word
Prosecutorial Discretion
pros-eh-kyoo-TOR-ee-ul dis-KREH-shun
/ˌprɒsɪkjʊˈtɔːriːəl dɪˈskrɛʃən/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
prosecutorialdiscretion
Dictionary meaning
The authority of a prosecutor to decide whether to bring criminal charges, which charges to file, what plea bargains to offer, and how vigorously to pursue a case, giving prosecutors enormous power over the criminal justice process
Examples
- Prosecutorial discretion means that two people caught with the same amount of drugs may face very different outcomes depending on which prosecutor handles their case.
- Critics of prosecutorial discretion argue that unchecked power leads to racial and socioeconomic disparities in charging decisions.
Synonyms: charging discretion, prosecutorial power, prosecutor's discretion
Pronunciation tips
Nine syllables; stress the fourth: -TOR-; 'prosecutorial' is five syllables: pros-eh-kyoo-TOR-ee-ul
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