An agenda for empirical research in criminal justice : criminal process and prosecution

Over the last few decades, legislative regimes regulating police and prosecutorial power have altered, prosecution priorities have changed and the empirical research data available varies considerably across time and jurisdiction. However, a constant feature of the pre-trial criminal process in most countries is the exercise of discretion by police and prosecutors. How much discretion does the law allow? How is this controlled? Which factors influence the exercise of discretion, from ‘cop culture’ to the politics of prosecution