In many large jurisdictions, prosecutors handle caseloads that are as large as those handled by public defenders. Counter-intuitively, when prosecutors shoulder excessive caseloads, it is criminal defendants who are harmed. Because overburdened prosecutors do not have sufficient time and resources for their cases, they fail to identify less culpable defendants who are deserving of more lenient plea bargains.
Conduct Internet and/or library research to further your knowledge of this topic. Then write a paper that addresses the following questions:
-
How does the number of cases the average prosecutor handles per year compare to the recommended number of cases a public defender should have per year? Why were these recommendations made?
-
What is the importance of adequate support staff for the prosecutor's office?
-
Why has so little attention been paid to the overburdening of prosecutors when so much attention has been paid to the overburdening of indigent defenders?
-
What measures should be taken to address these issues? How would your recommendations help the situation?