Alternative measures to reduce trial cases, private autonomy and "public interest" : some observations with specific reference to plea bargaining and economic crimes

CITATION: Kemp, G. 2014. Alternative measures to reduce trial cases, private autonomy and "public interest" : some observations with specific reference to plea bargaining and economic crimes. Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 25(2):425-436.The original publication is available at https://journals.co.za/content/journal/ju_slrThis note considers alternative measures to reduce trial cases as a strategy to enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The emphasis falls on economic crime. It is noted that alternative measures, particularly formal and informal plea bargaining, can be beneficial and are also manifestations of individual autonomy. It is, however, warned that insofar as institutionalised alternative measures become part of a cost-benefit, economic analysis (which seems to be a real risk in the context of economic crime) and insofar as criminal trials for major or complex crimes serve public, didactic roles, alternative measures should not be opted for without careful consideration of the public interest in the broadest sense.Publishers versio