NCJ Number
224462
Journal
Euopean Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 14 Issue: 2-3 Dated: August 2008 Pages: 181-190
Date Published
August 2008
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This paper explores the wider realm of prosecutorial work outside classic criminal proceedings in 11 European criminal justice systems.
Abstract
European public prosecution services (PPSs) are institutions trusted with responsibilities beyond those of a prosecution of offenses in the strict sense, and in some cases going to the point of representing the public interests. As such, developments giving them more power to decide how to deal with cases is fitting to the wider context, however, it renders issues of accountability and political independence a relatively thorny field in many of the study countries, of even greater urgency. This paper provides an overview of the roles a prosecutor is expected to play, such as whether to make a contribution to national or local crime prevention policy or to act in victim’s interest is expected. It also provides detail as to the setting within which prosecutors work, describing how politically accountable they are and whether or not they are subject to orders in their daily work. References