SOC 172 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Bail Bondsman, Misdemeanor, Mandatory Sentencing

• School: Hofstra University
• Department: Sociology (SOC)
• Course: SOC 172
• Professor: Lior Gideon

Document Summary

Prosecutor: appointed or elected official who is responsible for bringing the states case against the accused. Who will be offered a plea bargain and type of bargain to be offered. Judge: senior officer of the court who upholds the application of constitutional rights of due process as set forth by the 14th amendment. Concern with due process, and rule on the appropriate conduct and procedures, settles questions of evidence and guide questioning of witnesses. Instruct the jury on points of law and evidence. During bench trials decide on guilt or innocence of the defendant. Probation- for how long and what the conditions are. Most convictions result from guilty pleas about 95% of all felonies convictions on state courts result from a guilty plea. Allows fixing punishments more accurately to reflect the circumstances of the case. Leniency in exchange or information, assistance and testimony cons: No accurate & fair determination of guilt or innocence.