Concept information
Preferred term
district attorney
Definition
- District attorneys are generally elected officials whose roles in the justice system include prosecuting violations of state and local laws on behalf of the state, ensuring a fair and equitable process, protecting victims’ rights and safety, and working to ensure public safety. The district attorney of the 21st century has tremendous discretionary power over life and liberty, responsible for making decisions about whether or not to pursue criminal charges, which criminal charges to file in court, negotiating pleas, conducting trials, making sentencing recommendations, and in some states, handling appeals of criminal convictions. [Source: The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encylopedia; District Attorney]
Broader concept
Belongs to group
URI
https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/district_attorney
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