Why Prosecutors Are the Most Powerful People in the Courtroom | Opinions | NowThis

Journalist Emily Bazelon explains why in the current criminal justice system, prosecutors are really the most powerful person in the courtroom.

In US news and current events today, journalist and author Emily Bazelon sat down with NowThis News to explain why prosecutors have the most power in courts and the American criminal justice system. In the new book from Emily Bazleon, Charged, the journalist who spent years covering the Brooklyn District Attorney's office explains how prosecutors come up with what criminal charges a suspect receives and how plea bargains and plea deals became the most frequent option in the court system. Many believe plea deals have fueled mass incarceration.

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[catalinacurio]

A prosecutor is the person who should know the case inside out and back to front and be as certain of guilt as they can possibly be, if not he or she should not be in the court room, this knowledge and dedication to the truth is why they are so powerful.

[xoaaron]

The Judge only maintains peace and order in the court. The jury is powerful because they decide verdicts in criminal cases, but it’s not enough.

It’s the prosecutor. He/she is the one trying to persuade the jury that the defendant is guilty. It really does make sense as to why prosecutors are the powerful ones in court.

[slyfly]

The courts went full force at me when my ex made false allegations. I even went to jail.

Then turns out she got caught with perjury. She was not charged. I don't even think she was warned. Instead the seeked a lite sentence for me of probation.

I can't wrap my mind around any of it

[LA_Unconfidential]

Not entirely true. A high priced defense attorney is almost always the most powerful person in a courtroom.

[Overton_Windows]

Prosecutors have been atrocious in my experience. One reason I’ll never trust Kamala Harris.

[persimmon]

Let's be honest though. Even if you were innocent, you could still go to jail for life if you don't take the plea bargain. Better to be innocent but a criminal and face 25 years in jail than innocent and get life in prison.

[question_it_]

I know a former states attorney's office employee (the prosecution). They told me face to face...their job, their goal was to get "A CONVICTION, and not necessarily a conviction of the actual guilty party. He went on to explain that IF they thought they had enough evidence to prosecute 'person A', but not enough to prosecute 'person B' that they would go after 'person A' even if they knew that 'person B' was the guilty party. "In our business, its all about the conviction. We need a conviction to pacify the victim's family, and the public".

[andychandler]

Too powerful. Wapo put out a good article about the power of the prosecutor, profiling Andrew Weismann and noted how most prosecutors will overcharge a victim (they say accused, but for truthful purposes-victim) hoping that the mountain of charges would lead them to go broke and take the plea.

Remember: it costs a prosecutors NOTHING to file charges. It costs a defendant everything to defend against it.

Ever wonder why prosecutors and defense attorneys seem to be almost collegial before a judge walks in?

If it weren't legal, the whole court system would/should be considered a big rico violation.

[moumous]

Well, in most European/civil law countries... prosecutors are magistrates like judges, i.e. public officers with judge training.

[TheBenpg]

prosecutors are often way younger than the judge, which means more power hungry

[tnb]

This is one of the reason why innocent people are in jail. Oh, you're poor and can't afford proper representation??? If you take this please deal, you'll have a felony and go to jail for two years. If you go to court you'll fail (because you're poor), and I'll send you to jail for 25 years.

[robertwilliams]

Prosecutors needed police for cases has becomes liabilities

[tinamclaughlin]

So, I could be innocent, but plead guilty to keep prisons employed? F that! Freedom for innocents.

[aniko]

Part of the issue is that prosecutors are incentivized to seek a conviction and have people thrown in jail because they are elected. You’ll often see then run on being “tough on crime” which is a message to which voters respond positively . Same with judges (though they can’t openly discuss how they would rule or their political leanings) they also run in being “tough on crime” and “keeping the community safe”.unfortunately for voters that often translates to successful convictions and throwing people in jail.

[patricknez]

They're also often the worst, most unsympathetic people, too. It's funny, it's like someone that goes into a job to put people in jail, might not be a great person to begin with. Go figure! Shout out to Kopmala Harris.

[Hello-zflq]

Prosecutors is how our justice system gives a back door for the rich and corrupt to be above the law. They just choose not to charge people who donate to them or have connections or give them immunity through insignificant plea deals. Meanwhile a regular person gets unfair and unrelated charges thrown at them and forced to prove their innocence or go to jail.

[Samuel-vwyv]

Fact: Power can corrupt the most good hearted person

[iJUSTcantgettEnuff]

Bruh this channel is deadass untrustworthy

[jasonoshima]

Too bad most prosecutors only care about their ego and conviction rate, instead of finding truth and dispensing actual justice.

[hcd]

in the first example, the fact that a judge wanted to let somebody "off the hook" and prosecution didn't want to means nothing to me. Prosecution charges and pursues a conviction. The guilty/not guilty verdict is up to the fact finder which is with the judge or jury.