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Parties and Pretrial Procedures

Much of the “work” of the criminal justice system will never be seen by the general public. Prosecutors, defense attorneys, and grand juries determine the course of criminal cases well before a case is even committed to a public docket. In your paper, detail the special responsibilities prosecutors have towards initiating a criminal case against a defendant. In other words, how does a prosecutor make the decision to charge someone? Address the following questions in your paper:

1. What is a grand jury, and when is a grand jury used rather than the prosecutor simply issuing a criminal charge?
2. What is the purpose of a grand jury and when is it used?
3. Can a defense attorney address a grand jury?
4. Can the defendant attend a grand jury hearing?
5. How can a prosecutor and a defense attorney dispose of a case before it goes to a grand jury?
6. How can a prosecutor and a defense attorney conclude a case before it goes to trial?

In your analysis, include your personal opinion of the morality of a system where so much of the charging and plea bargaining process is in the hands of lawyers, often out of view from the general public. What are the potentials for abuse? What effects on “equal justice” can this system have?

The paper must be three to four pages in length and formatted according to APA style. You must use at least two scholarly sources in addition to the textbook to support your claims. Cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page. For information regarding APA, including samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, located within the Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar.