Open AccessProsecutorial independence, discretion and strategy in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Author(s) -
David Baxter Bakibinga
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
revista acadêmica escola superior do ministério público do ceará/revista acadêmica da esmp-ce
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2527-0206
pISSN - 2176-7939
DOI - 10.54275/raesmpce.v11i2.98
Subject(s) - commonwealth , independence (probability theory) , discretion , law , political science , constitution , judicial discretion , economic justice , public interest , constitutional law , law and economics , sociology , judicial review , statistics , mathematics
The concepts of prosecutorial independence, discretion and strategy are considered the cornerstones of an effective and efficient criminal justice system under common law. To this end the state of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas amended its national constitution and established an independent office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). The ODPP must have appropriate policy-legal and organizational frameworks to enable it enhance its independence from the office of the Attorney General (AG). This paper explores how the constitutional framework promotes the independence of the ODPP Bahamas and any claw backs. A comparison is made with other independent ODPPs such as Uganda. The last part of the paper examines strategies adopted by ODPP Bahamas that are meant to enhance prosecutorial independence and discretion.