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class="mw-page-title-main">Prosecutorial discretion</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. 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id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><p>In <a href="/wiki/Common_law" title="Common law">common law</a>, the principle of <b>prosecutorial discretion</b> allows public <a href="/wiki/Prosecutor" title="Prosecutor">prosecutors</a> a wide latitude to decide whether or not to charge a person for a crime, and which charges to file.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A similar principle in <a href="/wiki/Continental_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Continental law">continental law</a> countries is called the <b>principle of opportunity</b>. </p><p>There is a divide between countries where prosecutions are generally discretionary and where prosecutions are mandatory (known as the legality principle or <a href="/wiki/Compulsory_prosecution" title="Compulsory prosecution">compulsory prosecution</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In addition, in some countries prosecutors operate independently with more discretion vs in a hierarchical system that require more conformity.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Countries following <a href="/wiki/Civil_law_(legal_system)" title="Civil law (legal system)">civil-law</a> are predominately based on the principal of compulsory prosecution,<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> although the principle of opportunity is encoded in law in the Netherlands, Germany, <a href="/wiki/Swedish_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Swedish law">Sweden</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=Slovenian_law&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Slovenian law (page does not exist)">Slovenia</a>, <a href="/wiki/Belgian_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Belgian law">Belgian law</a> and <a href="/wiki/French_law" class="mw-redirect" title="French law">France</a>. Some similar provisions exist in and in Estonian law.<sup id="cite_ref-tristan_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-tristan-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="By_country">By country</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: By country"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="United_States">United States</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: United States"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> federal system, the <a href="/wiki/Prosecutor" title="Prosecutor">prosecutor</a> has wide latitude in determining when, who, how, and even whether to prosecute for apparent violations of federal criminal law. The prosecutor's broad discretion in such areas as initiating or forgoing prosecutions, selecting or recommending specific charges, and terminating prosecutions by accepting guilty pleas has been recognized on numerous occasions by the courts.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Prosecutors may decide not to press the charges even when there is <a href="/wiki/Probable_cause" title="Probable cause">probable cause</a>, if they determine that there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>a<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Prosecutors may dismiss charges in this situation by seeking a <a href="/wiki/Voluntary_dismissal" title="Voluntary dismissal">voluntary dismissal</a> or <a href="/wiki/Nolle_prosequi" title="Nolle prosequi">nolle prosequi</a>. </p><p> Wayte v. United States 470 U.S. 598 (1985)<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> said:</p><blockquote><p>In our criminal justice system, the Government retains "broad discretion" as to whom to prosecute. [...] This broad discretion rests largely on the recognition that the decision to prosecute is particularly ill-suited to judicial review. Such factors as the strength of the case, the prosecution's general deterrence value, the Government's enforcement priorities, and the case's relationship to the Government's overall enforcement plan are not readily susceptible to the kind of analysis the courts are competent to undertake.</p></blockquote><p><i><a href="/wiki/Yick_Wo_v._Hopkins" title="Yick Wo v. Hopkins">Yick Wo v. Hopkins</a></i> (1886)<sup id="cite_ref-citation_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-citation-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> was the first case where the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Supreme_Court" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Supreme Court">United States Supreme Court</a> ruled that a law that is race-neutral on its face, but is administered in a prejudicial manner, is an infringement of the <a href="/wiki/Equal_Protection_Clause" title="Equal Protection Clause">Equal Protection Clause</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" title="Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution">Fourteenth Amendment</a> to the <a href="/wiki/U.S._Constitution" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Constitution">U.S. Constitution</a>. </p><p>Scholarly study of prosecutorial discretion in the US has reported a wide variance among prosecutors' responses to the same potential scenario. The scholars who conducted the study reported observing prosecutors who appeared to be motivated to do justice but who lacked guidelines and supervision.