Criminal Process
Definition of Criminal Process
Note: See a more comprehensive approach to the Criminal Process legal concept in the American Law Encyclopedia
An overview of the criminal process prompts two general observations. First, while the criminal process operates within the framework of established rules and procedures, those who function in the process possess substantial discretion. Discretion allows an official to make choices among possible courses of action. As a consequence of discretion, the people who work in the criminal justice process influence the ways the procedures actually work. Second, the personnel who perform functions in the criminal courts interact in an ongoing and frequent fashion. These people-judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, and court support staff-are often referred to as the courtroom workgroup. It is important to recognize that while these officials have different roles to play, the dynamics of frequent interaction tend to produce common or shared goals, with a resulting mutual dependence rather than independence.
Resources
Criminal Process Related Resources
- Criminal Process in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
- Criminal Judicial Process Keywords in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
- Criminal Process Keywords in the International Legal Dictionary
Notes
- “Criminal Process”, The American Law Dictionary, 1991, California
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