ROLE OF THE LOCAL PROSECUTOR IN A CHANGING SOCIETY - A CONFRONTATION WITH THE MAJOR ISSUES OF THE SEVENTIES, PART 1 - DECENTRALIZATION V. CONSOLIDATION, AND PART 2 - ANALYSIS OF THE CED REPORT ON THE ADMIN OF JUSTICE

• NCJ Number: 11661
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: National District Atorneys Assoc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF A SUGGESTION TO CENTRALIZE POWER IN THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL AND A SUGGESTION TO UNIFY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

Abstract

THE DEBATE OVER CENTRALIZATION OF THE PROSECUTION FUNCTION HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS FOR YEARS. RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE RANGED FROM RETAINING THE FUNCTION IN ITS PRESENT FORM TO A COMPLETE UNIFICATION UNDER A FEDERAL AUTHORITY. THIS REPORT PRESENTS A SUMMARY OF FINDINGS OF SEVERAL RECENT STUDIES, WITH EMPHASIS ON ONE THAT CONCLUDES THAT CENTRAL POWER IN EACH STATE SHOULD REST WITH EACH ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT A LESS CENTRALIZED POWER STRUCTURE MIGHT BE PREFERABLE. THE COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, WHICH RECOMMENDS A SYSTEMS OVERHAUL OF THE PRESENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, IS CRITICALLY EVALUATED. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO UNIFY CRIMINAL JUSTICE UNDER A SINGLE FEDERAL CABINET LEVEL AGENCY IS BASED ON FALSE ASSUMPTIONS AND WOULD BE LESS SUCCESSFUL THAN REGIONAL EXPERIMENTATION.