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="France">France</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: France"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/French_criminal_law" title="French criminal law">French criminal law</a> and <a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunit%C3%A9_des_poursuites_en_proc%C3%A9dure_p%C3%A9nale_fran%C3%A7aise" class="extiw" title="fr:Opportunité des poursuites en procédure pénale française">fr:Opportunité des poursuites en procédure pénale française</a></div> <p>The principle of opportunity to prosecute (<span title="French-language text"><i lang="fr">opportunité des poursuites</i></span>) belongs to the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Public_Prosecutors%27_Office_(France)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Public Prosecutors' Office (France) (page does not exist)">Public Prosecutors' Office</a><sup class="noprint" style="font-style: normal;"> [<a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procureur_de_la_R%C3%A9publique_(France)" class="extiw" title="fr:Procureur de la République (France)">fr</a>]</sup>. It is a power that is conferred by article 40-1 of the <a href="/wiki/French_code_of_criminal_procedure" title="French code of criminal procedure">French code of criminal procedure</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELegifrance[httpswwwlegifrancegouvfrWAspadUnArticleDeCodecodeCPROCPELrcvart40-1_Criminal_procedure_code,_40-1]_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELegifrance[httpswwwlegifrancegouvfrWAspadUnArticleDeCodecodeCPROCPELrcvart40-1_Criminal_procedure_code,_40-1]-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The prosecutor may decide not to <a href="/wiki/Criminal_proceeding_in_French_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Criminal proceeding in French law">prosecute a case</a> that has the characteristics of a criminal case, and instead to <a href="/w/index.php?title=Dismissal_of_charges&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Dismissal of charges (page does not exist)">dismiss the charges</a><sup class="noprint" style="font-style: normal;"> [<a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classement_sans_suite" class="extiw" title="fr:Classement sans suite">fr</a>]</sup>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDoucet2019[httpledroitcriminelfrdictionnairelettre_olettre_ophtm_O]_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEDoucet2019[httpledroitcriminelfrdictionnairelettre_olettre_ophtm_O]-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, this does not prevent the initial suspect—and the victim who filed the complaint—from being registered in the <a href="/w/index.php?title=System_for_Processing_Recorded_Offenses&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="System for Processing Recorded Offenses (page does not exist)">System for Processing Recorded Offenses</a><sup class="noprint" style="font-style: normal;"> [<a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syst%C3%A8me_de_traitement_des_infractions_constat%C3%A9es" class="extiw" title="fr:Système de traitement des infractions constatées">fr</a>]</sup> (STIC).<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (January 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="The_Netherlands">The Netherlands</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: The Netherlands"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Dutch_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Dutch law">Dutch law</a> and <a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportuniteitsbeginsel" class="extiw" title="nl:Opportuniteitsbeginsel">nl:Opportuniteitsbeginsel</a></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Dutch_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Dutch law">Dutch law</a> it is called <span title="Dutch-language text"><i lang="nl">opportuniteitsbeginsel</i></span>, <small>lit.</small>'principle of opportunity'. Cancelling the prosecution of a crime is called a <i>sepot</i> or <i>seponering </i>in <a href="/wiki/Dutch_language" title="Dutch language">Dutch</a> and is mentioned in the Dutch Criminal Procedure Code (Articles from 12 to 13a).<sup id="cite_ref-art12_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-art12-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>There are three types of cancellation of prosecution: </p> <ul><li>policy <i>sepot</i>: petty crimes are not prosecuted to free up capacity in the legal system and to prosecute serious crimes.</li> <li>technical <i>sepot</i>: there is not enough evidence to obtain a conviction from a court or such a conviction is highly unlikely.</li> <li>conditional <i>sepot</i>: the crime suspect is spared from being prosecuted if the suspect commits no other crimes. In <a href="/wiki/Belgium" title="Belgium">Belgium</a>, that is called a "praetorian probation".</li></ul> <p>A crime whose prosecution is cancelled can still be resumed later (the <a href="/wiki/Ne_bis_in_idem" class="mw-redirect" title="Ne bis in idem">ne bis in idem</a> principle does not apply to <i>sepots</i>),<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> unless the Public Department has made a formal communication to the crime suspect that the suspect is no longer prosecuted (then, prosecution cannot be resumed according to the principle of <a href="/wiki/Administrative_law" title="Administrative law">administrative law</a> trustworthiness). </p><p>According to Article 12 of the Dutch Criminal Procedure Code,<sup id="cite_ref-art12_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-art12-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> a person with a direct concern in the prosecution of a crime may file a complaint at a court of law against the cancellation of the prosecution. If the council chamber of the court decides that the crime should be prosecuted, the crime must be prosecuted. