{"id":352340,"date":"2024-01-31T11:57:46","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T16:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/what-is-prosecutorial-discretion.html"},"modified":"2024-01-31T11:57:46","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T16:57:46","slug":"what-is-prosecutorial-discretion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/what-is-prosecutorial-discretion.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is Prosecutorial Discretion?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is Prosecutorial Discretion?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

This term refers to a prosecutor’s ability to make decisions that influence a criminal case. Prosecutors represent the government, so they have a duty to wield their power responsibly. Their role focuses on preserving justice rather than solely maximizing penalties and convictions.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In criminal law, prosecutors hold a crucial power known as \u201cprosecutorial discretion." It allows them the authority to make important decisions at different stages of a case<\/a>, such as:<\/p>\r\n