) text,
  • Examine the debate surrounding discretionary decision making.
  • State on whether prosecutorial discretionary decision making should perhaps be limited.
  • Additionally, state whether it serves the purpose of justice for a prosecutor to consider facts external to the specifics of a case in their decision to prosecute an offender.

Source:

• Peak, K. J., and Madensen-Herold, T. D. (2021). Introduction to criminal justice: Practice and process. (4th ed.). Sage.