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The Oxford Handbook of Prosecutors and Prosecution

Online ISBN:
9780190905453
Print ISBN:
9780190905422
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

The Oxford Handbook of Prosecutors and Prosecution

Ronald F. Wright (ed.),
Ronald F. Wright
(ed.)
Law, Wake Forest University School of Law
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Ronald F. Wright is the Needham Y. Gulley Professor of Criminal Law at Wake Forest University School of Law.

Kay L. Levine (ed.),
Kay L. Levine
(ed.)
Law, Emory University School of Law
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Kay L. Levine is a Professor of Law at the Emory University School of Law.

Russell M. Gold (ed.)
Russell M. Gold
(ed.)
Law, Wake Forest University
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Russell M. Gold is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law.

Published online:
14 April 2021
Published in print:
15 April 2021
Online ISBN:
9780190905453
Print ISBN:
9780190905422
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

This volume brings together the work of leading international scholars across criminology, sociology, political science, and law – along with contributions from reform-minded practitioners – to examine a variety of issues in prosecutorial performance and the institutional structures that frame their behavior. The power of the modern prosecutor arises from several features of the criminal justice landscape: widespread use of law and order political rhetoric; legislatures’ embrace of extreme sentencing ranges to respond to voter concerns; and the uncertain or limited accountability of prosecutors to other units of government, the electorate, the bar, or other political and professional constituencies. The convergence of these trends has transformed prosecution into an indispensable field of study. The Handbook connects the dots among existing theoretical and empirical research related to prosecutors. Major sections of the volume cover (1) prosecutor performance during distinct phases of a criminal case, (2) the features of the prosecutor’s environment, both inside the office and external to the office, that influence the choices of individual prosecutors and office leaders, and (3) prosecutorial priorities when dealing with specialized types of crimes, victims, and defendants. Taken together, the chapters in this volume identify the founding texts, discuss leading theoretical and methodological approaches, explain the scope of unresolved issues, and preview where this field is headed. The volume provides a bottom-up view of an important new scholarly field. It offers an indispensable starting point for newcomers and a compelling synthesis for specialists and practitioners.

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