ABSTRACT
The decision of whether or not to prosecute a suspect is a vital one, from all perspectives. It is vital for the suspect. It is also vital for the victim. Viewed broadly, it is likewise vital for the community. Great care must be taken by those who determine these issues, always remembering that wrong decisions may undermine confidence in the criminal justice system as a whole. The prosecutor must act at all times within the parameters of an established and announced prosecution policy. Those who prosecute discharge a heavy responsibility on behalf of society. They must be fair, independent, and just.
