The Impact of Prosecutor/Public Defender Interaction on Sentencing: An Exploratory Typology

Abstract

The interacting relationships of key Criminal Justice System members and the resulting interdependencies that develop because of these interactions are critical information in obtaining a better understanding of the operation of the court system. This analysis directs attention to the interactions among courtroom members. The particular purpose of this study is to examine one set of courtroom interactions, those between the prosecutor and public defender, and to suggest the beginnings of a typology of those interactions to aid in explaining the sentencing process. The discussion and analysis indicate that a defendant's sentence is considerably determined by the relationship between the prosecutor and public defender. Future research should be geared to clearer operationalizations of interacting relationships and more time needs to be spent analyzing the possible relationships among courtroom actors and the impact of the interactions on the sentences given out in court.