NCJ Number
253829
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 35 Issue: 7 Dated: 2018 Pages: 1166-1194
Date Published
2018
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This study relied on data from 318,000 felony and misdemeanor cases in Wisconsin to examine the impact of several prosecutor and county characteristics on case dismissal, guilty plea to lesser charges, and the imposition of a noncustodial sentence following a guilty plea.
Abstract
By most accounts, the prosecutor is the most powerful person in the courtroom, with discretion to dismiss cases, reduce charges, and offer noncustodial sentences in exchange for guilty pleas. Yet, little is known about the effects of individual prosecutors or community contexts on case outcomes. The current study relied on data from 318,000 felony and misdemeanor cases in Wisconsin to examine the impact of several prosecutor and county characteristics on case dismissal, guilty plea to lesser charges, and the imposition of a noncustodial sentence following a guilty plea. The study found that prosecutor caseload composition was associated with variations in guilty plea outcomes, but that neither prosecutor experience nor prosecutor caseload pressure affected other case outcomes. The study also found that defense counsel and change in defense counsel exerted significant influence on guilty plea outcomes. These findings are discussed in relation to focal concerns and courtroom communities' perspectives. (publisher abstract modified)