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Japan">Japan</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Japan"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In order to encourage reconciliation and restitution, most cases in Japan are resolved through discretionary prosecution. Discretion may be exercised due a wide range of reasons including age, character, circumstances of the offense or even due to events following the offense.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Germany">Germany</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Germany"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/German_law" class="mw-redirect" title="German law">German law</a> and <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunit%C3%A4tsprinzip" class="extiw" title="de:Opportunitätsprinzip">de:Opportunitätsprinzip</a></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/German_law" class="mw-redirect" title="German law">German law</a>, it is called <span title="German-language text"><i lang="de"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunit%C3%A4tsprinzip" class="extiw" title="de:Opportunitätsprinzip">Opportunitätsprinzip</a></i></span>, <small>lit.</small>'opportunity principle'. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Singapore">Singapore</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Singapore"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Criminal_law_of_Singapore" title="Criminal law of Singapore">Criminal law of Singapore</a></div> <p>Under <a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Singapore#Attorney-General" class="extiw" title="s:Constitution of the Republic of Singapore">Article 35(8)</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Constitution_of_Singapore" title="Constitution of Singapore">Constitution of Singapore</a>, as well as Section 11 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the <a href="/wiki/Attorney-General_of_Singapore" title="Attorney-General of Singapore">Attorney-General of Singapore</a> is also the Public Prosecutor. Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPPs) and Assistant Public Prosecutors (APPs), legal officers from the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) Crime Division, act under the authority of the Public Prosecutor. As Public Prosecutor, the Attorney-General has prosecutorial discretion; i.e. he may, at his discretion, institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for any offense.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Prosecutorial discretion<sup id="cite_ref-woon_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-woon-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> grants AGC the power to institute, conduct or discontinue any prosecution at his discretion.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The prosecution bears the <a href="/wiki/Burden_of_proof_(law)" title="Burden of proof (law)">burden of proof</a> and is required to prove its case <a href="/wiki/Beyond_a_reasonable_doubt" class="mw-redirect" title="Beyond a reasonable doubt">beyond a reasonable doubt</a>. This means that in order for a defendant to be found guilty, the case presented by the prosecution must be enough to remove any reasonable doubt in the mind of the judge(s) that the defendant is guilty of the crime with which he/she is charged. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Works_cited">Works cited</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Works cited"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFLegifrance" class="citation web cs1">République française; Secrétariat général du gouvernement (19 October 2022). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr">"Légifrance Le service public de la diffusion du droit"</a> [The public service for dissemination of the law]. <i>Légifrance</i>. Direction de l'information légale et administrative. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2270-8987">2270-8987</a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/867599055">867599055</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=L%C3%A9gifrance&rft.atitle=L%C3%A9gifrance+Le+service+public+de+la+diffusion+du+droit&rft.date=2022-10-19&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F867599055&rft.issn=2270-8987&rft.au=R%C3%A9publique+fran%C3%A7aise&rft.au=Secr%C3%A9tariat+g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral+du+gouvernement&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legifrance.gouv.fr&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDoucet2019" class="citation web cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source">Doucet, Jean-Paul (11 April 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fledroitcriminel.free.fr%2Findex.htm#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url">"Dictionnaire de droit criminel"</a> [Dictionary of Criminal Law] (in French). Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ledroitcriminel.free.fr/index.htm">the original</a> on 7 January 2023.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Dictionnaire+de+droit+criminel&rft.date=2019-04-11&rft.aulast=Doucet&rft.aufirst=Jean-Paul&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fledroitcriminel.free.fr%2Findex.