Courtroom Workgroup Paper: American Criminal Justice System
Courtroom Workgroup Paper
Vincent Gonzales
CJA/ 204
November 6, 2014
Jonathan Inciong
Courtroom Workgroup Paper
The American Criminal Justice System is a well orchestrated and cooperative performance with the professional courtroom actors and others all playing their parts in the administration of justice. This paper will look at a very important group of individuals the courtroom work group. Each person acts as one of the cogs in the machine, all cooperating to reach a common goal. This paper will describe what a courtroom work group is, who is in a courtroom work group and what they each do. The role of the prosecutor will also be described and how they determine which cases to pursue, and what would happen if the criteria for the prosecution of cases were more lenient or stringent. Lastly, this paper will describe the effects of the criminal justice funnel and the backlog of cases on the American court systems and the courtroom work group. Are there any solutions to help eliminate the funnel and help reduce the backlog of cases? To get an answer to that question, a review of the how this important group works will have to be understood.
First, what is a courtroom work group? According to Schmalleger (2011) "Participants in a criminal trial can be divided into two categories: professionals and outsiders. The professionals are the official courtroom actors; they are well versed in criminal trial practice and set the stage for and conduct the business of the court. Judges, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, public defenders, and others who earn a living serving the court fall into this category". Schmallerger (2011) later describes the professional courtroom actors as the "courtroom work group". The courtroom work group includes, Judges, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, public defenders, bailiffs, local court administrators, court clerks, court reporters and expert witnesses. All of these people work together with one common goal, to
Vincent Gonzales
CJA/ 204
November 6, 2014
Jonathan Inciong
Courtroom Workgroup Paper
The American Criminal Justice System is a well orchestrated and cooperative performance with the professional courtroom actors and others all playing their parts in the administration of justice. This paper will look at a very important group of individuals the courtroom work group. Each person acts as one of the cogs in the machine, all cooperating to reach a common goal. This paper will describe what a courtroom work group is, who is in a courtroom work group and what they each do. The role of the prosecutor will also be described and how they determine which cases to pursue, and what would happen if the criteria for the prosecution of cases were more lenient or stringent. Lastly, this paper will describe the effects of the criminal justice funnel and the backlog of cases on the American court systems and the courtroom work group. Are there any solutions to help eliminate the funnel and help reduce the backlog of cases? To get an answer to that question, a review of the how this important group works will have to be understood.
First, what is a courtroom work group? According to Schmalleger (2011) "Participants in a criminal trial can be divided into two categories: professionals and outsiders. The professionals are the official courtroom actors; they are well versed in criminal trial practice and set the stage for and conduct the business of the court. Judges, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, public defenders, and others who earn a living serving the court fall into this category". Schmallerger (2011) later describes the professional courtroom actors as the "courtroom work group". The courtroom work group includes, Judges, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, public defenders, bailiffs, local court administrators, court clerks, court reporters and expert witnesses. All of these people work together with one common goal, to