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Victims In The Criminal Process: A Utilitarian Analysis Of Victim Participation In The Charging Decision, Sarah N. Welling
Victims In The Criminal Process: A Utilitarian Analysis Of Victim Participation In The Charging Decision, Sarah N. Welling
Law Faculty Scholarly Articles
Crime victims are currently being given the right to participate in criminal prosecutions at both the sentencing and plea bargaining stages. These are important steps in a criminal prosecution, but both the sentence and the plea bargain are dependent on the initial charging decision which determines what crime is to be prosecuted or whether there is to be any prosecution at all. As a prerequisite to both a plea bargain or a sentence, the charging decision is the crux of the prosecution.
Given the importance of the charging decision, and the fact that some jurisdictions have granted victims a right …