Priority Prosecution Programs

Priority Prosecution Programs Name Institution Priority Prosecution Programs According to Chaiken (1991, p. 1), “priority prosecution programs are run using close cooperation with police officers, screening of defendants, assignment of experienced attorneys to prosecute priority cases, vertical prosecution, case coalescing, close supervision of priority cases by a senior prosecutor, curtailment of plea negotiations, and caseload reduction”. In these programs, prosecutors select certain types of offenders to receive increased attention to ensure conviction (Travis, 2011). Based on this, prosecutors can know what to expect in each case and better plan and manage the total caseload. The main objective of this program is to assist in reducing the jail population. This is often achieved by “reducing the average length of time between the time of the defendant’s bond setting and trial date” (Rupiper, 2010, p.1). Rupiper (2010) argues that priority prosecution programs have numerous benefits. These programs may result in a lower bond being set in certain appropriate cases, thus enabling the defendant to make a bond (Rupiper, 2010). In addition, these programs grant the defendant freedom before trial thus promoting the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’. This approach also enables the defendant to assemble an appropriate defense prior to trail (Rupiper, 2010). Furthermore, priority prosecution programs benefit correctional centers. Rupiper (2010, p.1) argues “correctional centers benefit through reduced days in jail for some of the defendants whose cases are disposed with a time served sentence”. On the other hand, priority prosecution programs a...