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <dl><dt>Notes</dt></dl> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-lower-alpha"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>See</i> <cite><i>State v. Gomez</i></cite>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=9043197580032161970">127 P.3d 873</a>, 877 (Ariz. 2006) ("Indictments can be dismissed for various reasons, including a prosecutor's determination that the person charged did not in fact commit the crime or—as this case illustrates—that there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction.")..</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <dl><dt>Citations</dt></dl> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239543626"><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-procedure/what-is-prosecutorial-discretion-.html">"What is Prosecutorial Discretion?"</a>. <i>Findlaw</i>. April 11, 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">January 16,</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Findlaw&rft.atitle=What+is+Prosecutorial+Discretion%3F&rft.date=2019-04-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.findlaw.com%2Fcriminal%2Fcriminal-procedure%2Fwhat-is-prosecutorial-discretion-.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ibanet.org/article/A835FD91-8EB7-4CBF-8AFE-E7E2E9562441">"Legality/opportunity principle regarding corporate criminal liability"</a>. <i>www.ibanet.org</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2024-06-04</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.ibanet.org&rft.atitle=Legality%2Fopportunity+principle+regarding+corporate+criminal+liability&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibanet.org%2Farticle%2FA835FD91-8EB7-4CBF-8AFE-E7E2E9562441&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation journal cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-UDT(2011)008-e">"THE INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS: PERSPECTIVES AND CHALLENGES"</a>. <i>European Commission for Democracy Through Law</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=European+Commission+for+Democracy+Through+Law&rft.atitle=THE+INDEPENDENCE+OF+JUDGES+AND+PROSECUTORS%3A+PERSPECTIVES+AND+CHALLENGES&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.venice.coe.int%2Fwebforms%2Fdocuments%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fpdffile%3DCDL-UDT%282011%29008-e&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLigeti2019" class="citation web cs1">Ligeti, Katalin (2019). Brown, Darryl K.; Turner, Jenia Iontcheva; Weisser, Bettina (eds.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/28221/chapter/213247878">"The Place of the Prosecutor in Common Law and Civil Law Jurisdictions"</a>. <i>academic.oup.com</i>. pp. 138–163. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Foxfordhb%2F9780190659837.013.9">10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190659837.013.9</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-065983-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-19-065983-7"><bdi>978-0-19-065983-7</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2024-06-04</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=academic.oup.com&rft.atitle=The+Place+of+the+Prosecutor+in+Common+Law+and+Civil+Law+Jurisdictions&rft.pages=138-163&rft.date=2019&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1093%2Foxfordhb%2F9780190659837.013.9&rft.isbn=978-0-19-065983-7&rft.aulast=Ligeti&rft.aufirst=Katalin&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Facademic.oup.com%2Fedited-volume%2F28221%2Fchapter%2F213247878&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-tristan-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-tristan_5-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPloom2000" class="citation journal cs1">Ploom, Tristan (2000). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.juridica.ee/juridica_en.php?document=en/articles/2000/6/5140.SUM.php">"Principle of opportunity"</a>. <i>Juridica</i> (VI). Estonia: 369–376. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1406-1074">1406-1074</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 December</span> 2009</span>. <q>One possibility for making the criminal procedure more speedy and effective in Estonia is the application of the principle of opportunity instead of the principle of legality which governs at present. The author also introduces the provisions concerning the principle of opportunity as proposed in the draft Estonian Criminal Procedure Act. Under the draft act, the principle should be applied as an exception rather than a rule</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Juridica&rft.atitle=Principle+of+opportunity&rft.issue=VI&rft.pages=369-376&rft.date=2000&rft.issn=1406-1074&rft.aulast=Ploom&rft.aufirst=Tristan&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.juridica.ee%2Fjuridica_en.php%3Fdocument%3Den%2Farticles%2F2000%2F6%2F5140.SUM.php&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Oyler_v._Boles" title="Oyler v. Boles">Oyler v. Boles</a>, <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases,_volume_368" title="List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 368">368</a> <a href="/wiki/United_States_Reports" title="United States Reports">U.S.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/368/448/">448</a> (1962)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite><i>Newman v. United States</i></cite>, 382 F.2d 479 (D.C. Cir. 1967).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite><i>Powell v. Ratzenbach</i></cite>, 359 F.2d 234 (D.C. Cir. 1965).