Opinion ID: 1614456
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: written prosecutorial standards

Text: In addition to claiming that there were no legal standards to guide prosecutorial discretion, defendants decried the lack of written charging policies in most prosecutors' offices. The Gonzales brief, for example, states: The lack of formal charging policies in shoplifting cases is not only a violation of due process, it is a violation of the American Bar Association Standards. Nothing advanced in the way of argument or precedent by the parties convinces us that the lack of guidelines violates due process, although later argument might do so. Of course, we do not sit to enforce ABA standards. Nevertheless, we are impressed that charging guidelines might conceivably be a subject worthy of consideration in a proper forum in order to promote fair and uniform administration of justice, in which we, of course, have a decided interest and responsibility. Michigan prosecutors might do well to take the initiative in developing their own guidelines for the exercise of prosecutorial discretion. Undoubtedly the State Bar Association, the Attorney General and other experts in the field would be available to render assistance, if, and when, the prosecutors would find such help useful. While this Court sees no immediate reason for it to be involved in this action in any of its capacities, it is not beyond possibility that, at a proper time and under appropriate circumstances, it might consider doing so. In any event, it believes that, for the present, the initiative properly lies with the prosecutors.