Explain why it is that large prosecutors’ offices have specialized units to deal with certain crimes and give the advantages of this system.

What will be an ideal response?


Large prosecutors’ offices maintain a bureaucratic organizational structure. Consider, for example,
the organizational chart for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office in Figure 5.1. While the elected
district attorney, Lynne Abraham, sits atop the organization, everyday operations of the office are
overseen by a first assistant and several deputies who oversee the five nonadministrative divisions
maintained by the office. Each of these divisions represents a general area for which the office is
responsible. Within each division are a number of units or teams that were established to help focus the
regular operations of the office. Finally, within each unit, team, or task force, up to several dozen assistant
district attorneys carry out specific duties for the office. In many prosecutors’ offices, units or teams are
established to deal with the prosecution of specific classes of crimes. In Philadelphia, for example, the
district attorney’s office has units that deal only with prosecuting homicides, sexual assaults and acts of
family violence, economic crimes, and repeat offenders. By having groups of prosecutors focus on
specific types of crime, a district attorney’s office builds up high levels of expertise in areas that are of
significant seriousness and public importance.

Criminal Justice

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What are the three steps of writing process?

What will be an ideal response?

Criminal Justice

Interview approach options include:

a. oblique. c. informal. b. formal. d. all of the above.

Criminal Justice

When conducting the preliminary interview about a computer-assisted crime or cybercrime, which of the following should investigators establish?

A. Who owns the computers? B. How often do the owners visit illicit/illegal websites? C. Do the owners prefer broadband, DSL, or T1 connection? D. All of the answers are correct.

Criminal Justice

Noninstitutional corrections refers to correctional activities that:

A. primarily involve rehabilitation within confinement. B. are not directly related to incarceration. C. do not involve probation and parole. D. are directly related to institutional care.

Criminal Justice