Lecture Notes: Prosecutors, Discretion, and Diversion

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the notes about prosecutors, their discretion, how first-time and nonviolent offenders may be diverted from the court system, and related terms.

Prosecutor

A public official who takes cases brought by law enforcement and uses broad discretion to decide how to proceed (charge, divert, or pursue other options).

Law enforcement

Organizations and officers who investigate crimes and generate cases for prosecutors.

Discretionary power (in prosecution)

The broad authority of prosecutors to decide how a case will be handled, including whether to file charges, pursue a plea, divert, or dismiss.

First-time offender

An offender who has not previously been convicted of a crime.

Nonviolent offender

A person who commits an offense that does not involve violence.

Court system

The institution and process where criminal cases are heard and decided in courts.

Diversion

A process that redirects eligible defendants away from the formal court system, often for first-time or nonviolent offenses, into alternative programs.

Diversionary program

Programs or pathways used to channel eligible offenders into rehabilitative or educational activities instead of formal court processing.