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/470/598/case.html">"Wayte v. United States 470 U.S. 598 (1985)"</a>. <i>Justia Law</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Hopkins</i>, 118 U.S. 356 (1886) is available from: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=CASE&court=US&vol=118&page=356">Findlaw</a>  <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://supreme.justia.com/us/118/356/case.html">Justia</a> </span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWrightBaughmanRobertson2022" class="citation journal cs1">Wright, Megan; Baughman, Shima Baradaran; Robertson, Christopher (2022-04-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/1182">"Inside the Black Box of Prosecutor Discretion"</a>. <i>U.C. Davis Law Review</i>. <b>55</b> (4): 2133.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=U.C.+Davis+Law+Review&rft.atitle=Inside+the+Black+Box+of+Prosecutor+Discretion&rft.volume=55&rft.issue=4&rft.pages=2133&rft.date=2022-04-01&rft.aulast=Wright&rft.aufirst=Megan&rft.au=Baughman%2C+Shima+Baradaran&rft.au=Robertson%2C+Christopher&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fscholarship.law.bu.edu%2Ffaculty_scholarship%2F1182&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELegifrance[httpswwwlegifrancegouvfrWAspadUnArticleDeCodecodeCPROCPELrcvart40-1_Criminal_procedure_code,_40-1]-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELegifrance[httpswwwlegifrancegouvfrWAspadUnArticleDeCodecodeCPROCPELrcvart40-1_Criminal_procedure_code,_40-1]_13-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLegifrance">Legifrance</a>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnArticleDeCode?code=CPROCPEL.rcv&art=40-1">Criminal procedure code, 40-1</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEDoucet2019[httpledroitcriminelfrdictionnairelettre_olettre_ophtm_O]-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDoucet2019[httpledroitcriminelfrdictionnairelettre_olettre_ophtm_O]_14-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFDoucet2019">Doucet 2019</a>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ledroitcriminel.fr/dictionnaire/lettre_o/lettre_op.htm">O</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-art12-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-art12_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-art12_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001903/EersteBoek/TitelI/Vierdeafdeeling/Artikel12/geldigheidsdatum_08-11-2009">Art. 12, Sv.</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The <i>sepot</i> is not a verdict of a judge, in the meaning of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001903/TweedeBoek/TitelVI/Vierdeafdeeling/Artikel350/geldigheidsdatum_08-11-2009">Art. 350, Sv.</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDando1970" class="citation journal cs1">Dando, Shigemitsu (1970). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/839343">"System of Discretionary Prosecution in Japan"</a>. <i>The American Journal of Comparative Law</i>. <b>18</b> (3): 518–531. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F839343">10.2307/839343</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0002-919X">0002-919X</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/839343">839343</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+American+Journal+of+Comparative+Law&rft.atitle=System+of+Discretionary+Prosecution+in+Japan&rft.volume=18&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=518-531&rft.date=1970&rft.issn=0002-919X&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F839343%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.2307%2F839343&rft.aulast=Dando&rft.aufirst=Shigemitsu&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F839343&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.agc.gov.sg/our-roles/public-prosecutor/public-prosecutor-overview-of-functions">"Overview of Functions - Attorney General's Chambers"</a>. <i>AGC Singapore</i>. 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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href="/wiki/The_Straits_Times" title="The Straits Times">The Straits Times</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Straits+Times&rft.atitle=The+public+prosecutor%2C+politics+and+the+rule+of+law&rft.date=2017-09-29&rft.aulast=Woon&rft.aufirst=Walter&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.straitstimes.com%2Fopinion%2Fthe-public-prosecutor-politics-and-the-rule-of-law&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.agc.gov.sg/our-roles/public-prosecutor/public-prosecutor-overview-of-functions">"Overview of Functions"</a>. <i>Attorney-General's Chambers</i>. 16 June 2020.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Attorney-General%27s+Chambers&rft.atitle=Overview+of+Functions&rft.date=2020-06-16&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.agc.gov.sg%2Four-roles%2Fpublic-prosecutor%2Fpublic-prosecutor-overview-of-functions&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AProsecutorial+discretion" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Prosecutorial_discretion&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Nolle_prosequi" title="Nolle prosequi">Nolle prosequi</a></i>, a generalised form of the principle of opportunity</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Selective_enforcement" title="Selective enforcement">Selective enforcement</a>, a general principle of law enforcement</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Selective_prosecution" title="Selective prosecution">Selective prosecution</a>, a defense strategy claiming discrimination</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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